Quality & Food Safety Director – Beverage Manufacturing
Location: Harrisonburg, VA
We are seeking a Quality & Food Safety Director to lead quality operations at our unionized, 14-line beverage manufacturing facility with approximately 700 employees. This role ensures product excellence, regulatory compliance, and a strong culture of quality while driving continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities:
Oversee plant quality operations, ensuring compliance with industry and regulatory standards (GMP, FDA, ISO, AIB, etc.).
Lead a team of ~40 employees, including three direct reports, fostering development and performance excellence.
Drive a culture of quality through integrated work systems, continuous improvement, and best practices.
Ensure food safety and product conformity through rigorous sampling, monitoring, and compliance protocols.
Manage the plant laboratory, overseeing testing, equipment maintenance, and team training.
Act as the primary quality contact, collaborating with internal teams, regulatory agencies, and industry partners.
Report directly to the Senior Plant Director, with a dotted line to Corporate Quality.
Lead and maintain certification systems, including GFSI/FSSC 22000, Kosher, and Organic.
Train and mentor plant teams, fostering cross-functional development and leadership growth.
Develop and execute a long-term strategic vision for quality excellence.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or a related field.
10+ years of quality experience in food or beverage manufacturing (dairy experience preferred).
Strong leadership, communication, and project management skills, with the ability to influence all levels of the organization.
Proven change agent, building trust and positive relationships.
Expertise in root cause analysis and problem-solving (formal training preferred).
Ability to analyze data, identify key success factors, and communicate findings to non-technical teams.
Knowledge of local, state, and federal quality regulations is a plus.
Proficiency in MS Office and Smartsheets.
Willingness to support a 24/7 manufacturing environment, including early mornings, late nights, and weekends as needed.
Compensation & Benefits:
Salary: $150K – $180K
23% Short-Term Incentive (STI) bonus + Long-Term Incentive (LTI) eligibility
Relocation assistance available (homeowners & renters)
This is a high-impact leadership role with direct influence on product quality, operational excellence, and consumer trust. If you’re passionate about quality and food safety, we’d love to hear from you!