Job Description

Head of Quality Assurance page is loaded Head of Quality Assurance Apply remote type Onsite locations Harrisonburg, VA time type Full time posted on Posted Today job requisition id JR595 Who We Are and What We Do Farmer Focus’s mission is to promote and protect generational family farms by shifting farm-level decision-making and chicken ownership back to farmers and empowering them to farm the way they know is best. We are committed to consistently producing 100% organic and humanely raised chicken that is better for people, the planet, and animals. Our culture is rooted in servant leadership, and we live by our Farmer Focus CARES values: Community, Accountability, Respect, Excellence, and Stewardship. The Head of Quality Assurance is responsible for leading the Quality Assurance teams to ensure that all Farmer Focus products meet the highest standards of food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. Reporting to the Head of Operations, this role provides oversight of plant-level QA Managers fostering a collaborative approach to achieving excellence in food safety, quality, and operational standards. This role is critical in aligning company-wide QA strategies with regulatory requirements and customer expectations while driving continuous improvement initiatives and fostering a culture of accountability and excellence. Key Responsibilities Oversee the development, implementation, and maintenance of Quality Assurance programs, ensuring adherence to USDA and customer requirements. Partner with Live Operations and Compliance departments to ensure quality standards and regulatory compliance in all areas. Act as the subject matter expert on food safety, regulatory compliance, and quality systems, providing guidance across cross-functional teams. Provide leadership and direction to Plant QA Managers and the Compliance team, ensuring consistent application of food safety and quality standards across all facilities. Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the effectiveness of quality and compliance programs, identifying and driving opportunities for improvement. Lead the response to customer, regulatory, and third-party audits, ensuring timely and effective resolution of findings and implementation of corrective actions. Manage compliance with organic, humane, and other certification standards, ensuring alignment with company values and regulatory requirements. Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, R&D, and other departments to enhance product quality and ensure the hygienic design of facilities and equipment. Plan and organize training activities to promote a deep understanding of food safety and quality standards across the organization. Investigate and resolve quality and compliance issues, including non-conformance incidents, customer complaints, and product recalls. Drive the implementation of continuous improvement initiatives related to HACCP, GMPs, and other preventive controls. Provide mentorship, coaching, and professional development opportunities for team members, fostering a culture of growth and accountability. Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Poultry Science, Microbiology, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred. Minimum of 7+ years of experience in food safety, quality assurance, or compliance, with at least 3 years in a leadership role. HACCP certification required; SQF Practitioner or similar certification preferred. Knowledge of BRC or certification highly preferred. Strong knowledge of USDA, FDA, and other regulatory requirements applicable to poultry production and food manufacturing. Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive continuous improvement initiatives. Proven experience managing audits, developing corrective actions, and implementing preventive measures. Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and translate insights into actionable improvements. Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and inspire teams at all levels. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and quality management systems (e.g., Workday, SAP, PI, or similar systems/software). Work Environment: Work is performed in a variety of environments, including office settings, production facilities, and farm visits. Frequent exposure to varying temperatures, humidity, and chemicals typical of poultry production facilities. Must be able to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and comply with all food safety and biosecurity requirements. Travel to multiple plant locations and off-site meetings required up to 20% of the time. Farmer Focus is committed to the principles of equal employment and to complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities, and all other employment laws and regulations. It is our intent to maintain a work environment that is inclusive and equitable, free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation based upon an individual's age, race (including traits historically associated with race, which includes hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation (including transgender status, gender identity, or expression), pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), military status (including status as a uniformed servicemember, a veteran, or dependent of a servicemember), or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. Farmer Focus is dedicated to the fulfillment of this policy regarding all aspects of employment, including but not limited to recruiting, hiring, placement, transfer, training, promotion, rates of pay and other compensation, termination, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. We plan our work schedules to avoid most Saturday work. We do not run production on Sundays. Join us in our mission to protect generational family farms. We look forward to working with you! #J-18808-Ljbffr

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