Senior Director Food Safety

Leads enterprise-wide food safety, supplier Food Safety, product compliance, and food safety risk management strategies across all Texas Roadhouse brands. Accountable for developing and executing a comprehensive food safety framework that safeguards Guests, Roadies, and the Brand while supporting operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership
  • Develop and execute the Company's long-term food safety strategy.
  • Establish food safety objectives, key performance indicators, and governance processes.
  • Provide strategic guidance and recommendations to senior leadership regarding food safety risks, emerging regulations, and industry trends.
  • Drive enterprise-wide food safety initiatives.
  • Represent Texas Roadhouse as a leader in food safety and quality within the restaurant industry.
• Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance
  • Ensure procedures and training are in compliance with all applicable FDA, USDA, FSMA, HACCP, state, and local food safety regulations.
  • Maintain enterprise food safety standards, policies, and procedures.
  • Oversee development and maintenance of HACCP plans and preventive control programs.
  • Monitor regulatory changes and implement strategies to ensure ongoing compliance.
  • Serve as the contact for regulatory agencies and public health authorities.
• Supplier Quality & Product Safety
  • Oversee the strategy of the supplier approval, qualification, and compliance program.
  • Establish Texas Roadhouse Food Safety standards and performance expectations for suppliers.
  • Oversee the management of supplier audits, corrective action programs, and vendor performance reviews.
  • Partner with Purchasing and Culinary teams during product sourcing, vendor onboarding, and product innovation initiatives.
  • Ensure appropriate food safety requirements are integrated into supplier contracts and agreements.
• Recall & Crisis Management
  • Lead enterprise product recall, traceability, and crisis response programs.
  • Oversee mock recall exercises and business continuity planning.
  • Coordinate cross-functional response efforts during food safety incidents or potential public health events.
  • Partner with Risk, Legal, Communications, and Operations teams to protect Guests and the Brand during crisis situations.
• Restaurant Food Safety & Operational Excellence
  • Establish standards and programs that support food safety execution across all restaurants.
  • Analyze food safety, sanitation, inspection, complaint, and claims data to identify trends and opportunities.
  • Partner with Product Coaches and Operations leaders to drive compliance and continuous improvement.
  • Ensure consistent food safety training, education, and awareness across the organization.
  • Support restaurant openings, international expansion efforts, and new operational initiatives.
• Technology & Innovation
  • Champion food safety technology solutions that improve compliance, reporting, visibility, and operational execution.
  • Leverage data analytics to identify risks and improve food safety outcomes.
  • Evaluate and implement emerging technologies and industry best practices.
  • Oversee food safety systems, dashboards, traceability tools, and compliance platforms.
• Team Leadership & Development
  • Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing Food Safety team.
  • Establish clear goals, development plans, and succession strategies.
  • Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning.
  • Build organizational capability by serving as a trusted advisor and educator across the business.
• Industry Representation
  • Represent Texas Roadhouse with industry organizations, regulatory groups, and professional associations.
  • Participate in food safety councils, conferences, industry working groups, and advisory boards.
  • Build external relationships that strengthen the Company's food safety leadership position.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Biochemistry, Food Science, or other science-based curriculum preferred.
• CPFS certification or higher required.
• 10+ years of progressive food safety, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, or food manufacturing experience.
• 5+ years of senior leadership experience managing food safety and quality programs.
• Experience supporting complex, multi-unit restaurant, retail, food service, or food manufacturing organizations.
• Demonstrated experience in supplier quality management, recalls, crisis management, and regulatory affairs.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel required.
• Enhanced skills with food safety technology, including digital platforms, a plus.

This job description includes essential functions and basic duties and is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as appropriate.