(Hybrid) Director II, Food Safety and Quality Assurance

POSITION SUMMARY: The Director of Quality Assurance and Food Safety oversees the strategy, development, implementation, and execution of all quality assurance and food safety programs throughout the entire supply chain (i.e., raw materials, manufacturing, packaging, storage, and distribution) for all products. In the Food Safety area for Checkers & Rally’s restaurants oversees the strategy, development, implementation, communications, and training of field based and operators along with the execution of programs to support food safety and protection of the guest, employees, and our brand standards.

POSITION ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Oversight and management of all activities related to the verification of consistent quality and food safety of all products supplied to the Checkers/Rally’s system, such as third-party product audits, third party facility audits, third party bakery audits, temperature monitoring, and supplier production summaries.
• Conducts plant, distributor and bakery production audits, product audits and maintains consistent level of product quality.
• Oversees all aspects of the Quality Assurance complaint process, ensures that all product quality, supplier service, and distribution issues reported are addressed in a timely manner, monitors data analysis for trends, ensures the maintenance of data, and ensures the communication of information to suppliers for resolution of current issue and elimination of future issues.
• Works closely with Quality assurance team to identify supplier trends to modify and correct any product not meeting brand specifications.
• Uses recognized industry and regulatory practices and procedures to ensure brand protection by validating that all current and potential suppliers to Checkers/Rally’s system provide products that are safe, conforming, and consistent.
• Monitors, interprets, and manages technical issues associated with biotechnology, public health, toxicology, environment, and animal rights.
• Collaborates with and advise the Chief Supply Chain officer and Supply Chain management team on emerging food safety concerns, crises, current industry issues, and technical issues.
• Maintains knowledge of food safety, HACCP, current industry issues, and innovative technology regarding food and packaging products
• Maintains knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations governing food products.
• Maintains knowledge of current industry issues related to Food Safety and handling.

• Oversees the design, development, implementation, and execution of Quality Assurance programs to ensure food quality, food safety, and performance standards of food and packaging products.
• Oversees the evaluation and verification of the existing quality systems at the supplier/manufacturer/distributor level through scheduled audits of supplier/manufacturer facilities, supplied products, and distribution facilities to ensure that all applicable Checkers/Rally’s, Inc., federal, and state requirements are satisfied.
• Maintains, controls, and recommends QA/Food Safety budgeting and cost control functions.
• Ensures the maintenance of current Quality Assurance and Food Safety files.
• Oversees the development, revision, evaluation and implementation of food safety policies, procedures, and standards.

• Oversees the planning of all monitoring activities for Quality Assurance, Food Safety programs.
• Oversees Checkers/Rally’s, Inc.’s Product Withdrawal and Recall Program.
• Actively participates in technical associations and conferences to continue with industry collaboration and industry learning.
• Regularly provides management with product quality summaries and corrective actions associated with any quality issues and food safety related issues.
• Advises management of trends in food safety that may impact our operations.
• Develops and/or participates in programs with FDA, USDA, to meet evolving regulatory food safety requirements.
• Actively participates in regulatory-based professional groups and other professional associations.
• Gains perspective on methods used by competition by participating in National Restaurant Association activities, (e.g., Quality Assurance Executive Study Group, NRA QA listserv) and adopting those ideas that are appropriate for Checkers/Rally’s and work to our advantage.
• Performs other tasks and assignments as requested or as needed.

FUNCTIONAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

Performs job specific assignments relative to the Quality Assurance and Food Safety Department.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Knowledge

• Excellent customer service skills with the ability to engage others and establish rapport
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with ability to effectively communicate and build relationships with all levels within the organization, and with guests, franchisees, and suppliers.
• Excellent organizational skills with ability to manage multiple priorities, meet demanding deadlines, adjust to sudden changes in workflow, and maintain high quality standards.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to think independently, take corrective action, and to resolve inquiries and requests for information.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, Guests, and the public.
• Ability to maintain all job-related information in a confidential and private manner.

Education

• Bachelor and MBA preferred in Food Science, Biology, Chemistry, or related field experience required.
• Food safety accreditations and credentials required  

Experience

• At least 12-years restaurant brand support center food safety, supplier quality assurance/quality control experience
• Experience with Food safety, HACCP, quality systems, GMP, FDA, USDA, and regulatory requirements regarding process food.

• Experience with Product preparation/cooking procedures and equipment operation.
• Experience in QSR industry required
• Experience in restaurant food safety, food production, supply management, or manufacturing.

• Restaurant inspection or auditing experience is required
• High degree of proficiency with Microsoft Office suite and Internet software

Essential Physical Requirements

• Ability to Travel up to 65% of the time.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret written information such as procedure manuals, Company communications or governmental regulations.
• Ability to frequently use hands to finger, handle or feel.
• Ability to sit for prolonged periods in one location which may be restricted to the employee’s workstation area remotely.
• Ability to lift and/or move up to twenty pounds

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

#LI-NR1