Director of Quality & Food Safety

Summary: Lead the company's food safety, quality assurance, laboratory, and regulatory compliance programs. Establishes and maintains effective systems that protect consumers, meet customer and certification requirements, and support consistent manufacturing of safe, high-quality popcorn products.

Essential Responsibilities:

Food Safety & Compliance

• Direct the BRCGS food safety certification program, HACCP plans, & FSMA compliance activities
• Maintain & improve food safety plans, SOPs, SSOPs, records, training, verification activities, and audit readiness
• Help lead internal, customer, regulatory, and certification audits; oversee corrective actions and timely closure of findings
• Maintain product and ingredient specifications, quality databases, ERP traceability, and recall-readiness procedures, develop production BOMs in an ERP program, support production planning systems

Quality Assurance & Lab

• Lead the Quality Supervisor and Product Development Specialist; establish priorities, training, performance, expectations, and accountability
• Oversee lab equipment, supplies, maintenance and methods, including peroxide value, oil color, moisture, salt, allergen, microbiological, and popping-performance testing as well as QC related production equipment
• Provide quality assessment of slurry process deviations and misbatches; coordinate corrective formula decisions with Product Development & Production
• Oversee sampling, analytical and microbiological testing, shelf-life studies, calibration, and reliable reporting of results
• Track quality metrics, identify trends, and drive preventive and corrective improvements with operations
• Calculate Nutritional Profiles
• Develop FDA compliant Ingredient Statements

Supplier, Sanitation, & Allergen Programs

• Manage supplier and raw-material qualification, specifications, receiving/testing standards, and supplier corrective actions for ingredients, packaging, and co-manufacturers
• Maintain allergen controls and the allergen matrix, partner with sanitation leadership on environmental monitoring and sanitation validation, including CIP and warewashing as applicable
• Coordinate on ingredient and packaging supplier issues, including flavors and microwave popcorn bags
• Additional Food Safety & Quality Program responsibility

Regulatory, Customer, & Incident Response

• Review ingredient declarations, allergen statements, labeling compliance, product claims, and export requirements in collaboration with Marketing & Product Development
• Maintain applicable kosher, halal, gluten-free, and other customer or product certifications
• Investigate complaints, nonconforming product and food safety incidents; direct holds, disposition decisions, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions within company authority
• Maintain customer quality documentation and retailer portals, communicate food safety risks promptly to leadership
• Food regulatory resource for all FDA changes, including labeling for US, Canada, & International

Leadership & Collaboration

• Partner with Product Development on safe product introductions, specifications, allergen review, and manufacturing handoffs
• Build a proactive food safety culture through coaching, floor presence and cross-functional training
• And all other duties as assigned by Supervisor

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully an individual must have the following: Strong leadership skills and a proven track record of effectively leading teams and managing people. A bachelor's degree in food science, microbiology, chemistry, or related discipline required. Significant progressive experience in food manufacturing quality assurance and food safety, including people leadership. Hands on HACCP, FSMA/PCQI, and GFSI-recognized certification program experience; BRCGS preferred. Experience managing a quality lab, supplier quality, investigation, and audits. Experience with shelf-stable snack, fats/oils, or microwave product experience is a plus, but not required. International labeling and kosher/halal experience preferred. ERP, SPC, Power BI, Excel and quality reporting tool experience a plus.

Skills and Competencies:

This role will provide strong leadership to employees, fostering a positive and high-performing culture. Must possess the ability to set clear expectations while helping guide department supervisors. Must work to identify and minimize risks that could impact the company while ensuring safety compliance. Ensures we are staying compliant with legal and regulatory requirements while upholding high standards and ethical conduct throughout the organization. Must have excellent communication skills to engage with all levels of employees at all locations while encouraging collaboration across. Sound decision-making ability skill needed to prioritize initiatives, assess risks, and make decisions that align with the organization. Deep understanding of the technical aspects related to APCC products. Strong problem solving skills needed to address quality issues promptly and effectively. Analytical skills required to analyze data, processes, and systems to identify areas for improvement.

Work Environment:

The work environment is both an office setting at a manufacturing facility and in the manufacturing facility itself. The environment is often dynamic and collaborative, with collaboration being essential in this role. Employees will contribute to overall production goals, with office employees supporting the efficiency and effectiveness of the manufacturing processes. The manufacturing facility involves hands-on tasks, machinery operation, and adherence to GMPs. This setting requires attention to detail, adherence to protocols, and the ability to adapt to the demands of the production schedule. Working hours outside of standard office hours may be required.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This position requires a combination of sitting and standing throughout the workday. You will need to regularly engage in tasks that involve sitting at a desk for data entry and analysis, as well as administrative duties. You will also need to engage in tasks that require periods of standing, mobility and interaction with team members. This role requires adaptability to the changing demands of tasks and responsibilities. May be occasional lifting of supplies, typically not exceeding 20 pounds.

What about benefits?
American Pop Corn Company has an amazing benefits package! Here are just some of our great benefits:

• FREE family health and dental insurance. That's right - JOLLY TIME doesn't charge for these benefits - and it's a major medical plan with full coverage!
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) with a 4% match
• 6 paid holidays
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Referral Bonus
• & More!