Director of Quality Assurance (Chicago)

IRCA is a leading international provider of semi-finished ingredients for the bakery, pastry and gelato markets, serving independent producers as well as large food manufacturers (e.g. CPG). Core products include chocolate, chocolate decorations, creams, pastry mixes, gelato ingredients, and other bakery / pastry ingredients.

The Company, established in 1919, and headquartered in Italy, was acquired by Advent International, the global Private Equity firm, in July 2022, and has a strong track record of growth over the last decade. Irca has made several acquisitions recently in the areas of candied fruits (Cesarin), pistachio ingredients (Anastasi) and Sweet ingredients in US and Europe, as well as expansion and growth of US facilities.

The business focuses on high value and specialty ingredients for the Food Manufacturers segment, with a portfolio that incorporates a range of products including sweet particulates, chocolate confections, baked inclusions, variegates and fruit purées. Irca has 22 production facilities in Europe, US and Vietnam, with over 2400 employees serving 100+ countries.

Seeking a Director of Quality Assurance, to lead a team of up to 10+ QA Professionals focusing on QA and Food safety for our food manufacturing sites located in in the US. You will lead, develop, coach and mentor a team of QA professionals. Additionally, responsible for developing, implementing, and managing all quality assurance and food safety programs to ensure our products meet the highest standards of safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. This individual will be a key driver of our food safety culture, providing strategic direction and hands-on leadership to the Quality Assurance department. The successful candidate will be an expert in modern food safety and quality management systems, with a proven track record of success in a food manufacturing environment.

We are seeking someone open to traveling to our sites in the USA.

• Leadership and Strategy:

• Develop and execute the company's long-term quality and food safety vision and strategy in alignment with business objectives.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the Quality Assurance team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and proactive problem-solving.
• Establish and manage the annual Quality Assurance department budget, including resource allocation for staffing, training, and equipment.
• Serve as the primary liaison with regulatory agencies (e.g., FDA, USDA) and manage all regulatory inspections and inquiries.

• Quality and Food Safety Systems Management:

• Develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive and effective food safety and quality management systems, including HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points), GMPs (Good Manufacturing Practices), and prerequisite programs.
• Ensure compliance with all local, state, federal, and international food safety regulations and standards.
• Lead the company’s efforts in achieving and maintaining GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) certification (e.g., SQF, BRC).
• Oversee the development and maintenance of all food safety and quality documentation, including policies, procedures, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

• Operational Excellence:

• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to track and report on the effectiveness of quality and food safety programs.
• Oversee the supplier approval and performance monitoring program to ensure the quality and safety of all incoming raw materials and ingredients.
• Manage the internal audit program to ensure compliance with internal standards and external regulations.
• Lead investigations into customer complaints, non-conformances, and food safety incidents, implementing effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).
• Oversee the environmental monitoring program and sanitation verification activities

• Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Collaborate with the Research and Development team on the development and commercialization of new products to ensure food safety and quality are integrated from the initial stages.
• Work closely with the Operations and Production teams to drive a quality at the source mentality and ensure adherence to quality standards throughout the manufacturing process.
• Partner with the Procurement team to establish clear raw material specifications and resolve any supplier quality issues.
• Partner with teams to commercialize new products

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or a related field. A Master’s degree is preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in a quality assurance leadership role within the food manufacturing industry. Experience with Cocoa & Chocolate is a plus
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing successful food safety programs (HACCP, GMPs, etc.).
• Proven track record of successful interaction with regulatory agencies (FDA, USDA).
• In-depth, hands-on experience with GFSI schemes (SQF or BRC practitioner preferred).
• Certifications: HACCP and PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) certifications are required.
• Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as frequency distribution, determination of test reliability and validity, analysis of variance, correlation techniques, sampling theory, and factor analysis.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

• Technical Expertise: Strong knowledge of food microbiology, food chemistry, and sanitation principles.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Comprehensive understanding of FDA and/or USDA regulations.
• Leadership: Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop a team of quality assurance professionals.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate with all levels of the organization, as well as external stakeholders

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing. Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities