Sr. Director of Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory Compliance

I.  POSITION SUMMARY

Senior Director Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory Compliance is a liaison between Restaurant Operations, Supply Chain, suppliers, and Research & Development.  The Senior Director is responsible for providing global strategic leadership in food safety, regulatory compliance, and new product development, quality monitoring and nutrition.  The Senior Director is also responsible for the development, implementation, and sustainable performance of the Food Safety and Quality Monitoring programs and standard operating procedures (SOP).  

The Senior Director is a strategic, influential, and progressive food safety science leader with the ability to translate business challenges into actionable solutions in a highly complex, fast-paced environment.   

II.  ESSENTIAL DUTIES

· Responsible for strategic leadership of the Food Safety and Quality teams in food safety and regulatory compliance issues to ensure a food safety, first time quality culture and brand protection throughout the company.  

· Works collaboratively to provide leadership in commercialization process.

· Leads and supports the supplier onboarding process, launch of new products, specifications development, documentation and reformulations by providing technical consultation to internal stakeholders for qualifying new, and existing suppliers.

· Ensure supplier verification programs and parameters critical to food safety and associated regulatory compliance are appropriate based on risk assessment.

· Reviews, monitors, and measures supplier food safety key performance indicators by understanding food safety standards, determining appropriate action steps to ensure compliance, as well as proactively predicting potential risks and developing mitigation alternatives. 

· Build and manage metrics to identify quality issues and utilize root cause analysis to drive improvement.

· Develops processes and structure for the proper documentation, standardization and record keeping for supplier facility audits, distributor audits, product specifications, quality, or food safety incidents, recalls, and corrective action.

· Represents the company before regulatory agencies, external organizations, and suppliers, and serves as subject matter expert in the development of global corporate positions on food safety matters.

· Provide strategic and tactical leadership to assure all BBI’s food safety and regulatory related policies, quality programs are effective, current, scientifically substantiated and followed. This includes the development of external relationships and alliances including the management of an advisory council.

· Leads and collaborates with key stakeholders such as third party auditors, regulatory agencies, and pest control programs to ensure effectiveness and compliance with regulatory requirements.

· Oversees Food Safety and Quality related complaints, investigations, and corrective actions from customers, regulatory bodies, and stores.

· Oversees supplier recalls internally with key stakeholders and externally with key agencies as needed.

· Facilitates engagement and appropriate communications with key cross-functional teams (legal, communications, R&D, etc.) to ensure compliance and quality strategy in alignment with business objectives.

· Collaborates with Supply Chain and Legal department by creating quality and food safety clauses and legal language for supplier contracts and indemnity agreements with technical details specific for different food categories.

III. REQUIREMENTS

Experience/Skills:

· Food/Meat Science, Microbiology, Chemical Bachelor’s, or related degree

· 15+ years of experience in Food Safety, New Product Development, Quality monitoring

· Strong leadership and team building capabilities

· Effectively communicate and build relationships with all levels of people in the organization

· SQF/BRC or similar certification required

· Action oriented, resourceful, and approachable with the ability to influence in a matrix organization and lead change internally and externally based on scientific knowledge and network

· Ability to effectively challenge status quo, provide open and constructive feedback, and lead cross-functional initiatives from inception to completion

· Ability to develop and communicate Food Safety and Quality strategic vision and corresponding tactics

· Experience building and designing harmonized programs

· Experience leading remote teams, Global experience is helpful, but not required

· Position based in Tampa, domestic and international travel up to 40% of the time expected