Position Summary

The Senior Director of FSQA & R&D will lead and oversee all aspects of Food Safety, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Regulatory Compliance and Research & Development for a high-volume tortilla and bakery manufacturing company, ensuring compliance with all federal, state, and customer standards. This role has primary emphasis on FSQA leadership, with secondary responsibility for providing strategic direction and oversight for Research & Development. The ideal candidate will bring proven expertise in food safety systems, regulatory compliance, and quality culture development, as well as experience guiding product innovation and commercialization.

Responsibilities – FSQA Leadership

• Develop, implement, optimize and maintain the company’s FSQA strategy, ensuring compliance with FDA-FSMA, GMP, HACCP, SQF Level 3, and other applicable regulations and certifications.

• Lead company-wide quality culture initiatives to embed a proactive, preventive approach to food safety and product quality.

• Oversee all FSQA programs including sanitation, allergen control, pest management, supplier verification, traceability, product labeling, and organic/non-GMO certifications.

• Direct internal and external audits; respond to FDA, USDA, County Health Inspections, customer, and third-party audits with corrective action planning and follow-up.

• Establish and maintain systems for continuous improvement in hygiene, sanitation, and manufacturing practices.

• Lead investigations of customer complaints, product deviations, and quality incidents; implement root cause analyses and corrective actions.

• Collaborate with Operations to ensure products meet or exceed specifications for safety, quality, and consistency.

• Maintain regulatory documentation, product specifications, and quality records.

Responsibilities – R&D Leadership

• Oversee and guide R&D initiatives, focusing on product improvements, new product development, and process innovations.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Operations, Sales, Marketing) to bring new products from concept through commercialization.

• Review and approve product formulations, process designs, and packaging specifications for technical feasibility and compliance.

• Promote innovation aligned with market trends and customer needs while balancing operational efficiency and product quality.

• Support plant trials, scale-ups, and sensory evaluations for new products.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or related field required; advanced degree preferred.

• 10+ years of progressive FSQA leadership experience in food manufacturing, preferably bakery or tortilla production.

• Minimum 5 years in senior management with demonstrated success in building and sustaining food safety and quality systems.

• Experience leading or collaborating with R&D teams in product innovation and commercialization.

• In-depth knowledge of FDA, USDA, HACCP, GMP, FSMA, and SQF requirements.

• Strong leadership, strategic planning, and communication skills.

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus.

Organizational Relationships

Reports directly to the COO. Leads FSQA department and provides dotted-line leadership for R&D personnel. Works closely with Operations, Sales, Marketing, Procurement, and Maintenance teams.

Physical & Environmental Requirements

• Ability to work in both office and production environments, including exposure to varying temperatures, noise, and manufacturing equipment.

• Willingness to travel to multiple facilities and supplier sites.

20% Annual Bonus

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insuranc, 401k Match

Opportunity for Growth & Development