Director, Food Safety, Quality Assurance & R&D

About Juanita’s Foods

Juanita’s Foods has been delivering authentic Mexican food to families across the country for over 78 years. Based in Wilmington, CA, we are a trusted manufacturer of shelf-stable sauces, beans, canned foods, and ready-to-eat products rooted in heritage, quality, and flavor. As we grow, we remain committed to the food safety excellence, operational discipline, and product innovation that have defined our brand for generations.

About the Role

Juanita’s Foods is seeking a strategic, hands-on Director of Food Safety, Quality Assurance & Research and Development who doesn’t wait to be told what to do next. This executive-level leader will own all FSQA and R&D functions — proactively building systems, anticipating regulatory risk, championing food safety culture, and driving product innovation from concept through commercialization.

You will be a visible force on the production floor and in the boardroom, ensuring compliance today while positioning the company for growth tomorrow. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in thermal processing, low-acid canned foods, HACCP, SQF systems, USDA/FDA compliance, sanitation, and cross-functional leadership — and the drive to raise the bar across every one of those areas without being asked.