Guided Search Partners
Guided Search Partners is an Executive Search firm built on Trust, Transparency, Specialization, and Long-term Relationships. We connect high-performing professionals with organizations that value people, performance, and growth—helping leaders find roles where they can make an impact and build meaningful careers.

About the Opportunity
We’re partnering with a long-established, family-owned food manufacturer in Northeast Philadelphia with a strong reputation, diversified product lines, and a growing operation. The business supports branded, co-manufacturing, and private label products across sauces, syrups, bakery, beverage, and ice cream-related categories, and the site is in an active period of growth with expansion projects and new lines underway. This role is opening as a long-time quality leader prepares to retire, creating an opportunity for someone to step into a high-impact leadership position. It is a strong fit for a hands-on food quality leader who can move between plant-floor issues and higher-level quality systems, while helping lead the next phase of quality and food safety across the organization.

What You’ll Do
Lead quality assurance and food safety programs across the organization, with responsibility for compliance, audits, continuous improvement, and day-to-day quality leadership. This role will take the lead on key program areas including SQF, HACCP, PCQI, and overall food safety and quality oversight. You’ll also work closely with operations, support production needs on the floor when needed, and help strengthen sanitation best practices. The role blends strategic leadership with practical execution and requires someone who can operate well at all levels of the business.

Who You Are
You are a hands-on food quality leader who understands both the programmatic and operational side of the role. You can lead audits, strengthen systems, and still step onto the floor to help solve production or sanitation issues when needed. You work well in a collaborative environment where accountability is high, and teams do not operate in silos. You bring leadership presence, practical judgment, and the ability to support a growing business with high standards.

Preferred Experience & Attributes

• BS degree in Food Science or a science-based field preferred.
• 10+ years of QA or lab experience, with leadership experience strongly valued.
• Strong food industry experience required.
• HACCP and PCQI required.
• FDA experience required.
• GFSI experience required, ideally SQF, though BRC or FSSC may also be considered.
• Sanitation knowledge and the ability to implement best practices in sanitation.
• Excel proficiency required.

Why This Role Matters
This role is important because the company is growing, expanding, and preparing for leadership transition within quality. The right person will help lead quality and food safety at a critical time while supporting a well-performing operation with strong customer commitments and a team-oriented culture. It is a strong opportunity for someone who wants visibility, leadership impact, and the chance to help shape quality strategy in a growing food manufacturing environment.