Director of Food Safety and Quality - Everett - Cascade Coffee LLC

Description

What does it take to create 1.7 BILLION cups of coffee a year?

For more than 45 years Cascade Coffee has been the premier specialty coffee contract manufacturer in the Pacific Northwest. Specializing in roasting, grinding, flavoring, and packaging coffee, catering to the world's finest coffee brands worldwide. Cascade works behind the scenes to provide innovation, world-class coffee roasting, and a wide variety of packaging options to highlight their loyal customer's brands.

Founded in 1977, the company operates from a 175,000 square foot manufacturing and roasting facility, more than 2 million pounds of green coffee storage facility, over 50 million pounds annually of coffee roasting capacity as well as multiple roasting lines, flavor mixing systems and 14 automated packaging lines.

Why Cascade?

• Healthcare benefits | Multiple coverage levels of medical, dental, and vision plans.
• 401k Roth or Pre‑Tax options | $1 for $1 match and once eligible to enroll, ZERO vesting period.
• Long Term Disability and life insurance | Company provides coverage for all employees.
• Voluntary Life, Disability, Accident & Critical Illness | Various insurance programs are offered to support your needs.
• Employee Assistance Program | To support you and your family's overall wellbeing to achieve your best and most productive self.
• Sick and Vacation plans | Cascade understands the vital importance of a quality work/life balance.
• Pet insurance | Multiple coverage levels for whatever best suits your furry (or not so furry) friend.
• Cascade Cares | Exciting engagement programs each month.
• Leadership Training | We invest in and dedicate time to training some of the best leaders in the industry.

Wage Range (Exempt):

$120,000 - $150,000 Annually

Reports To:

VP of Food Safety and Quality

POSITION SUMMARY:

We are seeking a Director of Food Safety and Quality to lead the operational aspects of all Quality Assurance and Quality Control functions across our manufacturing operations. This leader will strengthen and elevate a science‑based, fact‑driven quality organization while partnering closely with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to ensure world‑class execution. This role combines strategic systems leadership with hands‑on plant engagement and will play a critical role in supporting expansion, operational excellence, and customer confidence.

Leadership & Culture

• Lead, coach, and develop the QA/QC organization
• Build a culture of fact-based decision making and accountability
• Serve as a visible, credible leader on the manufacturing floor
• Foster strong relationships with customer quality teams
• Champion continuous improvement and employee engagement
• Quality Systems & Compliance
• Own and continuously improve the Quality Management System
• Ensure compliance with SQF, FDA, NSF, ABI, and regulatory requirements
• Oversee sanitation validation and environmental monitoring programs
• Maintain audit readiness and lead regulatory/customer audits
• Strengthen documentation, traceability, and corrective action systems

Operational Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Partner with Manufacturing to improve first‑pass quality, waste reduction, labor efficiency, and process stability
• Implement data‑driven quality metrics and dashboards
• Support Lean, 5S, and Six Sigma initiatives
• Drive root‑cause analysis and sustainable corrective actions

Customer & Commercial Support

• Develop deep partnerships with customer quality teams
• Support new product commercialization and onboarding
• Participate in customer meetings and selling processes as needed
• Ensure alignment between customer specifications and plant execution

Growth & Expansion

• Support facility expansion and capacity increases
• Ensure quality systems scale with new equipment and future site development
• Provide input into capital projects impacting food safety or compliance

Performs other duties and tasks as assigned.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE AND SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• 10–15+ years in food manufacturing quality leadership
• 5+ years leading QA/QC teams in a complex manufacturing environment
• Experience in medium‑to‑large‑scale food operations ($75M+ revenue preferred)
• Demonstrated success with SQF, HACCP, GMP, and FDA compliance
• Strong background in audit management and regulatory engagement
• Experience implementing Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma methodologies
• Demonstrated experience in Process Control and Statistical Analysis
• Bachelor's degree in food science, Microbiology, Biochemistry, or related field (master's preferred)

Leadership Attributes

• Strategic thinker with strong operational instincts
• Proactive, action‑oriented problem solver
• High integrity and accountability
• Equally comfortable on the plant floor and in executive discussions
• Skilled at change management in growth‑oriented environments
• Authentic communicator who builds trust across functions
• Data‑driven and fact‑based in decision making

Physical and Mental Requirements

• Excellent oral and written communications skills are required.
• Exceptional analytical and organizational skills needed to plan and implement assignments and to work through consistent interruptions.
• Possess a strategic mindset but hands‑on attitude with the ability to address complex problems and propose viable solutions.

Work Environment and Equipment

• This job is located within the corporate office, in an indoor environment.
• This position will support work in the warehouse roasting facility that requires constant standing on concrete floors, exposed to loud equipment noise and subject to coffee dust with strong odors.
• Personal protection equipment and other Good Manufacturing Practices are mandatory.

Cascade coffee is committed to creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We celebrate our differences because we believe diversity drives innovation and leads to sustainable success. We recruit, hire and promote our partners based on capability and performance, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.