Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance

Company Description

From tree to table, POM Wonderful delivers a whole lot of healthy. Known for our iconic double-bubble bottle, we grow, harvest, package, and market fresh pomegranates, pomegranate arils, and a selection of delicious pomegranate-blended juices and teas. With over 9,000 acres in California’s Central Valley, POM Wonderful is committed to unleashing the antioxidant power of our handpicked pomegranates. 

JOB SUMMARY:

Lead the end-to-end Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) strategy for Arils ready to eat product category, beverage portfolio and fresh ensuring robust governance, operational discipline, and continuous improvement at Del Rey & Buttonwillow facilities. Provide FSQA leadership to operations with focus on Arils domestic & Spring Arils program with emphasis on compliance, risk mitigation, continuous improvement and cost optimization. 

SUPERVISORY SITUATIONS:
This position supervises Arils Quality Manager, Food Safety Regulatory & Technical Specialists in Del Rey and QA Supervisor in Buttonwillow. Dotted line responsibility for Sanitation team and contract manufacturing Supervisor with potential future responsibility for beverage QA operations.

Compensation- $160,000.00 - $180,000.00 Salary - with a discretionary bonus up to 20%. Final compensation will be dependent upon skills & experience.

Job Description

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:  

• Own FSQA program architecture: develop, maintain, and administrate SOPs, SSOPs, HACCP plans, validation/verification records, and document control in alignment with GFSI and regulatory expectations.
• Steward of risk management: maintain and execute HACCP/HARPC, environmental monitoring, allergen control, foreign material prevention, and traceability/recall readiness.
• Accountable for KPIs: yield impact from quality holds, claim rates, micro compliance (% pass), environmental positives rate, sanitation effectiveness score, audit closure cycle time, and FSQA cost-to-serve.
• Tight change control: implement structured change management for new capital projects, process, equipment, formulation, labeling, and sanitation chemicals with documented risk assessments and sign‑offs.
• Structured CAPA administration: ensure root‑cause rigor (5-Why/Fishbone), action effectiveness checks, and timely closure; maintain dashboards and executive reporting of trend analyses.
• Embed FSQA into daily operations: partner with Plant Management, Production, Maintenance, and Sanitation to operationalize programs—turn standards into routines (pre‑op checks, process control limits, shift‑by‑shift verification).
• Operational coaching: influence behaviors on the floor through presence, leadership, and targeted training; uplift ownership of quality and sanitation at line‑level.
• Tiered accountability rhythms: lead weekly/monthly QA FMDS/KPI meetings (Tier 1–3) to review FSQA KPIs, environmental findings, customer complaints, and process capability; drive rapid response and escalation.
• Process capability & loss prevention: collaborate with Ops to reduce variability, improve yields, and prevent defects (temperature control, dwell times, antimicrobial dosing, packaging integrity).
• Team development: build a high‑performing FSQA and sanitation organization; define roles, succession, and training paths.
• Culture of quality: foster a proactive, data‑driven, “go‑see” culture where operators own quality and sanitation outcomes.
• Training program ownership: ensure competency‑based training for HACCP, GMPs, allergen control, sanitation, environmental monitoring, and recall procedures.
• Develop and maintain the scientific documentation used to support the critical hazard decisions for HARPC risk assessment including extended runs and special production needs.
• Assist in development of special department projects for shelf life enhancement and work in conjunction with R&D team on other pipeline projects.
• Maintain active role on internal WOW teams and supporting other cross functional departments.

Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Previous experience with Global GAP, GFSI-BRC audits, HACCP/HARPC a must.
• Ability to handle multiple complex projects and work under pressure in a high stress environment.
• Exceptional self-starter independent leader who can follow through on action items and strong ability to get things done.
• Strong oral and written communication skills with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with personnel, customers, suppliers, and other business contacts