Director, Food Safety & Quality Assurance - Manufacturing

Overview: Good people, working with good people, for our common good. Sound good? KeHE-a natural, organic, specialty and fresh food distributor – is all about “good” and is growing, so there’s never been a more exciting time to join our team. If you’re enthusiastic about working in an environment with a people-first culture and an organization committed to good living, good food and good service, we’d love to talk to you!

Responsibilities: The Director of Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) will oversee and lead the food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance efforts across multiple GFSI certified food manufacturing facilities. In addition to managing internal manufacturing FSQA, this role will also have responsibility for the FSQA management of all contract-manufactured products for our exclusive brands. This includes ensuring that all contract manufacturers adhere to the same high standards of food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance that we uphold within our own facilities. The Director will ensure the integrity of our products and safeguard consumer safety, brand reputation, and operational excellence across both in-house and outsourced manufacturing environments. As with all positions at KeHE Distributors, we expect that all actions will be consistent with KeHE’s Mission, Vision, and Values.

Qualifications: SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:Proven leadership and management skills, with the ability to influence and drive change across diverse teams and organizations. Exceptional organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities. Strong communication and interpersonal skills, capable of building relationships across internal teams and external partners. Expertise in quality management systems (QMS), audit processes, and food safety systems. Proficient in MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), quality management software, and ERP systems. Strong background in crisis management, food recalls, and quality issue resolution. Extensive knowledge of GFSI certifications (BRC, SQF, FSSC 22000, etc.) and regulatory standards (FDA, USDA, FSMA).Willingness and ability to travel up to 40% of the time to oversee both internal manufacturing facilities and contract manufacturers.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Safety, Biology, Chemistry, or a related field. Master’s degree or relevant certifications in food safety/quality preferred. HACCP and PCQI certification required, GFSI Auditor certification or other relevant food safety certifications preferred. Minimum of 10 years of experience in food safety and quality assurance, with at least 5 years in a leadership role within a food manufacturing or contract manufacturing environment. Demonstrated experience in managing multiple facilities and contract manufacturers, with a proven ability to oversee complex, multi-site operations. Extensive knowledge of GFSI certifications (BRC, SQF, FSSC 22000, etc.) and regulatory standards (FDA, USDA, FSMA).Experience in overseeing product quality, safety, and compliance in both in-house and contract manufacturing settings. Experience in developing and implementing GFSI programs.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.