Director, FSQR

About Maola

• Built on over a century of dedication, Maola is always looking ahead—investing in our people, strengthening our communities, and securing fresh, local dairy for the future.
• Join a farmer-owned cooperative rooted in integrity, sustainability, and a passion for providing fresh, high-quality Maola dairy products.
• We prioritize your well‑being with competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package, including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) with employer match, Life Insurance, paid time off, and more—available within your first month.
• Our employees are an integral part of who we are—what you do and what you think matters.

Starting Annual Salary Range: $150,000 - $210,000

Summary

The Director, FSQR—Food Safety Quality & Regulatory—directs, develops, and maintains Maola Local Dairies® regulatory compliant Quality programs at all consumer packaging plants. The role coordinates all efforts through the respective Quality Departments to support and enhance quality performance in line with Maola quality objectives, including enterprise food safety and quality programs such as FSMA, HACCP, SQF, GMP and internal audits.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Responsible for the overall quality of the consumer plants operating division.
• Directly oversee the Quality Managers at the respective sites via the site managers.
• Maintain, improve and develop Food Safety Plans by conducting and documenting facility hazard evaluation/analysis, developing and implementing preventive controls, and verifying plan effectiveness per FSMA expectations.
• Maintain and have oversight of the enforcement and accountability of GMP requirements to current good manufacturing practices (cGMP’s).
• Remain current and serve as division SME on all mandated food safety regulations, laws, policies and procedures of the FDA & USDA as mandated by the PMO, CFR & FSMA.
• Ensure that the Consumer Package division is audit ready and serve as the co-host of regulatory inspections if needed.
• Serve as multi‑facility SQF Practitioner developing and validating SQF program procedures and policies (QA Managers are also required to be SQF practitioners).
• Drive simplification and standardization of audit process and execution across division to ensure compliance with new and emerging regulatory standards and requirements.
• Coordinate all regulatory, customer, and third‑party audits.
• Visit/confer with representatives of ingredient and packaging suppliers to obtain information related to vendor quality standards. Ensure vendor management program includes quality and food safety review for all materials.
• Confer with Senior Management and/or R&D in the development of new product formulations and label compliance review.
• Establish and maintain enterprise quality management systems (DSI / SAP systems), policies and procedures that enable the company to comply with regulatory requirements and current regulatory expectations.
• Develop and maintain FSQA training for the division. (Set annual training requirements and training frequencies with H.R. using the Alchemy platform).
• Develop and maintain division vendor management program and policies, including auditing, performance monitoring and inspection readiness programs.
• Interface directly with corporate management to assure cross functional alignment of goals and objectives ensuring compliance and realization systems related best practices.
• Act as an expert resource and provide expertise, support, and guidance to internal and external partners in resolving complex food safety and product quality challenges and solutions for potential compliance risks.
• Track, investigate, trend with a Root Cause Analysis, and report all Consumer Package customer complaints via the local Team site teams.
• Train, guide and develop the local Quality Teams in all areas of TQMS and individual career growth preparedness.
• Maintain accurate, detailed, organized, and thorough records.
• Participate in monthly Plant Review meetings to review specific set of quality and compliance metrics to state of control and drive targeted actions for continuous improvement.

Basic Requirements

• Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Biology, or related field, or fifteen (15+) years of experience in food plant manufacturing and processing and/or Quality Assurance responsibilities and functions.
• Experience in dairy lab procedures.
• Knowledge of regulatory compliance with USDA, FDA, CFR, PMO and implementing and managing third‑party auditing schemes (GFSI, SQF).
• Must have SQF certification or previous experience in a SQF facility.
• Must have SQF Practitioner certification, HACCP certification, and FSMA (PCQI) certification.
• Dairy experience is preferred.
• 50% plus travel required.

Competencies

Communication

• Communicate clearly and effectively through multiple channels – oral, written, visual, and non‑verbal – ensuring our messages are understood and delivered appropriately, whether in‑person or digitally.

Accountability

• Take responsibility for actions and anticipate challenges before they arise.
• Solve problems both within and outside of departments, proactively addressing issues as they occur.

Customer Focused

• Prioritize understanding and meeting both internal and external customer needs.
• Ensure high levels of satisfaction and loyalty by anticipating customer requirements and striving for exceptional service.

Initiative

• Proactive in identifying opportunities and addressing potential threats.
• Act independently and decisively, rather than waiting for situations to demand action.

Problem‑Solving

• Possess the ability to identify and address complex issues with minimal guidance.
• Skilled at analyzing challenges and finding practical, effective solutions.

Collaboration

• Take responsibility for deliverables while also supporting others to ensure that collective goals are met.
• Able to work harmoniously with others toward a common goal, recognizing and valuing each person’s contributions, is fundamental to successful collaboration.

Physical Demands

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 sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and walk; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must be able to reach, bend, extend, and lift and/or move 50‑60 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and peripheral vision.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing 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 occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The employee is regularly exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, and cleaning chemicals. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

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