Director of Quality Assurance (Chicago)
Kelly Science, Engineering, Technology & Telecom, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60290
Director of Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA)
Location: Chicago – South Holland, IL Pay Range: $125,000 – $160,000 per year + up to 30% Bonus Potential Shift: Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM (Onsite; flexibility required for audits/visits) Status: Full-Time, Direct Hire
Overview: We are seeking a strategic and hands-on Director of Food Safety & QA to lead the quality department at our brand-new, state-of-the-art cooking oils production facility in South Holland. In this newly created leadership role, you will be the site’s primary Food Safety authority, responsible for building, refining, and scaling our quality systems.
You will oversee a dedicated, tenured team and partner closely with the VP of Operations and the Director of Growth and Innovation to ensure our products exceed industry standards. This is a high-impact opportunity for a leader who enjoys transition, program development, and mentoring a technically skilled team in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Responsibilities: Strategic Leadership: Serve as the primary site Food Safety leader, providing technical direction for the development and implementation of quality systems aligned with GFSI standards and regulatory requirements.
Team Management: Provide direct oversight to the FSQA team (including 1 QA Manager and 5 salaried professionals); lead hiring, onboarding, and performance development.
Regulatory & Liaison: Act as the primary point of contact for USDA/FDA inspectors and external quality counterparts at customer and supplier organizations.
Program Development: Analyze and update SOPs, HACCP plans, and food safety programs to ensure continuous improvement and operational efficiency.
Operational Oversight: Direct in-process quality control, including raw material and finished goods testing; monitor performance through established KPIs and quality metrics.
Audits & Compliance: Manage internal and external audit processes, ensuring timely closure of findings and maintaining compliance across offsite warehouses.
Budgetary Control: Establish and manage departmental expenditures and costs in alignment with the annual budget.
Collaboration: Support facility initiatives and capital projects, providing functional QA leadership to cross-functional teams.
Qualifications: Education: Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or a closely related scientific field.
Experience: 7–10 years of progressive experience in food processing quality assurance.
Leadership: At least 5 years of management experience; prior experience at the Director level is preferred, but experienced Senior Managers are encouraged to apply.
Industry Knowledge: Deep expertise in USDA/FDA regulations and GFSI standards is required. Experience in the food industry is mandatory (Cooking oils experience is a significant plus).
Certifications: HACCP certification is required; PCQI certification is highly preferred.
Technical Skills: Proven ability to lead audits, create action plans, and develop robust SOPs from the ground up.
Communication: Strong decision-making skills and the ability to communicate complex technical information to various stakeholders.
Logistics: Must be able to work onsite daily in South Holland (designated parking provided) and travel locally (~5%) to suppliers or trade shows.
What Happens Next: Once you apply, our recruitment team will review your professional background and food industry experience. If your profile aligns with our leadership needs, we will reach out to schedule an initial virtual interview with our VP of Operations. Following the virtual round, qualified candidates will be invited onsite to tour our new facility and meet the team.
Note : We are not currently offering sponsorship for this position.
Location: Chicago – South Holland, IL Pay Range: $125,000 – $160,000 per year + up to 30% Bonus Potential Shift: Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM (Onsite; flexibility required for audits/visits) Status: Full-Time, Direct Hire
Overview: We are seeking a strategic and hands-on Director of Food Safety & QA to lead the quality department at our brand-new, state-of-the-art cooking oils production facility in South Holland. In this newly created leadership role, you will be the site’s primary Food Safety authority, responsible for building, refining, and scaling our quality systems.
You will oversee a dedicated, tenured team and partner closely with the VP of Operations and the Director of Growth and Innovation to ensure our products exceed industry standards. This is a high-impact opportunity for a leader who enjoys transition, program development, and mentoring a technically skilled team in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Responsibilities: Strategic Leadership: Serve as the primary site Food Safety leader, providing technical direction for the development and implementation of quality systems aligned with GFSI standards and regulatory requirements.
Team Management: Provide direct oversight to the FSQA team (including 1 QA Manager and 5 salaried professionals); lead hiring, onboarding, and performance development.
Regulatory & Liaison: Act as the primary point of contact for USDA/FDA inspectors and external quality counterparts at customer and supplier organizations.
Program Development: Analyze and update SOPs, HACCP plans, and food safety programs to ensure continuous improvement and operational efficiency.
Operational Oversight: Direct in-process quality control, including raw material and finished goods testing; monitor performance through established KPIs and quality metrics.
Audits & Compliance: Manage internal and external audit processes, ensuring timely closure of findings and maintaining compliance across offsite warehouses.
Budgetary Control: Establish and manage departmental expenditures and costs in alignment with the annual budget.
Collaboration: Support facility initiatives and capital projects, providing functional QA leadership to cross-functional teams.
Qualifications: Education: Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or a closely related scientific field.
Experience: 7–10 years of progressive experience in food processing quality assurance.
Leadership: At least 5 years of management experience; prior experience at the Director level is preferred, but experienced Senior Managers are encouraged to apply.
Industry Knowledge: Deep expertise in USDA/FDA regulations and GFSI standards is required. Experience in the food industry is mandatory (Cooking oils experience is a significant plus).
Certifications: HACCP certification is required; PCQI certification is highly preferred.
Technical Skills: Proven ability to lead audits, create action plans, and develop robust SOPs from the ground up.
Communication: Strong decision-making skills and the ability to communicate complex technical information to various stakeholders.
Logistics: Must be able to work onsite daily in South Holland (designated parking provided) and travel locally (~5%) to suppliers or trade shows.
What Happens Next: Once you apply, our recruitment team will review your professional background and food industry experience. If your profile aligns with our leadership needs, we will reach out to schedule an initial virtual interview with our VP of Operations. Following the virtual round, qualified candidates will be invited onsite to tour our new facility and meet the team.
Note : We are not currently offering sponsorship for this position.