Vice President, Quality Assurance and Food Safety

Position Overview
The Vice President of Quality Assurance and Food Safety will lead the strategic development, deployment, and enforcement of quality standards across manufacturing operations and products. This role oversees quality performance through tracking, analytics, and process improvements, including internal manufacturing quality, distribution center inspections, and external quality outcomes. In addition, the VP will champion continuous improvement initiatives. This position partners closely with Operations, Sales/Customer Service, and external customers to ensure excellence throughout the value chain.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish, implement, and lead quality assurance strategies to ensure all components, raw materials, and finished products meet defined quality standards and regulatory requirements.

• Define and maintain QA procedures, standards, and controls across internal and contract manufacturing operations.

• Partner with manufacturing teams to manage QA activities and enforce compliance with material, product, packaging, and regulatory specifications.

• Collaborate with R&D on new product launches, establishing testing checkpoints for new products, parts, and processes.

• Identify, investigate, and correct deficiencies in products, processes, or procedures.

• Develop and deploy a comprehensive quality system with metrics to measure supplier performance, reduce rework, and improve customer satisfaction.

• Oversee Material Review Board processes to ensure compliance, optimize raw material usage, and improve First Time Right performance.

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives, hoshin planning, and global QA alignment to support company strategy.

• Monitor and strengthen internal auditing processes to ensure compliance and drive plant-level quality improvements.

• Manage departmental budgets, financial planning, and resource allocation.

• Build organizational capability by developing and delivering training in quality systems, problem solving, and continuous improvement.

• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of leadership experience in Quality Management.

• 10+ years of lean manufacturing experience, including deployment of lean operating systems.

• Proven expertise in plant transformation and change management.

• Experience in food manufacturing required.

• Advanced knowledge of Six Sigma quality methodologies (DOE, FMEA, ANOVA, process characterization, reliability, repeatability) and statistical software.

• Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing tools (poka yoke, 5S, Kanban, value stream mapping, work element analysis).

• Excellent communication, presentation, business acumen, and conflict resolution skills.

• Ability to operate effectively in a matrix organization while balancing corporate initiatives with site-specific priorities.

• Self-starter with strong leadership, organizational, and change management skills.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Science, or related field required; Master’s degree preferred.

• Certifications in Lean, Six Sigma, or Project Management highly desirable.