Sr. Director, QA & Food Safety

Job Summary

The Senior Director of Quality Assurance & Food Safety will play a critical role in ensuring the highest standards of food safety and product quality at First Watch. This position will lead a team responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining comprehensive quality assurance and food safety management system programs. This role requires a deep understanding of food safety regulations, industry best practices, and the ability to provide oversight, direction, and leadership to protect the brand.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

The essential functions in this job description are not all-inclusive of this position’s duties and responsibilities. Reliable and dependable attendance is required.

• Develop, implement, and continuously enhance enterprise-wide food safety and quality assurance programs across the company's multi-state operations
• Lead and manage a team of quality assurance and food safety professionals, providing guidance, coaching, and mentoring to ensure continuous improvement in performance and results
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Operations, Marketing, Training, Human Resources, Construction, Facility Management, Legal, Supply Chain, and Culinary, to ensure compliance with all relevant quality standards, regulations, and certifications
• Establish and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor and report on the effectiveness of supplier quality assurance and food safety programs
• Conduct periodic proactive visits of restaurants to identify areas for improvement to achieve active managerial control and ensure adherence to established standards
• Develop and update standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to food safety and quality assurance to reflect industry best practices and regulatory changes
• Stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and regulatory changes that could impact the business to proactively adapt and improve the supplier quality assurance and food safety programs
• Serve as the primary quality assurance and food safety subject matter expert, maintaining effective relationships with regulatory agencies, industry associations, and external partners
• Investigate and respond to customer complaints related to food safety and quality in a timely manner, implementing corrective actions as necessary
• Partner with the Chief Legal Officer and Risk Management team to identify, assess, and mitigate food safety, product quality, regulatory, and operational risks that could impact the business
• Oversee programs such as nutrition and allergens, employee wellness, third-party audits, sanitation, pest control and health department inspection results
• Delivers results through sustainable processes and fosters a proactive approach to continuous improvement
• Promotes a strong food safety culture by liaising with leadership to maintain commitment and align with company strategic objectives

Qualifications

-

Bachelor’s degree in food science, animal science, agriculture science, microbiology, or a related field

• 8 + Years’ of progressive experience in quality assurance, food safety, regulatory compliance, or related disciplines within a multi-unit foodservice, restaurant, manufacturing, or retail environment
• Strong knowledge of local, state, and federal food safety regulations, including FDA Food Code, HACCP, FSMA, USDA, and other industry standards
• Demonstrated success leading food safety and quality assurance programs across multi-location operations
• Advanced certification such as Certified Professional Food Safety (CP-FS), Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS), Registered Sanitarian (RS) or Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) is preferred

Who We Are

First Watch is the leading Daytime Dining concept serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch and lunch using the freshest ingredients available. Guided by its “Follow the Sun” culinary philosophy, First Watch’s chef-driven menu rotates multiple times per year to feature the highest-quality flavors at their peak, offering elevated executions of classic favorites, fresh juices like the Kale Tonic, and fan favorites such as the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, Quinoa Power Bowl and signature Million Dollar Bacon. For every kid’s meal served, First Watch proudly donates a portion to organizations and causes making a positive impact in our communities – raising approximately $2.3 million to date. A recipient of many “Best Breakfast” and “Best Brunch” awards, First Watch was voted #1 Best Breakfast by Newsweek’s Readers’ Choice Awards in 2025, and also named 2025 and 2024’s #1 Most Loved Workplace® in America by the Best Practice Institute – an accolade most recently featured in The Wall Street Journal – after appearing on the list in 2022 and 2023, as well. With a commitment to quality, hospitality and community, First Watch is redefining Daytime Dining across more than 680 restaurants in 33 states. For more information, visit www.firstwatch.com.