Director Food Safety And Quality Systems

Who We Are
At Freshpet, our goal is to change the way people nourish their pets forever. We strive to strengthen the bond between people and our pets so that we both live longer, healthier, and happier lives while being kind to the planet. We believe that if we can create fresh, real foods that pets love and help them live healthier lives that their pet parents will also enjoy the many benefits of a rich life shared with a pet.
We started off with a mission to change the way pet parents feed dogs and cats, but we also wanted to be a company that had a thoughtful approach to how we operate. We wanted to do things differently, make great products but be gentle to the planet, good to the people who touch our business, and leave a positive impact with everything we do. We work hard every day to ensure that the original vision is met, starting with making the highest quality foods in our kitchens to running our business with integrity, transparency, and social and environmental responsibility. IT'S AMAZING WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU START COMPLETELY FRESH!
What You Will Do
The Director of Quality and Food Safety Systems is responsible for leading and overseeing the technical aspects of food safety, microbiology, and food processing within our organization. This role combines deep technical expertise with strong leadership qualities to drive innovation, ensure regulatory compliance, and uphold the highest standards of food safety and quality. The Director will be a key technical expert, focusing on training, auditing, and troubleshooting microbiological challenges to ensure the integrity of our products and processes. The Director will act as both a technical expert and thought leader, guiding cross-functional teams and contributing to the advancement of industry standards and practices within Freshpet.
How You Will Make An Impact
Technical Leadership:

Lead and mentor a team of food safety and microbiology professionals, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement
Serve as a technical expert in food safety, microbiology, and food processing, providing guidance and direction on complex technical issues
Collaborate with R&D, production, and quality assurance teams to develop and implement cutting-edge food safety and microbiological solutions
Create a culture of best practice sharing within the organization

Microbiological Testing & Analysis:

Oversee the execution of analysis of food products, raw materials, and environmental samples to identify and mitigate potential hazards
Analyze complex microbiological data, providing actionable insights to senior management and relevant departments
Develop and validate advanced microbiological methods in alignment with industry best practices
Enhance the data analytics to create a predictive culture

Training & Development:

Design and coordinate delivery of comprehensive training programs on food safety, microbiology, and quality assurance for staff at all levels
Ensure that all employees are knowledgeable about food safety protocols, regulatory requirements, and best practices
Continuously update training materials to reflect the latest industry standards and regulatory changes

Auditing & Compliance:

Coordinate internal and external food safety audits to assess compliance against with regulatory standards, accreditation bodies and internal requirements
Develop and ensure timely completion of audits, and coordinate addressing any non-conformances with corrective action plans
Maintain and enhance the company's food safety management system, ensuring ongoing compliance with industry regulations and customer requirements


Troubleshooting



Identify, analyze, and troubleshoot microbiological issues that arise



Work closely with production teams to implement corrective actions and ensure continuous improvement in microbiological safety
Provide rapid response and expert solutions to microbiological challenges to prevent recurrence and ensure product safety


Regulatory Compliance:


Ensure the organization's testing programs are in compliance with all relevant local, state, and federal food safety regulations, including FDA, USDA, and other regulatory bodies
Keep abreast of emerging food safety regulations and industry trends, proactively adapting processes and procedures to maintain compliance


Thought Leadership:


Act as a thought leader within the organization and industry driving innovation and continuous improvement culture
Represent the company at industry conferences, seminars, and professional organizations, sharing expertise and establishing the company as a leader in the field
Engage in optimizing the supplier management program
Publish and present research findings, contributing to the body of knowledge in food safety and microbiology
Support the Food safety and Quality culture journey within Freshpet

What You Will Bring
Education:


Bachelor's or Master's degree in Microbiology, Food Science, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred


Experience:

7+ years of experience in food safety, microbiology, or a related role within the food industry, with significant experience in food processing (preferably meat processing)
Proven leadership experience, with a track record of managing and developing high-performing technical teams
Recognized as a thought leader in the field, demonstrated by industry recognition, publications, or presentations
Extensive experience with microbiological testing, food safety management systems, and regulatory compliance

Skills:

Strong technical expertise in microbiology, food safety, and food processing
Excellent leadership and team management skills, with the ability to inspire and guide a multidisciplinary team
Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
Exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities
Strategic thinking with a focus on innovation and continuous improvement


Preferred Qualifications:


Certification in HACCP, SQF, or other food safety standards
Experience with food safety auditing and regulatory compliance
Familiarity with data analysis software and tools

What We Offer
At Freshpet, we offer a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package, including medical, dental and vision insurance, basic and optional life insurance, short- and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts, and a 401(k) plan with company match, paid parental leave, pet insurance, tuition assistance, a generous PTO plan and so much more!
Our Commitment to a Diverse Workforce:
At Freshpet, we embrace and encourage our employees' differences in age, sex, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique.
Freshpet aims to foster, cultivate and preserve a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our employees are our most valuable assets. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities and talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture, but our reputation and company's achievement as well. Freshpet is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Disclaimers
We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we are not able to sponsor visas.
Freshpet is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. Please, no phone calls or emails. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Freshpet via-email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of Freshpet. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Freshpet as a result of the referral or through other means.

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