Director of Quality Assurance

Who We Are:

nutpods manufactures plant based, dairy-free coffee creamers and adjacent products for coffee lovers nationwide. Now the #2 plant-based creamer brand nationwide across retail and online channels, nutpods has fostered a cult following and has exciting plans for growth in the coming years. With a small and mighty team of 35 people, nutpods is looking for eager, enthusiastic, and experienced candidates for this important role.  

Company Culture:

Our culture is of huge importance to the owners and team at nutpods. We are looking for people who will be a great addition to our culture. We are:

·       Kind: We treat each other with kindness and mutual respect.

·       Dynamic: We are full of energy and defined by constant progress, collaboration, and new ideas.

·       Relentless: We relentlessly pursue a crazy good product, business, and team.

·       Empowered: We empower each other to fail forward with trust, transparency, and the opportunity to learn and grow.

·       Passionate: We take immense pride in what we make, how we work together, the impact we have, and how we treat people.

We strive to do what’s right for our team, customers, and quality, even when no one is looking.

Position Summary:

The Director of Quality Assurance will be a key leader within the nutpods Quality Assurance team, acting as the primary representative of the company in all quality-related matters with suppliers, co-manufacturers, and distribution partners. This role demands a strong commitment to maintaining nutpods’ rigorous standards for food safety, product quality, and regulatory compliance across the entire supply chain. The successful candidate will play a vital role in fostering and sustaining strong relationships with stakeholders, ensuring that nutpods’ quality expectations and values are consistently upheld. 

Essential Functions:

• Lead Quality Assurance Team, mentoring QA Regulatory Specialists to foster high performance and ensure quality and regulatory compliance.
• Develop and enhance quality programs, continuously improving existing initiatives to meet evolving business and regulatory needs.
• Oversee Positive Release Program, verifying only quality-approved batches are released to prevent compromised products.
• Lead and participate in on-site audits of co-manufacturers and key suppliers, ensuring compliance with nutpods’ quality standards.
• Maintain regulatory compliance across all products, working closely with the QA Regulatory Specialist to ensure alignment with current regulations and standards.
• Manage consumer feedback and complaint resolution, driving product quality improvements and customer satisfaction.
• Ensure comprehensive traceability of raw materials, packaging, and finished goods, with robust recall procedures.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and Marketing on new product launches and promotional activities to align with product quality.
• Manage hold and non-conformance programs across co-manufacturers and distribution centers to minimize risks and product losses.
• Oversee prerequisite programs with ingredient suppliers, packaging vendors, and co-manufacturers to ensure adherence to food safety and legality standards.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Food Safety or Science, Chemistry, or related field
• Minimum 8+ years of experience in food/beverage quality and safety with increasing levels of responsibility with a fast moving and growing business environment
• Relevant experience in plant-based or dairy-based beverage industry with experience in aseptic filling facilities
• Previous experience with regulatory audits, HACCP, and FSMA
• Action-oriented, results-focused individual with can-do attitude
• Process-oriented with attention to detail
• Willingness to travel up to 20% of time.

Additional competencies for success at nutpods:

·       CUSTOMER SERVICE DEDICATION - Dedicated to listening and understanding customers, anticipating their needs, and giving top priority to customer satisfaction.

·       COLLABORATION - Working effectively within the organization to accomplish the mission, understand the values and vision, and integrate into all functional areas of the business.

·       TEAM INFLUENCE - Using appropriate interpersonal styles and methods to inspire and guide individuals toward goal achievement; modifying behaviors to accommodate the tasks, situations, and people involved.

·       DEVELOPMENT – Willing and able to develop skills and competencies to support current and future jobs.

·       INDIVIDUAL LEADERSHIP (INFLUENCE) - Using appropriate interpersonal styles and methods to inspire and guide individuals (customers, peers, and superiors) toward goal achievement; modifying behavior to accommodate tasks, situations, and individuals involved. 

·        MAXIMIZING PERFORMANCE - Goal ownership oriented and open to coaching to optimize individual and company performance.

·       STRONG TEAM MEMBER -Focused on organizational goals, understands the importance of blending into teams and supporting strong morale and sense of purpose within the team. Understands why groups do what they do. Picks up intentions, needs, positions, values and motivational triggers of fellow team members.

·       FLEXIBILITY / ADAPTABILITY - The ability to readily modify, respond to, and integrate change with minimal personal resistance.

·       RESOURCEFUL - The ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties.

• Base salary range: $125,000 - $175,000
• Annual bonus potential
• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• 401k Retirement Plan with company match
• Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• New Parent Leave
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Wellness Resources

Green Grass Foods, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, creed, citizenship, disability, protected veteran or marital status.