QA Director

Victoria Newitt Recruitment Inc has been retained by North By Northwest Foods to search for their next QA Director.

North By Northwest Foods, based in Richmond, is a food manufacturing company focused on producing high-quality, Asian-inspired ready-to-eat meals for the rapidly growing convenient meal category. The Richmond facility will supply the U.S. market with premium, restaurant-quality frozen meals. The company is part of Northwest Frozen, LLC, a founder‑led food manufacturer headquartered in Des Moines, just south of Seattle. Founded in 2010, the parent company operates one of the largest sushi manufacturing facilities in North America, producing over one million pieces of sushi per day and supplies distributors, restaurant groups, and private‑label partners. Together, the business is entering a new phase of growth, bringing in experienced leaders from major CPG organizations to introduce greater structure and scale while maintaining its entrepreneurial culture.

JOB OVERVIEW

The Director of Food Safety & Quality Assurance is responsible for defining and executing the strategy that ensures North By Northwest Foods food safety and quality programs meet the highest standards across its manufacturing operations. This role leads the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of all food safety and quality systems, including SQF, HACCP, and FSMA, while fostering a strong culture of quality and compliance across the organization. The Director will guide the team through ongoing operational growth, supporting the introduction of new products and ingredients while ensuring systems and processes scale effectively with the business. Working closely with operations, supply chain, and leadership, this role requires a leader who can think creatively and solve complex challenges while maintaining uncompromising standards for food safety, regulatory compliance, and product quality.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership & Strategy

• Provide leadership, coaching, and development to the Food Safety & Quality Assurance team.
• Set the strategic direction and long‑term roadmap for food safety and quality across North By Northwest Foods manufacturing operations.
• Lead the team through ongoing operational growth as systems, processes, and product lines continue to evolve.
• Collaborate closely with senior leaders across Operations, Product Development, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to reinforce a strong culture of food safety, quality, and accountability.
• Maintain a regular on‑site presence across operations, commuting between the Richmond facility and the Washington State manufacturing plant to ensure alignment, consistency, and strong team engagement.

Food Safety & Quality Systems

• Oversee the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of food safety and quality systems including SQF, HACCP, GMP, and FSMA.
• Ensure all products, processes, and facilities meet internal standards as well as applicable regulatory requirements in the United States and Canada.
• Define, measure, and track key food safety and quality KPIs, and lead corrective and preventive actions to maintain operational excellence.

Product & Process Development Support

• Support the development and scaling of new products, ingredients, and manufacturing processes while ensuring food safety and quality are embedded into production.
• Partner with product development teams to integrate food safety and quality standards from concept through commercialization.
• Provide technical guidance during product innovation and process improvement initiatives.

Supplier & Vendor Quality Management

• Oversee supplier approval, monitoring, and ongoing performance management to ensure ingredients and materials consistently meet company standards.
• Build strong relationships with suppliers and partners to support transparency, quality consistency, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure vendor compliance with food safety and quality expectations through audits and performance reviews.

Continuous Improvement

• Drive initiatives to modernize and improve quality systems, including digital tools, automation, and process optimization.
• Lead cross‑functional projects that strengthen quality processes and reduce operational risk to the business and its customers.

Cross‑Functional Partnership

• Partner with regulatory, operations, and supply chain teams to ensure alignment between food safety systems, labeling requirements, and customer expectations.
• Support customer audits and maintain strong relationships with key clients by demonstrating robust food safety and quality practices.

Financial Accountability

• Prepare and manage the annual budget for food safety and quality programs, systems, and initiatives.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Food Engineering, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in food manufacturing, preferably within prepared foods, seafood, or frozen food production.
• Deep understanding of SQF, HACCP, GMP, FSMA, and CFIA regulatory requirements.
• Experience managing food safety and quality systems within a high‑volume manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams and driving continuous improvement in food safety and quality programs.
• Experience managing internal and third‑party audits and implementing corrective action programs.
• Strong understanding of FDA and CFIA regulatory environments.
• Ability and willingness to regularly travel between the Richmond facility and the Washington State manufacturing operation.

COMPENSATION

The range offered for this position is: $120,000 – $160,000 annually. Compensation offered within this range is based on factors unique to each candidate, including skills, qualifications, experience and credentials.

If this position suits your skills and experience, we want to talk to you!

Please apply by submitting your resume and a covering letter outlining why you are a suitable candidate for this exciting role.