FSQA Systems Director
Apply NowCompany: Bell & Evans
Location: Fredericksburg, PA 17026
Description:
Join the Company that is 100% committed to moving the bar higher. Your future belongs at the home of the Excellent Chicken...Bell and Evans!
Job Summary:
The Director, Food Safety & Quality Systems leads the Bell & Evans' FSQA Systems team by creating and
implementing strategies and plans to support current operations and manage growth of the business.
This position will set current and long-term goals and KPIs for the technical areas of the FSQA Systems,
which includes food safety, quality, regulatory, animal welfare, and laboratory services. This role reports
to the Vice President, Food Safety & Quality Assurance and works in collaboration with plant FSQA and
sanitation, plant and live operations, warehouse and transportation, maintenance and engineering,
marketing, new product development, and all supporting functional areas.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Provide leadership, mentorship, and talent management to a team of direct and indirect reports by
attracting and retaining top talent through performance management and succession planning.
Provide technical expertise by serving as a subject matter expert on food safety, microbiology,
quality, and regulatory topics relevant to the current and future business scope.
Champion a collaborative culture of food safety, quality, animal welfare, and continuous
improvement with internal and external partners.
Develop and implement strategies that support the organization's food safety, quality, and animal
welfare initiatives. Align with executive stakeholders on the strategies through routine business
communications.
In alignment with the Director, FSQA Operations, collaborate with FSQA leaders on business and
departmental strategies and key initiatives. Ensure resources are aligned and staffing structures are
in place to support FSQA systems development for current operations and future growth.
Develop proactive relationships with key internal and external stakeholders for areas of
responsibility, including USDA, FDA, strategic vendor partners, copackers and suppliers, customers,
and academia.
Ensure systems are in place to monitor, manage, and communicate with the business on all
emerging food safety or regulatory changes or trends.
Serve as the technical expert on complex food safety and regulatory projects, challenges, and
initiatives.
Represent Bell & Evans as a thought leader of best-in-class food safety & animal welfare systems.
Manage departmental budgets for all areas of responsibility. Ensure the departmental budget aligns
with the strategic objectives of the company.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
Direct Reports: Food Safety Systems Manager
Regulatory Compliance Manager
Animal Welfare Manager
Laboratory Manager
Indirect Reports: Exempt: 7
Nonexempt: 7
Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Poultry Science, or related technical field and 10+
years' experience in food safety and quality assurance management in the food industry; or
equivalent combination of education and experience
5+ years of leadership experience with a track record of developing high-performing teams
Experience in meat or poultry processing and/or animal agriculture
Advanced knowledge of food safety, microbiology, HACCP systems, and regulatory requirements
Certifications in Advanced HACCP and/or PCQI for Human Food
Experience with implementing and maintaining GFSI standards required
Ability for intermittent travel
Preferred Qualifications:
Prior experience as an SQF Practitioner
Demonstrated history of continuous education through relevant learning platforms
Experience in substantiation of product, processing, and animal raising claims
Job Competencies:
Ability to clearly communicate FSQA standards and action items to a diverse team
Ability to champion FSQA Systems with vision, energy, and a passion for food safety and quality
Proficiency in understanding complex food safety, regulatory, and scientific publications and the
ability to translate such technical information to diverse audiences
Experience with strategic planning, goal setting, driving a team towards results, and measuring
achievement of goals and objectives
Ability to prioritize and conduct in-the-moment risk assessments, interpret statistical data, and
trends
Job Summary:
The Director, Food Safety & Quality Systems leads the Bell & Evans' FSQA Systems team by creating and
implementing strategies and plans to support current operations and manage growth of the business.
This position will set current and long-term goals and KPIs for the technical areas of the FSQA Systems,
which includes food safety, quality, regulatory, animal welfare, and laboratory services. This role reports
to the Vice President, Food Safety & Quality Assurance and works in collaboration with plant FSQA and
sanitation, plant and live operations, warehouse and transportation, maintenance and engineering,
marketing, new product development, and all supporting functional areas.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Provide leadership, mentorship, and talent management to a team of direct and indirect reports by
attracting and retaining top talent through performance management and succession planning.
Provide technical expertise by serving as a subject matter expert on food safety, microbiology,
quality, and regulatory topics relevant to the current and future business scope.
Champion a collaborative culture of food safety, quality, animal welfare, and continuous
improvement with internal and external partners.
Develop and implement strategies that support the organization's food safety, quality, and animal
welfare initiatives. Align with executive stakeholders on the strategies through routine business
communications.
In alignment with the Director, FSQA Operations, collaborate with FSQA leaders on business and
departmental strategies and key initiatives. Ensure resources are aligned and staffing structures are
in place to support FSQA systems development for current operations and future growth.
Develop proactive relationships with key internal and external stakeholders for areas of
responsibility, including USDA, FDA, strategic vendor partners, copackers and suppliers, customers,
and academia.
Ensure systems are in place to monitor, manage, and communicate with the business on all
emerging food safety or regulatory changes or trends.
Serve as the technical expert on complex food safety and regulatory projects, challenges, and
initiatives.
Represent Bell & Evans as a thought leader of best-in-class food safety & animal welfare systems.
Manage departmental budgets for all areas of responsibility. Ensure the departmental budget aligns
with the strategic objectives of the company.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
Direct Reports: Food Safety Systems Manager
Regulatory Compliance Manager
Animal Welfare Manager
Laboratory Manager
Indirect Reports: Exempt: 7
Nonexempt: 7
Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Poultry Science, or related technical field and 10+
years' experience in food safety and quality assurance management in the food industry; or
equivalent combination of education and experience
5+ years of leadership experience with a track record of developing high-performing teams
Experience in meat or poultry processing and/or animal agriculture
Advanced knowledge of food safety, microbiology, HACCP systems, and regulatory requirements
Certifications in Advanced HACCP and/or PCQI for Human Food
Experience with implementing and maintaining GFSI standards required
Ability for intermittent travel
Preferred Qualifications:
Prior experience as an SQF Practitioner
Demonstrated history of continuous education through relevant learning platforms
Experience in substantiation of product, processing, and animal raising claims
Job Competencies:
Ability to clearly communicate FSQA standards and action items to a diverse team
Ability to champion FSQA Systems with vision, energy, and a passion for food safety and quality
Proficiency in understanding complex food safety, regulatory, and scientific publications and the
ability to translate such technical information to diverse audiences
Experience with strategic planning, goal setting, driving a team towards results, and measuring
achievement of goals and objectives
Ability to prioritize and conduct in-the-moment risk assessments, interpret statistical data, and
trends