VP of Quality Assurance & Food Safety

Location

Bradenton, FL | United States

Job description

Overview

The VP of Quality Assurance & Food Safety will play a critical role in ensuring the highest standards of food safety and product quality at First Watch. This position will lead a team responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining comprehensive quality assurance and food safety management system programs. This role requires a deep understanding of food safety regulations, industry best practices, and the ability to provide oversight, direction, and leadership to protect the brand.

The essential functions in this are not all-inclusive of this position’s duties and responsibilities.  Reliable and dependable attendance is required.

• Develop and oversee the implementation of comprehensive food safety and quality assurance strategy for all restaurants within the company's multi-state operations that meet or exceed customer expectations.
• Lead and manage a team of quality assurance and food safety professionals, providing guidance, coaching, and mentoring to ensure continuous improvement in performance and results.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Operations, Marketing, Training, Human Resources, Construction, Facility Management, Legal, Supply Chain, and Culinary, to ensure compliance with all relevant quality standards, regulations, and certifications.
• Establish and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor and report on the effectiveness of supplier quality assurance and food safety programs.
• Conduct periodic  proactive visits of restaurants to identify areas for improvement to achieve active managerial control and ensure adherence to established standards.
• Develop and update standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to food safety and quality assurance to reflect industry best practices and regulatory changes.
• Stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and regulatory changes that could impact the business to proactively adapt and improve quality assurance programs.
• Establish and maintain relationships with relevant regulatory agencies and bodies and serve as a liaison with external agencies, including academia and industry, to maintain compliance with all applicable food safety and quality standards.
• Investigate and respond to customer complaints related to food safety and quality in a timely manner, implementing corrective actions as necessary.
• Manage crisis situations related to food safety or quality incidents, including coordinating recalls and communication efforts.
• Oversee programs such as nutrition, employee wellness, third-party audits, sanitation, pest control and health department inspection results.
• Delivers results through sustainable processes and fosters a proactive approach to continuous improvement.
• Promotes a strong food safety culture by liaising with leadership to maintain commitment and align with company strategic objectives.

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, animal science, agriculture science, microbiology, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Extensive experience in quality assurance and food safety, with progressive leadership roles.
• Strong knowledge of local, state, and federal food safety regulations, including FDA Food Code, HACCP, FSMA and other industry standards.
• Proven experience in developing and implementing quality assurance programs within a multi-state or multi-location environment.
• Advanced certification such as Certified Professional Food Safety (CP-FS), Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS), Registered Sanitarian (RS) or Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) is preferred.

First Watch is an award-winning Daytime Dining concept serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch and lunch using fresh ingredients across its network of neighborhood restaurants. A recipient of hundreds of local "Best Breakfast" and "Best Brunch" accolades, First Watch's chef-driven menu includes elevated executions of classic favorites along with specialties such as the Quinoa Power Bowl®, Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos, Avocado Toast, Chickichanga, Morning Meditation (juiced in-house daily), Spiked Lavender Lemonade and its signature Million Dollar Bacon. In 2023, First Watch was recognized as the top restaurant brand in Yelp’s inaugural list of the top 50 most-loved brands in the U.S. In 2023 and 2022, First Watch was named a Top 100 Most Loved Workplace® in Newsweek by the Best Practice Institute. In 2022, First Watch was awarded a sought-after MenuMasters honor by Nation's Restaurant News for its seasonal Braised Short Rib Omelet and recognized with ADP's coveted Culture at Work Award. There are more than 520 First Watch restaurants in 29 states, and the restaurant concept is majority owned by Advent International, one of the world’s largest private equity firms. For more information, visit .

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