Associate Director Food Safety and Quality Assurance

at  CookUnity

ABOUT COOKUNITY

CookUnity is a chef-to-you marketplace connecting talented chefs with consumers, revolutionizing meal delivery. We bring small-batch, restaurant-quality meals to eaters nationwide, crafted by a diverse collective of all-star chefs. With over 100 inspired chefs from cities like NYC, LA, Austin, and more, our weekly subscription offers a wide range of hand-crafted meals to cater to various palates and dietary preferences.
Delivering over 3 million meals per month, we empower working chefs, tripling their income and supporting their growth. CookUnity is committed to fueling stronger communities by embracing opportunities to make a positive social impact, whether through combating food insecurity, supporting local businesses, or creating opportunities for culinary talent across the Americas.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or a related field.
• Regulatory Expertise: Strong knowledge of FSMA, GMP, HACCP, and related food safety standards. HACCP and PCQI certifications are required.
• Process & SOP Development: Hands-on experience in writing and executing SOPs, SSOPs, cGMPs, and other FSQA protocols.
• Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and implement action plans for risk mitigation and process improvements.
• Stakeholder Influence & Communication: Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels and drive cross-functional collaboration.
• Strategic Thinking & Decision-Making: Ability to proactively identify risks and implement effective solutions to enhance food safety operations.
• Bilingual: Proficiency in English and Spanish is required.
• Travel Requirement: Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 50% of the time.
  This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in building and maintaining a best-in-class food safety and quality assurance program at CookUnity. If you are passionate about food safety, operational excellence, and driving impactful change, we’d love to hear from you!

THE ROLE

CookUnity is seeking an Associate Director of Food Safety & QA to ensure that our food is consistently safe, high-quality, and fit for consumption. In this role, you will develop and execute strategic FSQA initiatives across all CookUnity manufacturing locations in the U.S., ensuring compliance with local, regional, and federal regulations, as well as internal safety standards.
You will be responsible for designing and implementing a holistic, technology-driven FSQA system that proactively identifies and mitigates risks. This role will also require close collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, including Culinary Specialists, Kitchen Operations, Supply Chain, Sanitation, Tech, People, and Consumer Experience teams.
This is a hybrid role requiring a combination of remote work and on-site presence. The ideal candidate is based in one of our facilities (preferably Chicago) and must be able to travel up to 50% of the time. Proficiency in Spanish communication is mandatory for this role.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Regulatory Compliance & FSQA Program Implementation: Ensure all CookUnity facilities meet or exceed local, regional, and federal food safety regulations, in addition to internal FSQA standards.
• Audit & Inspection Oversight: Manage internal food safety audit programs and monitor health department inspection outcomes. Provide ongoing coaching and feedback to operational teams to ensure timely corrective actions.
• Risk Mitigation & Performance Tracking: Develop and oversee kitchen food safety KPIs, leveraging data to drive continuous improvements in processes, procedures, and execution.
• Pest Control Strategy: Oversee corporate pest control initiatives, designing and implementing an industry-best pest management program while tracking and analyzing data to mitigate risks.
• Training & Compliance: Ensure all employees working in CookUnity facilities receive the necessary FSQA training to prevent contamination risks and maintain compliance with food production safety requirements.
• FSQA Monitoring & Reporting: Develop and implement daily, weekly, and monthly food safety checklists, generating reports and insights for leadership teams.
• Supplier Approval & Quality Assurance: Manage supplier approval processes to ensure all ingredients and supplies meet FSQA regulations and internal quality standards.
• Incident & Crisis Management: Lead the response to food safety incidents and complaints, ensuring thorough investigation, root cause analysis, and corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Recall & Escalation Protocols: Develop and execute the crisis management plan, escalation protocols, and regulatory communications for potential foodborne outbreaks. Coordinate product recalls and market withdrawals when necessary.