DIRECTOR OF FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY SYSTEMS COMPANY SUMMARY (“Who are we?”) We are The Honest Kitchen.

We’re a team of pet-obsessed foodies who put our heart and soul into our work – making a line of human-grade whole foods, treats, and supplements for dogs and cats.

We’re a rapidly growing business that is a proud B Corp, has been named one of Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work for six straight years, and has been certified as a Great Place to Work!

We strive for an inclusive work culture that supports a diverse array of skills, experiences, and perspectives our employees bring to the table.

For us, differences are a source of strength.

We celebrate strong performance and ethical processes, and we work hard every day to nurture an inclusive culture where all employees can innovate and thrive.

Here, you will not only build your career, but you will also uncover new experiences and collaborate with passionate colleagues.

The Honest Kitchen values a diverse workforce.

Women, people of color, people with disabilities and members of the LGBTQIA+ community are strongly encouraged to apply.  The Honest Kitchen believes that an equitable and inclusive work environment and a diverse, empowered team are key to achieving our mission.

We’re looking for candidates who can expand our business culture by bringing their whole, authentic selves to work.

We strive to provide all qualified candidates with an equitable and accessible recruitment process.

POSITION SUMMARY ("What are we looking for?") The Director of Food Safety and Quality (FSQ) Systems serves as a primary internal point of contact and subject matter expert on various matters related to food safety and quality, while assessing risk, driving continuous improvement, setting the strategy, and driving excellence in FSQ.   The role will consistently require working closely with various cross-departmental teams and external stakeholders (state and federal agencies, co-packers, suppliers, etc.).

Further, the Director of Food Safety and Quality (FSQ) Systems will be an active The Honest Kitchen representative at various industry meetings, including the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), and will ideally participate on working committees or working groups, when and where appropriate.

The position emphasizes safety and compliance, ensuring proper and executable procedures and processes are in place and that the company and its departments are positioned for scalable growth.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities General Provides continuous monitoring of quality, food safety, and regulatory requirements and identifies and communicates observed opportunities and risks Works with company leadership and outside stakeholders (i.e., consultants, co-packers, etc.) to identify actions necessary to reduce or eliminate identified risks Participates in the cross-departmental team that supports new product launches and current product enhancements aspects with emphasis on planning, coordinating, and executing quality-related strategies.

Works on company cross-functional quality-related projects, as needed.

Quality Acts as point of contact and fosters relationship with external consultants designated to support quality initiatives and programs Leads Quality Systems (Policy/Document Control), Predictive Quality, Reporting/Scorecard Development, Microbiology, Internal Audit, and Customer Service Adverse Events Promotes the development/implementation of aligned risk assessment approach which includes verification, validation, and monitoring of effectiveness of food safety plans, company food safety procedures and regulations for current processes and new line and equipment commissioning Ensure that effective preventive plans are developed to eliminate deviations and complaints through analysis, proactive identification of risk, culture building and verification Proactively leads team in the development of systems/company procedures, knowledge, capabilities, and practices to provide fast and simple data which helps decrease risk, decrease defects, improve efficiencies, and improve consumer experiences Manage company-wide internal audit processes and closure of corrective actions, verifying readiness for external audits and compliance to regulatory requirements.

Support plant audits/inspections as needed by government agencies, customers, and third-party auditing groups Develop procedures and reviews lab data results to ensure product compliance, trending data, and potential formulation changes (in conjunction with the R&D team) Assists in evaluations of AAFCO/general nutrition compliance Evaluate nutrition profiles, prepare lab testing schedules, and execute based on a determined schedule Works with appropriate labs to conduct validation and shelf-life studies with appropriate labs to evaluate THK products Develop and implement quality systems management strategies and plans to include resources, timelines, and financials that support, contribute to, and integrate with the annual and long-term business strategies Develop Food Safety and Quality continuous improvement strategy for the business and utilize continuous improvement tools Monitors emerging issues in FSQ and leads development and implementation of strategies, policies and procedures to mitigate Delivers expertise and technical advice on complex and critical FSQ concerns Reports on developments, strategies and implementation to leadership team Coach, onboard, mentor and supports professional development of Associates Coordinate work and set priorities to meet objectives, including budget management This role requires frequent travel to sites to develop teams, provide technical expertise, and to verify and enhance programs and performance.

Perform other duties as required to support the Operations team, or internal stakeholders.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED (“What are we looking for?”) Bachelor’s degree preferred in Biology, Food Science, Microbiology, Agricultural systems, or related field or equivalent combination of education and related experience PCQI (human and pet) and HACCP certifications required Five+ years of practice in the field of premium pet food Five+ years in a management or leadership position Must love pets and be passionate about their health.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS 30-40% BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR THE HONEST KITCHEN (“What do we offer?”) We offer a competitive compensation package, including salary and robust employee benefits.

Some key highlights include:

Time off: We offer a highly competitive time off schedule, including unlimited vacation, sick time, in addition to a generous company-paid holiday schedule.

Benefits:

Various health insurance plans with generous employer contributions to premiums.  We also offer vision, dental, short-term disability, long-term disability, accident, critical illness, an employee assistance program, and an FSA.

Financial wellness:

Enjoy perks like a company 401K with an employer match.

Mission Driven:

Employees can take up to 40 hours of volunteer time a year, and we offer donations matching to non-profit organizations of your choosing.

Pet Friendly:

Pet-friendly offices, zoom calls, discounts on pet insurance, and of course, free pet food!

Collaborative Team:

We offer a fun, team-oriented work environment where you feel like you are making a difference every day. *The Honest Kitchen is an equal opportunity employer.  The Company’s policy prohibits discrimination based on race, religious creed (which includes religious dress and grooming practices), color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status.   Powered by JazzHR