Director of Food Safety Processes

About the Opportunity

The Director, Food Safety Processes is the strategic leader accountable for defining and advancing Driscoll’s food safety and regulatory compliance framework across the United States, Canada, Mexico and Peru. This role sets the path forward for what compliance means at Driscoll’s by translating emerging regulatory requirements, customer expectations, industry standards and business priorities into scalable policies, programs, governance and integrity systems. The Director has primary accountability for the performance and continued evolution of the food safety compliance sub-function, ensuring that requirements are clear, risk-based, practical and consistently embedded across growers, facilities and supply-chain operations.

The Director combines deep produce-industry expertise and established external relationships with enterprise influence. The role represents Driscoll’s with regulators, customers, academia, industry associations and technical partners. The role anticipates external developments, shapes strategies that protect consumers, strengthens trust in Driscoll’s brand and enables business continuity. The Director leads a direct report who supports food safety systems and consistent implementation across markets. This role provides functional direction to cross-regional and cross-functional teams responsible for implementing compliance policies, systems, audits and improvement priorities.

Strategic Scope and Accountability Includes:
• Own the multi-year strategy, operating model and roadmap for the food safety compliance sub-function, aligned with functional strategy and business priorities
• Establish enterprise governance for food safety policies, standards, procedures, records and verification programs across the United States, Canada, Peru and Mexico
• Anticipate changes in regulation, GFSI-recognized schemes, customer expectations and industry best practices; determine business implications and lead timely, scalable responses
• Set priorities, allocate resources and define decision rights for compliance programs, systems, audits and strategic initiatives
• Advise the Vice President of Food Safety and senior leaders on material compliance risks, emerging issues, strategic choices and investment needs
• Build and sustain external relationships that provide early insight, strengthen Driscoll’s influence and support practical, science-based policy outcomes

Responsibilities

**Please Note the following**

• This role requires an on-site presence in Watsonville, California or Guadalajara, Mexico
• Remote work is not authorized for this position
• Please submit all CV's / Resumes in English

• Compliance Strategy and Leadership: Define and execute the Driscoll’s of the Americas (DOTA) food safety compliance strategy. Establish the principles, governance and future-state standards that guide policy and program design, implementation and continuous improvement.

• Regulatory and Industry Foresight: Monitor and interpret scientific, regulatory, customer, certification and industry developments. Assess enterprise impact, identify emerging risks and opportunities, and direct cross-functional response strategies before requirements affect operations.

• Policy and Program Governance: Own the hierarchy and lifecycle of food safety policies, programs, standards, procedures, forms and records. Establish document control, approval, change-management and implementation protocols that create clarity and consistency across the business.

• Systems and Data Strategy: Provide strategic direction and governance for food safety compliance systems, including TELUS, FACTS, Azzule and SafetyChain. Define future capabilities, data integrity expectations, system ownership and integration priorities. Work with Driscoll’s Business Units to ensure alignment in support of the Global Movement of Fruit.

• Performance and Executive Insight: Establish enterprise compliance KPIs, dashboards and management-review routines. Convert trends, audit results, complaints, test results, regulatory developments and system data into executive insights and strategic recommendations.

• External Influence and Representation: Represent Driscoll’s with regulators, customers, certification bodies, industry associations, standard-setting organizations, academic partners and other external stakeholders. Build trusted relationships and influence policies and practices relevant to the berry industry.

• Customer and Consumer Governance: Set governance for the intake, escalation, investigation, trending and closure of food safety-related customer and consumer concerns. Use insights to identify systemic improvements and protect customer and consumer trust.

• Leadership and Talent: Lead, coach and develop the direct-report position supporting compliance programs and processes. Provide functional leadership to matrixed teams, clarify priorities and build compliance capability across regions and functions.

    Candidate Profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Microbiology, or related field of study. Graduate degree is preferred

• Over 10 years of food safety experience

• Specific experience with the produce or perishable food sector to include regulatory compliance

• Familiarity with Canada, Mexico, Peru, and the United States’ regulations on food safety and worker welfare

• Experience with management of information systems

• Computer Skills, Microsoft Office (advanced)

• Verbal and written communication skills (Outstanding)

• Problem-solving and decision-making skills (advanced)

• Spanish/English (fluency preferred)

• 3 years or more people management experience

• Valid driver’s license and ability to be covered under company vehicle insurance policy

• Ability to travel domestically and internationally

• Customer service competency

• Process improvement experience and formal training

Compensation & Benefits:

The following information is provided in good faith as a general description of the salary range and benefits for the position posted. The actual compensation offered to the successful candidate is dependent upon experience, skills, education, work location, internal pay equity, and other objective job-related factors.

Salary Range estimated for the Director of Food Safety Processes: $155,000 to $210,000 USD.

Driscoll’s is committed to a culture of care and offers an attractive benefits package that includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, life insurance, and disability coverage for positions working more than 30 hours per week. Other benefits include: 401(k) with employer match, profit-sharing participation, paid sick time, paid vacation, paid personal and family care leave, and a free Employee Assistance Program (EAP). More detailed information regarding the benefits package will be shared during the application process.

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