Head of Quality

About MiLaMí¬Lí  is a Chinese food company. Our teams work tirelessly to enhance delicious products that we all enjoy at home! While Mí¬Lí  is a Chinese food brand, it's really a celebration of the power of food to bring us together, share our stories, and discover new flavors and cultures.Our mission is to build something that feels authentically and uniquely true to our roots as a Chinese-American-founded brand. Something we can own, but that's also meant to be shared. One of the things we love about Chinese food is that it's traditionally served family-style"”shared with everyone gathered at the table. Mí¬Lí  is a Chinese food brand, but it's really a celebration of the power of food to bring us together, share our stories, and discover new flavors and cultures. Core ValuesExplore our core values here: the RoleThis is a pivotal leadership role for someone passionate about shaping and driving a strong food safety and quality culture. We're looking for a visionary leader who can:Define what "great" looks like in quality and food safety across the organizationBuild trust and alignment at all levels, from the production floor to external stakeholdersInspire teams to prioritize operational excellence, compliance, and continuous improvementThe ideal candidate will have 5-7 years of progressive experience in food quality assurance, strong regulatory knowledge (FDA, USDA, FSMA), and proven leadership skills to foster collaboration and cultural change. If this sounds like the kind of opportunity that excites you, then read on!Job SummaryUnder the general supervision of the Plant Manager, the Head of Quality is responsible for overseeing all aspects of food quality and safety within the organization. This role ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, maintains the highest quality standards, and drives continuous improvement initiatives across the company's frozen food manufacturing operations in Sumner, WA, and Monterey Park, CA.This person will lead in all the below competencies: Communication & Ownership, Visionary, Proactivity, Commitment Follow Through, & Work Ethic to build an industry-leading Quality program.DutiesCompetenciesCommunication & OwnershipTailor communication to effectively convey quality-related goals, processes, and outcomes to diverse audiences, including production workers, USDA inspectors, and leadershipTranslate technical concepts into actionable insights for cross-functional teams, ensuring clarity and alignmentMaintain a visible, hands-on presence on the production floor to ensure alignment between quality protocols and day-to-day operationsBe a champion for truth through both data and common senseServe as the subject matter expert (SME) for all quality and food safety processes, fostering trust and collaboration with hourly workforce, regulatory inspectors, and vendorsPerform quality checks and inspections while building rapport and engagement with team members at all levelsWorks closely with R&D to take over fully commercialized products to ensure our restaurant quality standards continue to be met and are strong enough to push back and have conversations when they know we may not be able to hit commercialization specsVisionaryDefine and articulate a clear vision for quality, food safety, and operational excellence, ensuring alignment with company goalsInspire and rally employees at all levels around a shared standard of "great," building a culture of ownership and pride in qualityLead by example to instill best practices and a long-term mindset for continuous improvement across the organizationConduct regular one-on-one meetings with direct reports, fostering alignment with department goals and company OKRsEstablish, review, and enforce in a collaborative manner Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) related to quality, sanitation, and safety protocols in manufacturingProactivityProactively identify quality and safety issues, presenting actionable solutions to leadership and ensuring rapid resolutionMonitor production processes for potential risks or inefficiencies, addressing concerns before they escalateCommitment Follow ThroughUphold accountability by consistently delivering on commitments, deadlines, and quality improvement initiativesEnsure corrective actions and process improvements are implemented as planned and tracked to completionWork EthicDemonstrate a strong personal commitment to quality and operational excellence by being present during critical production timesLead by example, consistently maintaining high standards for performance and attention to detailGeneral DutiesIn conjunction with Plant Manager, will stand-up a lean Quality PillarDevelop and implement the company's Quality Management System (QMS) to maintain compliance with FDA, USDA, FSMA, and other regulatory and food safety standards at both sitesCollaborate with cross-functional teams, including Operations and R&D, to ensure product quality and successful implementation of new products or processesLead & manage audits, certifications (e.g., SQF, BRC), and customer-specific quality programs, ensuring timely compliance and readinessOversee quality assurance testing, inspections, and the implementation of HACCP plansLead root cause analyses and preventive action planning for non-conformance issuesEnsure compliance with labeling regulations, ingredient specifications, and allergen management protocolsTrain and mentor the quality team, fostering professional growth and promoting a culture of continuous improvementTravel as needed (up to 10%) for audits, supplier visits, or training initiativesOnsite presence required 100% of the timeOther duties as assignedWhat Success Looks Like30 daysLearn the process from inbound raw material to outbound finished goodDevelop a rapport with the teamSpend Time on all three shiftsUnderstand the CCP's, FSQA checksConduct Quality Checks on the FloorSensory- What makes our product so specialUnderstand our HACCPFood Safety Plan, SQF Audit from Previous Year, Customer Complaint log, etc.60 daysGap AnalysisConduct Food Safety MeetingsRespond to Customer ComplaintsStaff AssessmentCreate Action Plan90 daysReview FSQA Training ProgramDrive the Journey of Culture rather than compliance for FSQA with the plant team via Quality Pillar LeadershipExecute Action PlanParticipate in the Quarterly SQF Audit Readiness ExerciseTravel to California SiteRequired Skills & AbilitiesLeanTPM ExperienceExtensive knowledge of food safety standards, including HACCP, GMPs, and FSMA requirementsProficiency in quality systems and auditing frameworks (e.g., SQF, BRC, ISO 22000)Strong problem-solving skills, including experience with root cause analysis and CAPA processesExcellent managerial and supervisory skills, with a proven ability to lead and develop teams.Exceptional verbal and written communication skillsStrong organizational skills and attention to detailExperience with food manufacturing ERP systems and quality software tools (e.g., TraceGains, SafetyChain)Education & ExperienceBachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or a related field required; Master's degree preferred5-7 years of progressive experience in food quality assurance within a manufacturing environment, preferably frozen food or CPG3+ years of managerial experience overseeing quality teams in a manufacturing settingWhy Should You Join Us?Employer-funded health benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance. MiLa covers 75% of employee premiums & 25% of dependent premiumsVoluntaryoptional employee-paid group insurance for Life & AD&D (with guarantee issue amounts at time of hire), Hospital, and Short Term DisabilityGreat company culture! ENPS is above industry standard!

Created: 2025-02-21