VP, Food Safety & Quality - Tasty Brands : Job Details

Tasty Brands is a well-established, fast growing national company that is focused on providing great tasting, nutritious food for K12 school foodservice customers and private brands of selected retailers. With a focus on collaboration, best practices, and continuous improvement, we are looking for people who want to join us for a long career and be part of a great success story. Our most successful people are self-starters, work well in collaboration with others, see the big picture and like to win.

We have an outstanding team of motivated professionals who work well together in a fun and team spirit type atmosphere. Our mission is driven by our core values – urgency, accountability, proactivity, teamwork, and integrity. We are looking for the next “great fit” to join our growing team!

Overview

The VP of Food Safety and Quality will lead all aspects of food safety, quality assurance, compliance, and provide strategic input into Research & Development (R&D) projects. This individual will ensure the safe and efficient launch of new products while maintaining regulatory compliance, developing quality systems, and driving continuous improvement initiatives for production facilities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement comprehensive food safety and quality assurance programs across all facilities, including copackers.
• Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, and other relevant regulatory standards for RTE sliced meats/meals and portable snack trays.
• Oversee food safety audits, inspections, and certifications (e.g., SQF, BRC, HACCP) and ensure corrective actions are completed promptly.
• Collaborate with copackers to ensure they meet company and regulatory food safety and quality requirements.
• Act as a key partner to the R&D team, providing guidance on food safety, quality, and regulatory aspects of new product development and reformulations.
• Evaluate potential risks in new formulations and production processes, ensuring safe and compliant product launches.
• Stay engaged with R&D on ingredient and process innovations, ensuring that quality and safety standards are integrated from concept to commercialization.
• Lead crisis management and recall initiatives, should they arise, ensuring swift and effective resolution.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement in food safety and quality, identifying and implementing best practices.
• Manage and mentor a team of food safety and quality professionals.
• Monitor and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) related to food safety, quality, and compliance.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends, regulatory changes, and food safety technologies to enhance current processes.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in food safety and quality, preferably in the RTE assembly/or meat/bakery/dairy industry.
• Proven experience working with copackers and managing quality across multiple facilities.
• Extensive knowledge of food safety regulations (FDA, USDA) and certification standards (SQF, BRC, HACCP).
• Strong understanding of the R&D process and how food safety/quality is integrated into product development.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with a track record of managing teams and cross-functional collaboration.
• Experience in handling product recalls and crisis management.
• Ability to travel as needed to oversee copackers and production facilities.

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Relocation assistance available.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development within a dynamic and expanding company.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local laws.