Director FSQS, North America

TITLE:                     Director of FSQS for North America

LOCATION:           Onsite in Alsip, IL

                              Internal candidates can be in any North America locations

COMP RANGE:      United States $170,000 - $220,000 / year plus bonus

                              Internal candidates outside the US, contact your regional HR for comp range

Griffith Foods is hiring a Director of Food Safety and Quality Systems (FSQS) to provide strategic direction and leadership to Griffith Foods’ FSQS teams across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, including contract manufacturers, warehouses, and Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) activities in the United States. This role aligns North American regional food safety and quality programs with global initiatives, drives standardization and compliance, strengthens customer and regulatory confidence, and enables operations to consistently meet customer, business, and manufacturing requirements.

This is your opportunity to provide regional impact on food safety, regulatory compliance, customer trust, operational performance, and protection of Griffith Foods brand across North American operations.

As a Director of FSQS your responsibilities will include:

• Setting the strategic quality direction for 5 manufacturing locations across US, Canada and Mexico with 2 direct reports and 12 indirect reports.
• Leading the North American product issues crisis process and recall coordination and provides food safety leadership on broader crisis teams including facility, reputation, safety, and cyber-related events.
• Representing Griffith Foods on the North American Supply Chain Leadership Team and Global Food Safety Council, aligning regional execution with global food safety and quality initiatives and standards.
• Leading the design, standardization, and compliance of North American food safety and quality systems programs across manufacturing sites, warehouses, contract manufacturers, and import and export-related activities.
• Ensuring compliance with North American regulatory requirements, export regulations, BRC expectations, GMP, allergen control, sanitary design principles, supplier approvals, and food safety training requirements.
• Leading North America sites performance through scorecards and analysis of complaints, raw material violations, audit outcomes, and operational errors, and directs corrective and preventive improvement actions.
• Driving cross-functional collaboration with Sales, Operations, Product Development, Purchasing, Regulatory, IT, Finance, and plant leadership while setting departmental priorities, supporting capital and expense planning, and visiting sites regularly.
• Serving as the senior technical liaison between Commercial and Supply Chain teams and leads customer communications related to audits, complaints, nonconformances, requirement negotiations, and major food safety or quality events.

The Director of FSQS position is well suited for you if you:

• Are an analytical thinker that defines complex food safety and quality problems
• Have a passion for the North American food industry, customer expectations, co-manufacturing environments, and the regulatory and certification landscape affecting food production and export

• Enjoy translating business strategy and customer requirements into practical quality and food safety programs that support operational performance, consistency, and business enablement
• Are a strategic leader who coaches and develops direct and dotted-line teams across North America
• You are a clear, confident communicator who can align operations, commercial teams, and global quality stakeholders, while also serving as the go-to spokesperson on food safety and quality system matters

Qualified candidates will have:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology, or related areas
• At least 10 years of food safety and quality experience in Food Science, Quality, Microbiology, Engineering or related fields
• At least 5 years of people management experience
• Previous leadership of multi-site or regional food safety & quality programs across the US
• Knowledge of North America regulations, ISO 9000, pathogen control, allergen control, third-party audits, and GFSI-related systems
• ERP and LIMS systems experience supporting traceability, product management, and related FSQS processes
• Exposure working with contract manufacturers, supplier audit programs, and customer facing food safety and quality issue resolution
• Must be willing and able to travel regionally up to 25%
• Candidates must currently possess unrestricted authorization to work in the United States. Work visa sponsorship is not available for this role

What will set you apart:

• Master’s degree
• Bi-lingual in Spanish
• Previous leadership of multi-site or regional food safety & quality programs across Canada and or Mexico
• Advanced training in food safety, quality systems, or regulatory compliance
• Professional certifications in Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI), Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) lead auditor, or Food Defense/Intentional Adulteration

There is also potential for a discretionary bonus with a target of 25%. This bonus is based on personal and company performance and is not a guaranteed bonus plan.

The Company offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: Medical, Rx, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending & Health Savings Accounts, EAP, Health Advocacy, Financial Planning, Parental Leave, Care.com, Adoption & Surrogacy Assistance, Education Assistance/Tuition Reimbursement, Safety Reimbursement, Lifestyle Spending Account, Group Life & AD&D, Voluntary Life Insurance, Short Term & Long Term Disability, 401(k) Plan with Company Match, PTO, Holiday’s & Leaves, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Hospital Indemnity, Home & Auto Insurance, Pet Insurance, Identity Theft Protection, Long Term Care + Life Insurance & Legal Assistance.

This role is affiliated to Alsip, IL location, and candidates for this role need to reside within a commutable distance of Alsip and will be required to come into Alsip. You will be asked to travel to other locations periodically for business needs.

At Griffith Foods, you can be a member of a globally connected team that is known for true, collaborative innovation, guided by our purpose to Blend Care and Creativity to Nourish The World. We are a family-owned business, founded in 1919 and headquartered in Alsip, Illinois USA. Our product capabilities range from seasonings and marinades to coating systems and sauces that are better for people and better for the planet.

At Griffith Foods, we aim to create a regenerative future and build food systems that are sustainable and resilient for both people and the planet. A sustainable supply chain enables us to deliver high-quality products in a way that supports the growers and farming communities.

Learn more about us at https://griffithfoods.com/careers/

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