This position reports to the SVP, Food Safety and Quality. The Director, Food Safety and Quality Assurance will work with Category Owners (i.e. Dairy, Cheeses, Dessing, Produce, Breads, Packaging, etc.), Cafés, Panera’s Quality Assurance, Café Operations and serve on cross-functional teams driving food safety and quality initiatives.

The Director, Food Safety and Quality Assurance will be responsible for category owners approving Suppliers with all supporting documentation and actively managing performance at the supplier and the SKU level including implementation of sampling and monitoring programs. They will be responsible for identifying and delivering continuous improvement initiatives within their respective category owners to drive food safety, quality and conformance to specification (improving supplier capability and performance) at the café and guest level while ensuring regulatory compliance.

This position has duties which include people development, supplier CI, report writing, data analysis, facility auditing, formal communication to both internal and external customers, provide training to Associates related to food quality and food safety, and interaction with regulatory agencies as needed.

Key Responsibilities

· Approvals of Ingredient and Packaging Suppliers with all supporting documentation on a permanent and ongoing basis.

· Reporting and working with Suppliers on risk reduction, product and process improvements, capability studies and root cause analysis with CAPA (as needed).

· Monitor, review, and investigate food safety complaint data / quality data and work with Suppliers, on follow up and action plans to ensure we are mitigating food safety and quality risks.

· Provide technical expertise and support to the field on projects designed to improve our food quality, food safety and sanitation.

· Conduct periodic Supplier / DC / Produce House / Café audits as needed to ensure our partners are meeting the Panera Standards.

· Work with suppliers as needed to ensure they understand their process capability for their respective ingredients, lines, and processes supported by appropriate data.

· Implement and maintain value added Sampling and Monitoring programs.

· Collaborate and work in tandem with Quality Assurance, Culinary, Supply Planning, Sourcing, Café Operations, MSD and Suppliers to drive product / process improvements within the supplier and supply chain base.

· Support and drive the execution of key food safety, regulatory and quality initiatives within respective categories.

Qualifications and Experience

· B.S. in Food Science or related field

· 10+ years of work-related experience in food industry, produce experience desired.

· GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) certification / experience

· Knowledge of food microbiology, food safety, food safety controls, food defense, sanitary design, auditing, statistical process control, Food Code, FSMA and GMP’s

· Possess and maintain technical and professional knowledge as it relates to Regulatory Compliance, FSMA, Food Code, CFIA, and HARPC.

· Prior Auditing experience

· Prior Recall experience

· Food Contact Packaging experience

· Ability to thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment

· Ability to influence without authority and communicate appropriately for the intended audience

· Must be computer literate, including word processing and spreadsheet applications

· Strong team and cross functional business partner

· Interpersonal skills and the ability to interact positively with Associates and Management at the Plant level

· Intrinsically motivated, self-starter with a positive attitude

· Ability to travel as much as 50%

Working Conditions:

· This position will be based in the Newton, MA Support Center (near Boston).

· Travel is up to 50%

Physical Requirements:

· While performing this job, the incumbent is regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, & use hands and fingers to operate keyboards

Direct Reports:

· This position will have direct reports (3 – 5 reports)

Equal Opportunity Employer: Disabled/Veterans

Competitive Pay $207,723 - $236,804 annually

The actual pay offered will be determined by multiple factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s relevant experience, job-related knowledge, skills, and geographical location. Individual compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.