Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance

Overview

Director of Food Safety & Quality Assurance is responsible for leading the company’s food safety, quality, and compliance programs across all franchise locations and approved suppliers. This role ensures the safe handling, production, and service of ready-to-eat sushi products, compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, and protection of the brand’s reputation. The director provides strategic oversight, hands-on support, and leadership to instill a strong culture of food safety and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Food Safety & Compliance

• Develop, implement, and maintain HACCP-based programs, SOPs, and policies.
• Ensure compliance with FDA Food Code, USDA regulations, FSMA, and local/state health requirements.
• Prepare and support locations for inspections, retail audits, and military reviews.

Franchise Operations Support

• Conduct and oversee regular audits of franchise locations, focusing on high-risk practices (e.g., raw fish handling, rice time/temp control).
• Support new store openings with training, setup, and onboarding.
• Guide corrective actions following inspections or audit findings.

Training & Culture

• Develop food safety training for franchisees, employees, and internal teams.
• Ensure compliance with food handler and ServSafe certification requirements.
• Promote a proactive food safety culture through communication and recognition programs.

Supplier & Product Quality

• Approve and audit suppliers of seafood, rice, produce, and packaging to ensure safety and quality standards.
• Partner with Supply Chain and Product Development on product specifications, shelf life, and testing.
• Monitor product quality across locations and oversee recall traceability.

Incident & Crisis Management

• Lead investigations into customer complaints, foodborne illness reports, or product issues.
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions.
• Manage recalls and serve as primary contact with regulatory authorities and retail partners.

Quality Assurance & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain QA documentation, KPIs, and audit/incident tracking.
• Identify recurring risks and drive improvements to strengthen food safety systems.
• Collaborate with Operations, Legal, Marketing, and Training to integrate food safety into business goals.

Leadership & Management

• Supervise food safety managers and oversee departmental workflow.
• Provide performance evaluations, coaching, and disciplinary actions in line with company policy.
• Represent company in industry and regulatory forums as needed.
• Position reports to President/CEO.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Public Health, or related field.
• HACCP Certification required; REHS/RS or CP-FS strongly preferred.
• ServSafe Manager Certification (or ability to obtain).
• 7+ years of progressive experience in food safety/QA, preferably in foodservice, retail, or franchise environments.
• Strong knowledge of sushi/seafood and ready-to-eat food handling.
• Experience with grocery retailers, commissaries, or military bases is a plus.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and data analysis.
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness to travel 25–40% nationwide.