Director of Food Safety

The Director of Food Safety is responsible for leading and elevating food safety standards across all Joseph’s Classic Market locations and commissary operations. This role will design, implement, and continuously improve best-in-class systems, sanitation programs, environmental monitoring, training initiatives, and compliance processes to protect guests, team members, and the brand. This leader serves as both a technical expert and cultural champion, building a proactive, prevention-focused food safety organization while developing strong food safety leaders across the business. Key Responsibilities Food Safety Strategy & Leadership Define and execute a comprehensive food safety strategy aligned with regulatory requirements and industry practices Serve as the organization’s subject matter expert on sanitation, environmental monitoring, and emerging scientific research Partner with executive leadership to embed food safety into business operations and decision-making Lead food safety incident response, risk mitigation, and crisis management Sanitation, Environmental Monitoring & Pathogen Control Develop and standardize sanitation programs across stores and commissary operations Establish and manage environmental monitoring programs (EMP), with a strong focus on Listeria detection and prevention Oversee validation and verification of sanitation procedures and hygienic design principles Implement preventive controls to minimize cross-contamination and food safety risks Operations, Compliance, & Systems Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, and all applicable state and local regulations Develop and standardize food safety SOPs across all departments Oversee key programs including allergen management, labeling, and HACCP-based systems Lead internal audits, support inspections, and drive corrective action plans Build tracking tools and reporting systems to measure performance and ensure accountability Analyze data to identify trends and drive continuous improvement Training, Culture & Team Development Lead company-wide food safety training and certification programs Build food safety ownership at all levels, from store associates to leadership Coach and develop store and department leaders to drive consistent execution Champion a culture of accountability, prevention, and operational excellence Develop and mentor future food safety leaders Qualifications Required Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or related field (or equivalent experience) 7–10+ years of progressive food safety or quality assurance experience in grocery retail, fresh foods, or food manufacturing Strong knowledge of FDA Food Code, HACCP principles, and regulatory requirements Expertise in sanitation, environmental monitoring, and pathogen control Experience managing multi-site operations and building scalable programs Proven leadership, communication, and analytical skills Preferred Experience with ready-to-eat (RTE), deli, or prepared foods environments Certifications such as PCQI, HACCP, or equivalent Experience with data analytics and digital food safety systems Demonstrated success building food safety culture and training programs Key Competencies Strategic thinker with strong execution capability Data-driven and solutions-oriented Hands-on leadership style Strong cross-functional collaborator and skilled communicator Proactive, prevention-focused mindset Success Metrics Health inspection and regulatory audit performance Internal audit scores and consistency across locations Reduction in food safety incidents Training completion and compliance rates Effectiveness and adoption of food safety programs across all stores Customer experience metrics and feedback Benefits Positive Work Environment Competitive Pay Health, Dental and Vision Insurance 401(k) Plan Paid Time Off & Personal Days 20% Employee Discount Interview Process At Joseph’s Classic Market, we utilize VidCruiter as part of our interview process. This platform allows candidates to complete video interviews at their convenience, giving our hiring team the opportunity to better understand your experience and qualifications early in the process.   Employment Eligibility Joseph’s Classic Market participates in E-Verify to confirm work authorization for all new employees. As part of the hiring process, employment eligibility will be verified through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration.