Director, Plant Quality

Power your Thirst for More at DrinkPAK, where we revolutionize beverage manufacturing, driven by automation and sustainability. Together, through grit and innovation, we break new ground in record time by acquiring the most advanced technology and attracting the brightest talent. Our explosive growth and journey through uncharted territories offers unique career opportunities enabling passionate individuals to reach their full potential. To support our teams, we offer enriching lifestyle accounts, comprehensive benefits, formal development programs, and an energizing environment. Drive your success at DrinkPAK, where we refresh, hydrate and nourish the world and our employees alike.

POSITION DESCRIPTION : The Director of Quality will provide strategic and operational leadership for DrinkPAK’s Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) functions at DP3 in Philadelphia, PA, overseeing quality strategy, food safety, regulatory compliance, certifications, quality systems, commercialization, and continuous improvement in a complex 24/7 manufacturing environment. This role will partner with senior leadership, serve as a key quality and food safety contact for customers, and lead a team of approximately 45 quality professionals, including 2 Quality Managers, 7 Supervisors, and 35 technicians. The ideal candidate will have strong food and beverage manufacturing experience, expertise in quality systems, food safety, regulatory compliance, and multi-site leadership, with knowledge of Title 21 of the Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act and regulations governing food and supplement manufacturing.

LOCATION : The position is fully on-site and based in Philadelphia, PA; however, the role requires significant travel to DrinkPAK facilities in Texas and California, including approximately 80% travel during the first 3–4 months. Travel requirements may vary based on business and operational needs.

BENEFITS: The well-being of our team members and their families is critically important to us. As part of this commitment, we offer:

PPO medical, dental, and vision insurance for our employees AND their dependents, 100% paid by the Company

A cell phone stipend

Annual discretionary bonus

401(k) match program, pet insurance, life insurance, and more.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Oversee all 24/7 quality assurance and quality control activities for DP3, which includes across 1 production buildings and 1 warehouse.

Develop and oversee quality policies, procedures, and methods to inspect, test, and validate product and production processes.

Ensure that all quality systems are in full compliance with local, regional, state, federal, and international laws and regulations.

Serve as DrinkPAK’s primary point of customer contact for all quality and food safety-related communication.

Collaborate with the senior management team to set quality benchmarks and ensure high-quality documentation based on the latest industry standards.

Lead digitization efforts of all quality reporting and compliance processes.

Serve as the primary quality liaison for all commercialization and qualification efforts.

Identify opportunities for continuous improvement of existing processes and procedures and oversee implementation of enhanced initiatives.

Develop and maintain an annual departmental budget for all quality activities.

Manage all certification processes including SQF, NSF, Organic, Kosher, and similar.

Responsible for maintaining and qualifying all critical food safety functions including recall and withdrawal procedures.

Please note this job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without prior notice.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in food science, microbiology, or a related field required.

Advanced degree in food science or a related field highly preferred.

10+ years of direct leadership experience in a large, complex quality environment.

Deep understanding of Title 21 of the Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act, including the regulations governing the manufacturing of both food products and supplements.

Demonstrated history of managing multi-site organizations.

Proven experience motivating and inspiring a team to achieve industry-leading performance.

Self-motivated and self-directed with strong business acumen.

Proven commitment to safety with a clean safety record.

Ability to work actively on your feet for extended periods of time, navigate stairs comfortably, and lift up to 50 lbs.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Excellent oral and written communication skills.

OUR VALUES:

Our company’s culture is guided by our shared values of Speed, Intensity, and Purpose. These values are demonstrated in the following ways based on the role within the organization.

Speed: Continuously seek ways to streamline processes and eliminate bottlenecks to enhance overall operational speed. Allocate resources efficiently and effectively to maximize productivity and minimize wastage of time and resources.

Intensity: Foster a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging teams to learn from failures and leverage setbacks as opportunities for growth. Address conflicts within the team promptly and constructively encouraging open discussions and finding mutually beneficial solutions.

Purpose: Act as a coach by establishing clear and achievable goals for the team and individuals, and offer feedback that is specific, actionable, and focused on improvement. Celebrate team achievements and milestones, reinforcing a sense of accomplishment and motivating the team to continue striving for excellence.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

The employee frequently is required to talk and hear, in person, via video conferencing (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, etc.), and telephonically.

The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk and is frequently required to sit.