Director of Total Quality and Compliance

The Director of Total Quality and Compliance is responsible for company wide leadership of product quality, food safety policies and systems and regulatory compliance across all internal functions and external partners. The Director of Total Quality and Compliance operates at both strategic and tactical levels. This role will be responsible for building scalable food safety processes and systems while ensuring our strategic partners are maintaining best-in-class level of discipline in their day-to-day execution by delivering to the highest standards of safety, quality and legal compliance. In addition to food safety, total quality and labeling responsibilities, this position will provide strategic oversight of company wide regulatory and compliance activities including by not limited to, ensuring operational practices, procurement, labeling, claims, assets, manufacturing processes meet legal, customer, state and industry standards. The Director of Total Quality and Compliance will drive proactive food safety governance, regulatory monitoring, attorney coordination, audit readiness and documentation integrity to protect the company from legal, brand and commercial risk. This role will be the voice of safety and compliance partnering with Product, Marketing, Sales, Operations, Supply Chain and Executive leadership to embed compliance and risk mitigation into their day-to-day process, decision making and initiatives. Description Core Responsibilities: Enterprise Total Quality Strategy and Governance - Design, implement and lead company’s end to end Total Quality Management Systems.  - Establish consistent quality standards and KPIs across all co-manufactures, material vendors and third party logistics partners.  - Implement IQC and OCQ processes across all co-manufactures, material vendors and third party logistics partners.  - Oversee formula management with co-manufacturers and blenders and governance of finished goods specifications. - Lead external and internal Bill of Material reviews for regulatory accuracy, shrinkage management, ingredient ordering and cost impacts.   - Create and maintain vendor dashboards including but not limited to: - Supplier Performance - Audit records - Compliant trends - CAPA records - Food Safety & Audit Leadership - Review and validate co-man and blender HACCP plan to ensure compliance with GMP, FDA and applicable state regulations  - Lead audit strategy and readiness for internal, customer, third party inspections ensuring compliance and proactive approach to reduce risk - Track and manage audit finding and corrective actions processes including containment, root cause analysis, CAPA execution and on-time management and closure tracking - Maintain centralized documentation for all vendor HACCP plans, audit results, vendor scorecards and improvement initiatives.  - Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management: - Lead end to end raw material and finished goods traceability to ensure full visibility across internal and external vendors partners.   - Track and interpret evolving regulatory requirements for ingredients, additives, packaging, labeling and claims. - Lead packaging and labeling compliance reviews and approval - Ensure all documentation supports audit readiness and regulatory defense. - Mitigate company wide risk through a proactive and thorough compliance strategy - Coordinate with outside counsel - Vendor Management - Build, implement and maintain vendor qualification and onboarding process - Provide quality, compliance and product specifications inputs for vendor agreements.  - Lead vendor audits and performance management process. Drive performance improvement initiatives with underperforming vendors - Ensure end to end material quality assurance from sourcing to finished goods - Cross Functional Leadership  - Partner with Product and Supply Chain to identify and resolve quality issues - Own internal management of customer complaints and data collection. Ensure timely investigation, RCA and resolution. - Create internal documentation of all standards and governance frameworks    - Coordinate with Commercialization Teams for Total Quality Production and Compliance Qualifications, Experience, and Education: - 10-15 years of leadership experience in food manufacturing, CPG quality and regulatory compliance - Thrives in a fast paced, dynamic environment with the ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt quickly to evolving business needs - Deep knowledge of: - Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) - Compliance and Standards: FDA and USDA regulations, FSMA, GFSI: SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000  - Food Safety Systems: HACCP, HARPC, EMP - Quality Management & Auditing: QMS (TraceGains), RCA, CAPA and QA - Crisis Management & Mitigation: Recalls and Audits - Experience working with mutli-site Co-Manufacturers, Vendors and Third Party Logistics  - Excellent communication and cross-functional leadership skills - Experience architecting and scaling adaptable quality infrastructure to support evolving Co-Man, vendor and 3PL partners in high growth CPG environments - Ability to create an “audit ready” environment through leadership and training - Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace Working Environment and Physical Requirements - This position operates primarily in a remote environment, requiring reliable internet access, appropriate technology, and an ergonomic workspace to support productivity and wellbeing. Employees are expected to attend on-site work occasionally as noted above. On-site work occurs in a standard office environment with typical lighting, ambient noise, and temperature controls.  Physical Demands: - Ability to sit or stand for extended periods while performing desk-based tasks. - Capability to lift and carry light objects (up to 20 pounds), such as laptops or documents. - Willingness to walk between departments or attend in-person meetings during on-site visits. - Adaptability to varying environmental conditions, including changes in lighting, noise, and temperature. - For individuals with tactile sensitivities, uniform modifications may be permitted  Hero Bread is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, age, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity and transgender status), national origin, veteran status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Our workplace culture values and promotes diversity, inclusion, equal employment opportunities, and a work environment free of harassment and hostility. Hero Bread is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. About the Company We are a Baking Innovation company, with a mission to make humans healthier and happier by REVOLUTIONIZING what we eat. We believe in enjoying the food we love without the negative consequences. Hero Bread™ products are just as tasty as the flour containing products but with 0-1g net carbs, 0g sugar, fewer calories and more protein and fiber. We are developing the next generation of baked goods. We’re backed by a roster of incredible investors, including GreatPoint Ventures, DNS Capital, Cleveland Avenue and Future Positive as well as celebrities and influencers. At Hero, we live by our values: Do Epic Shit, Keep It Real, All In It Together, Do What You Say and Finish What You Start, Always Do Better and Perform with Joyful Purpose.