Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance

Job description

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. 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 Collaboration with operations to provide strong customer service and ability to get things done through multiple organizational levels. Ability to proactively identify challenges and develop solutions through implementation of continuous improvement principles. High level of integrity and accountability with a positive “can do” mindset. Time management and prioritization skills, ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment, prioritize projects and set goals. EDUCATION: B.S degree in Microbiology, Food Science or related field a must, advanced degree preferred. At least 10 years progressively responsible Food Safety/Quality Assurance experience in a large-scale food manufacturing company, with a specific emphasis in food safety, quality assurance and Sanitation. Prior experience with fluid food processing and RTE refrigerated products required. WORKING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENT: An employee in this position works in an environment in which safety, environmental and health concerns may demand constant attention. Strict adherence to Corporate and/or Plant policies, rules, and regulations in these areas is required. The position will involve project management as well as effective coordination and communication with the Senior Management, Operations, Research Associates, and Marketing and Sales Department. In addition, there will be interaction with Plant Production and Quality Control Departments. Travel to other plant sites and with Marketing & Sales to visit customers is necessary. (Establishing a working relationship with customer's technical personnel is an important part of the job). While performing the duties of this job, the employee may subject to variant temperatures. The employee will be required to wear all appropriate safety equipment including but not limited to eye protection, gloves, protective shoes, protective clothing, and in the plant, a hard hat. The employee occasionally will work near moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is moderate. PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand. The employee frequently is required to use hand to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls and climb or balance. The employee is occasionally required to walk; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Additional Information POM's Dedication to You: Thriving Wellness Community: Access to top-notch medical coverage comprehensive vision and dental plans, and a 401k with match eligibility to secure your financial future and including: 24/7 online physician consultations virtual mental health resources life coaching engaging employee community groups cash rewards for healthy habits and fitness reimbursements library of on-demand fitness videos Career Advancement Opportunities: Unlock your potential with clear paths for career progression and internal mobility across our diverse family of brands and business units. Focused Learning and Development: Grow as a leader with our dedicated Learning and Organizational Development department, offering extensive resources like People Manager and leadership training, webinars, and eLearning courses. Empowering Mentorship Program: Connect with colleagues through our company-wide mentorship program to share goals, overcome challenges, and drive your career forward. Continuous Improvement Training: Participate in training that empowers all employees to learn and implement concepts that drive significant, positive change in the workplace. Building a Healthy Society: To date, our co-Founders Lynda and Stewart Resnick, through their foundations and The Wonderful Company, have invested more than $2.5 billion in education, health and wellness, community development, and sustainability initiatives across California’s Central Valley, Fiji, and the world. In 2025, Wonderful ranked as #1 in PEOPLE’s “100 Companies That Care” list and was named one of Fortune magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. To learn more about our corporate social responsibility efforts, visit csr.wonderful.com . Giving Back to the Community: Make a difference with Wonderful Giving , allowing you to allocate company-provided funds to up to three charities of your choice, and join Wonderful Neighbor to contribute to group service projects within our local communities. POM Wonderful is the largest grower and producer of fresh pomegranates and pomegranate juice in the United States as well as the worldwide leader in fresh California pomegranates and pomegranate-based products, including our 100% pomegranate juices, healthy juice blends and teas. With nearly two million pomegranate trees in Central California, we grow, handpick and juice our own pomegranates to ensure the highest quality. Sold throughout the world and in the vast majority of North American retailers, our selection of products includes pomegranate-based juices and teas, fresh fruit when in season, and fresh arils. POM Wonderful is part of The Wonderful Company, a successful, fast-growing privately held $6 billion company with 10,000 employees worldwide. The Wonderful Company’s connection to consumers has health at its heart and giving back in its DNA. The company has a long-standing commitment to corporate social responsibility, including more than $1 billion invested in environmental sustainability; $65 million in charitable giving, education initiatives, and innovative health and wellness programs each year; and $143 million toward the construction of two charter school campuses in California’s Central Valley. To view the current Corporate Social Responsibility report, visit csr.wonderful.com. We’ve made Wonderful® Pistachios America’s fastest-growing snack brand. We’ve turned pomegranates and POM Wonderful® into a worldwide phenomenon. Wonderful Halos is the No. 1 mandarin orange in America. FIJI® Water is the No. 1 premium imported bottled water in America. JUSTIN® Wine produces California’s top-selling, high-end Cabernet Sauvignon. And Teleflora® is the world’s leading floral delivery service. To learn more about The Wonderful Company, its products and its core values, visit www.wonderful.com, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The Wonderful Company is an Equality Opportunity Employer that provides opportunities for advancement. We are committed to creating a diverse workforce that embodies a deep culture of acceptance, equity, and inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. EEO is the law - click here for more information