Director, Quality & Food Safety NA

Position Summary:

As a key member of the global and regional leadership team, the incumbent will engage with Food Safety/Quality leaders globally, influencing strong leadership and deep expertise to deploy standards, assess performance and drive continuous improvement. They will do so in a matrixed environment. They will provide clear communication updates to senior leadership.

The Quality and Food Safety Director operates in close alignment with the Global Quality Director to ensure that regional strategies and initiatives are consistent with global quality standards and objectives. While the regional role focuses on execution and compliance within specific markets, it also contributes valuable local insights to help shape and refine global policies

The Director of Quality and Food Safety is a critical leadership role and the key subject matter expert on food safety accountable for the Food Safety programs regionally. This includes leading key strategies to drive and sustain a transformation in food safety.

The incumbent will bring credible expertise, providing leadership and oversight for Food Safety, including HACCP, micro risk assessments, thermal validation, allergen management, foreign material controls, capability development and culture.

The successful incumbent will ensure clear understanding of food safety and quality requirements and expectations at all levels across the region with the authority to hold teams accountable to meet the standards and expectations that assures the food safety and quality of products produced.

She or he shall ensure the food safety and quality systems directly and positively affect food safety through analysis of results and regular reviews with regional teams. They will ensure global standards and policies are fit for purpose and meet not only Pernod Ricard requirements, but also those of key customers and regulators. This role will be critical in ensuring that Pernod Ricard is a leader in food safety and quality.

This role will be responsible for providing direction on end to end quality at the regional level from Supplier Quality Management to Quality Crisis Management. He/she will be responsible for the implementation of global quality strategies.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Food Safety Strategy & Governance

• Drive transformation and strategic direction of global food safety programs.
• Develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive food safety policies and standards, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and customer expectations.
• Lead the Quality Management System, including Food Safety Management Systems such as HACCP, VACCP, and TACCP.
• Provide governance for global CAPA processes to ensure effectiveness and validation.
• Serve as primary point of contact for food safety crises, risk assessments, and incident management.
• Lead internal risk assessments and provide expert recommendations for product disposition and food safety risk mitigation.
• Manage regulatory affairs for both the liquid and packaging.

2. Program Oversight, Risk Mitigation & Compliance

• Provide strong technical leadership in HACCP, allergen control, thermal validation, environmental monitoring, and microbial risk assessments.
• Ensure full documentation accuracy and compliance of food safety systems.
• Guide regional teams on food safety program reviews, sanitation practices, and corrective actions.
• Monitor global quality incidents to identify trends, risks, and strategic priorities.
• Drive projects to close gaps, mitigate food safety risks, and share best practices across regions.
• Partner with Procurement and Ops to evaluate compliance of third party copackers and suppliers to ensure conformity to PR requirements.

3. Quality Assurance & Continuous Improvement

• Lead transformation of quality control systems in collaboration with Operational Excellence (OpEx) and TRACC teams.
• Oversee quality control across all product types (dry goods, wet goods, finished goods) including statistical quality control.
• Champion a Quality by Design approach from innovation through to product delivery.
• Ensure robust management of production non-conformances and consumer complaints, providing leadership and strategic guidance for resolution.
• Support innovation, business development, and customer specification development including creation of technical manuals.

4. Performance Monitoring & Reporting

• Analyze food safety and quality trends using data-driven metrics and KPIs.
• Regularly report on quality performance to senior leadership.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives based on performance metrics, consumer insights, and operational data.
• Monitor and improve global and regional quality KPIs and lead efforts to reduce the cost of non-quality.

5. Leadership, Talent Development & Culture

• Provide strong leadership, guidance, and mentorship to regional and global quality teams.
• Build technical and leadership capabilities across the organization, from senior leaders to plant-level staff.
• Collaborate with HR and Quality Leadership Teams to develop a strong talent pipeline and succession planning.
• Promote food safety and quality-first mindset embedded throughout the business and supply chain.
• Champion Pernod Ricard's leadership principles to build an inclusive, safety-conscious, and excellence-driven culture.

6. Stakeholder Collaboration & External Partnerships

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Supply Chain, R&D, BrandCo, MarketCo, and Innovation teams to support new product development and ensure quality integration.
• Oversee the performance of suppliers and co-packers to ensure compliance with Pernod Ricard guidelines and expectations.
• Manage consumer and customer complaint processes and provide escalation support for critical issues.
• Lead engagement with external stakeholders including auditors, regulatory bodies, and third-party partners.

7. Financial & Resource Management

• Prepare and manage the annual quality budget, forecasts, and capital expenditure proposals.
• Ensure effective allocation and management of resources to meet strategic goals and legal compliance.

Required Education Skills & Abilities

• Education: Bachelor's degree in food science, Chemistry, Microbiology, Engineering, or a related field (Master's degree preferred).
• Certifications: Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or similar certification is highly desirable.
• Experience: Minimum of 10 years in quality and food safety management, preferably in the beverage, alcohol or similar manufacturing industry.
• At least five (5) in leadership roles within large, complex regions or global office, leading food safety.
• Ability to lead and manage without authority and influence key stakeholders and peers.
• Demonstrated skills and experience in food safety. Ability to become a credible voice and leader in the company relating to food safety management, including but not limited to micro, allergen management.
• Ability tobuild strong relationships and credibilityinternally and with key strategic external partners.
• The incumbent must have the following traits in order to be successful:persistence, Quantitativeandadvanced analytical skills. Ability to extract meaningful insights from complex data sets and the ability to use data to drive decisions, strategies and priorities.
• Excellent communication skills is able to effectively and persuasively articulate positions both verbally and in electronic mediums to various audiences including senior executives in a clear, concise and compelling manner.
• Resilientafter business setbacks, and demonstrates persistence in tough circumstances
• Strongteam player,highly motivated, who can effectively interface with and present results to all levels of management and teams across the business.
• Track record of driving high engagement in teams, and enrolling others in key business strategies.

When you join North American Distillers, you are part of the Pernod Ricard family. You'll experience a workplace that is rich in heritage, driven by our iconic brands and a long-standing commitment to sustainability, safety, and giving back to the people and communities where we work. We know that happiness at work starts with that feeling of belonging you get from an inclusive culture where being uniquely you is celebrated. Our values are lived, they drive our behaviors, and it's what brings our culture to life.

Our work philosophy celebrates the magic of human connection with the flexibility needed to provide one's most meaningful contribution. We offer employees great benefits and perks to toast to a life filled with support. Check out PRUSABenefits.com for details.

NADL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It employs qualified individuals based solely on ability, training, and experience, and does not and will not, discriminate for or against any employee or applicant for employment or promotion based upon actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service or any other classification protected by law. Offers will be subject to United States local terms.

NADL is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Pernod Ricard USA will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. To request reasonable accommodation during the application process, contact us at PR_NA_TalentAcquisition@pernod-ricard.com.

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