About the position
At Stella & Chewy’s, it’s our mission to help pets and pet parents thrive through the love of raw. If that noble mission appeals to you, we’d love to talk to you about joining our pack. We are located in Oak Creek, WI, a suburb south of Milwaukee. Our teams make this company everything it is today, and you’ll feel this energy throughout every aspect of our workplace. We value working with people of different talents, experiences, and backgrounds. Here at Stella & Chewy’s, we show up as our best and authentic selves. Come join our pack! The Director of Food Safety & Quality Assurance is responsible for ensuring that all products manufactured at Stella & Chewy’s Oak Creek, WI facilities meet the highest standards for food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. This leadership role oversees adherence to FDA regulations and ensures that food safety and quality programs are effectively implemented from the receipt of raw materials through to final product release. The Director will work cross-functionally with operations, sanitation, maintenance, and warehousing teams to maintain compliance and drive continuous improvement. This position plays a key role in advancing company objectives by developing and executing strategies that enhance product quality and support customer satisfaction.
Responsibilities
- Verifies that all FSQA and regulatory programs are functioning as designed including frequencies of measurements and documentation including corrective actions, assuring that facilities have the regulatory evidence to substantiate production of safe, legal, and wholesome products.
- Responsible for revision and updating of FSQA programs, policies, procedures, and documentation as directed.
- Develop and implement FSQA programs that provide predictive measurements to prevent loss of product, process control or compliance to programs.
- Cooperatively manage SQF programs for Oak Creek, WI facilities including acting as co-lead company representative during annual certification audit.
- Responsible for annual reassessment of SQF food safety system and quality plan in partnership with FSQA managerial team and operations.
- Act as lead internal auditor and conduct quarterly audits of entire food safety and SQF systems to verify continued compliance.
- Manage the CAPA program for manufacturing facilities and allied groups to assure thorough investigation, root cause determination, corrective actions, and preventive measures with timely resolution to minimize impact on finished goods and operational entities.
- Act as FSQA representative on assigned continuous improvement projects to evaluate affect on food safety plans, SSOP, cGMPs and product quality parameters.
- Develop management of change documentation for each project as it relates to current policies and assign responsibilities within FSQA department as needed.
- Responsible for managing FSQA staff at Oak Creek manufacturing facilities including assignments, work schedules, performance appraisals and succession planning.
- Understand business growth and conduct staffing assessment to maintain ability to substantiate regulatory compliance.
- Effectively communicate with all departments.
- Act as back up for QA Managers and HACCP Coordinator position and perform preshipment review of products manufactured at Stella & Chewy’s facilities.
- Perform any other related functions as assigned by FSQA leadership or senior business leadership.
Requirements
- Bachelor of Science Degree in related food manufacturing field.
- 10+ years of experience within food processing environment is desired.
- Pet Food FSQA experience, SQF, Lead Auditor, and Preventive Controls for Animal Food Manufacturing certification is preferred.
- Various software applications such as Microsoft Office platforms and an inventory management system.
- Requires the ability to use lab equipment and other instruments.
- Requires the ability to be able to flex work hours as requested, including weekends and off shift hours.
- Travel predicted to be at less than 20% of annual workdays.
