Plant Quality and Food Safety Director

Mount Crawford, VA – Onsite

About the role

As the Plant Quality and Food Safety Director, you will lead the quality and food safety programs for our Mount Crawford facility. This role ensures compliance with regulatory standards, drives continuous improvement, and upholds Danone North America’s commitment to delivering safe, high-quality products.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain robust quality and food safety systems (e.g., HACCP, FSMA, GMP, SQF) to ensure compliance with federal, state, and corporate standards.
• Lead the plant’s quality and food safety teams, fostering a culture of accountability, training, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee internal audits, corrective actions, and preventive measures to address non-conformances and mitigate risks.
• Collaborate with operations, R&D, and supply chain teams to resolve quality issues and drive process improvements.
• Serve as the primary liaison with regulatory agencies (FDA, USDA, etc.) during inspections and audits.
• Monitor key quality metrics (e.g., consumer complaints, hold/release rates, environmental monitoring) and report trends to leadership.
• Support new product launches and process changes to ensure quality and food safety are embedded from the outset.
• Champion sustainability initiatives related to quality and food safety, aligning with Danone’s global commitments.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Dairy Science, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 8–10 years of progressive experience in quality and food safety within the food manufacturing industry, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of food safety regulations (FSMA, FDA, USDA) and quality systems (SQF, ISO, HACCP).
• Experience managing quality programs in a dairy or cultured products facility is highly desirable.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Certifications such as HACCP, PCQI, or SQF Practitioner are a plus.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
• Paid time off and holidays.
• Employee wellness programs and resources.
• Opportunities for professional development and career growth within Danone North America.