About this opportunity
ADP, Inc. lists this Food Safety and Quality Director opportunity in cleveland, Ohio. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
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Food Safety and Quality Director
Full Time Cleveland, OH, US
2 days ago Requisition ID: 1015
The Food Safety & Quality Director is responsible for leading and overseeing all food safety, quality assurance, sanitation, documentation, labeling, and regulatory compliance programs as well as audit readiness and facility food safety training programs with a strong focus on USDA requirements and applicable third-party standards. This role ensures that all products meet or exceed USDA, FDA (FSMA), customer, and company standards for food safety and quality. This role also leads the Food Safety & Quality Technicians and the Documentation and Labeling Specialist. This role will be responsible for training and development of the team and procedures.
The Director serves as the primary facility lead and liaison for all food safety regulatory agencies, including USDA inspectors, FDA/FSMA representatives, state and local regulatory authorities, customer auditors, and third-party audit agencies, ensures compliance with daily inspection requirements, and leads the development and execution of food safety systems. This role also provides leadership to the Food Safety & Quality team and drives continuous improvement across production, sanitation, documentation, labeling, training, audit readiness, and operational processes.
Lead and maintain USDA-compliant food safety programs, including HACCP plans, SSOPs, GMPs, and prerequisite programs
Serve as the primary facility lead and point of contact for all food safety regulatory agencies, including USDA inspectors (FSIS), FDA/FSMA, state and local authorities, and customer or third-party audit representatives
Ensure compliance with all USDA regulations, including labeling, processing, sanitation, and documentation requirements
Oversee implementation and continuous improvement of food safety systems including HACCP, SQF, FSMA, GMP, SSOP, and prerequisite programs
Maintain facility compliance with SQF and other applicable outside or third-party auditing agency standards
Maintain and update HACCP plans, hazard analyses, and critical control point monitoring systems
Own and oversee the facility sanitation program, including SSOP execution, pre-operational inspections, sanitation verification, corrective actions, and sanitation documentation
Ensure sanitation programs (SSOPs) are properly executed, documented, verified, and effective in maintaining facility compliance
Lead investigations into non-conformances, deviations, sanitation deficiencies, audit findings, and customer complaints; implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA)
Oversee product labeling accuracy and regulatory compliance, including USDA label approvals, ingredient statements, allergen declarations, claims, and customer requirements, as applicable
Lead internal audits and manage external audits, including USDA reviews, FDA/FSMA interactions, SQF audits, customer audits, and third-party inspections
Ensure full traceability and oversee mock recall and recall readiness programs
Confirm the facility is compliant with all required food safety training, including GMP, HACCP, allergen control, sanitation, food defense, SQF, and role-specific regulatory training
Required Skills and Abilities:
Strong knowledge of USDA (FSIS) regulations and inspection processes
Advanced understanding of HACCP, SSOPs, GMPs, SQF, FSMA, sanitation programs, and food safety systems
Experience working in USDA-regulated environments (e.g., meat, poultry, or prepared foods)
Experience maintaining SQF or other GFSI-recognized food safety certification standards
Experience leading regulatory, customer, SQF, and third-party audit programs
Strong leadership and team development capabilities, including experience managing Food Safety & Quality Technicians and documentation/labeling personnel
Ability to work effectively with USDA inspectors and other food safety regulatory personnel
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including root cause analysis and CAPA implementation
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced production environment
Strong understanding of facility sanitation programs, SSOP verification, and food safety training compliance
Proficiency with Microsoft 365 (Excel, Word, SharePoint)
Experience with ERP or traceability systems
Leadership and team management
Regulatory expertise and compliance mindset
Audit readiness and SQF/third-party standards ownership
Sanitation program oversight and verification
Documentation, labeling, and training compliance management
Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Attention to detail and organizational effectiveness
Problem-solving and continuous improvement orientation
Ability to influence cross-functional teams
Physical Requirements:
Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods
Frequent presence on the production floor
Ability to work in refrigerated or temperature-controlled environments
Exposure to food production environments including noise and food allergens
Ability to wear required PPE (hairnets, gloves, smocks, safety glasses, etc.)
Environmental Conditions:
Work is performed in both office and USDA-inspected food manufacturing environments. The role includes exposure to cold environments, production noise, and food allergens. The role also requires routine interaction with production, sanitation, regulatory, and audit environments to verify compliance and maintain inspection readiness.
Work Schedule: Full-Time: some flexibility may be required depending on project timelines and production schedules.
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
5-8+ years of experience in food safety, quality assurance, sanitation, regulatory compliance, or food manufacturing
Minimum 2-3 years of experience in a USDA-regulated facility required
Prior leadership or supervisory experience managing Food Safety & Quality Technicians, QA staff, or documentation/labeling personnel preferred
HACCP certification required (or ability to obtain)
Strong working knowledge of USDA (FSIS), FDA/FSMA, GMP, SQF, sanitation, labeling, and food safety regulations
Experience leading USDA audits and regulatory interactions
Experience maintaining SQF, GFSI, customer, or third-party audit standards required or strongly preferred
Experience overseeing sanitation programs and verifying food safety training compliance in a food manufacturing environment preferred
SQF Practitioner, PCQI, or similar food safety certification preferred
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Worksite address
cleveland, OH, 44101, US
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.