Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Opportunity: Head of Quality and R&D Company: Maryland Packaging and Clean Label Gourmet Foods Location: Halethorpe, Maryland Reports to: Chief Operations Officer (COO)

Join Maryland Packaging and Clean Label Gourmet Foods , a leader in crafting high-quality, clean-label, ready-to-eat meals, as we expand our operations in Halethorpe, Maryland. We are seeking a dynamic Head of Quality and R&D to lead our Quality Assurance and Food Safety programs, drive product innovation, and ensure our commitment to safe, delicious, and sustainable food products. This role is pivotal in shaping our quality systems and spearheading research and development to support our growth in the clean-label food industry.

About the Role

Reporting to the Chief Operations Officer, the Head of Quality and R&D will oversee all aspects of quality assurance, food safety, and research and development at Maryland Packaging and Clean Label Gourmet Foods. This leadership position is responsible for developing and implementing best-in-class processes to ensure safe, high-quality products, managing regulatory compliance, and driving innovation for new product introductions. The role requires a strategic leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and can collaborate across functions to achieve operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Quality and Food Safety Programs : Develop, implement, and manage comprehensive quality assurance and food safety programs, including Hold and Release, Document Control, Customer Complaints, Allergen Management, KPIs, and preventive control programs tailored to clean-label food production.
• Drive Process Optimization : Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance quality systems, streamline processes, and improve efficiency, sustainability, and productivity.
• Regulatory Compliance : Ensure adherence to local, state, and federal regulations, including OSHA , FSIS , EPA , and FSMA , while managing plant regulatory inspections and audits.
• Develop and Train on SOPs : Create and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for quality and safety processes, and train staff to ensure consistent execution.
• Customer Satisfaction : Lead timely resolution of customer issues using effective root cause analysis to eliminate sources of dissatisfaction and enhance customer experience.
• Sanitation Support : Oversee verification programs for Environmental Monitoring, Allergen Control, Pest Control, and daily sanitation activities to maintain a hygienic production environment.
• Lead R&D Initiatives : Drive product innovation, develop new clean-label product lines, and ensure successful commercialization of line extensions and new products, verifying safety and quality standards.
• Data-Driven Decision Making : Utilize data analytics to monitor systems, forecast trends, and provide actionable solutions to enhance facility operations.
• Reporting and Communication : Deliver detailed daily, weekly, and monthly reports on critical KPIs to senior management and cross-functional teams, ensuring clear and consistent communication.
• Team Leadership : Mentor and develop the quality and R&D team to build bench strength and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Stakeholder Collaboration : Build professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders, demonstrating business ethics and influencing outcomes to achieve shared goals.

What We’re Looking For

• Education : Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science, Engineering, Microbiology, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience : Minimum of 5 years in food quality assurance and R&D , with at least 3 years in a leadership role within the food industry , preferably in clean-label or ready-to-eat meal production. Recent experience in food manufacturing is required.
• Certifications : SQF Practitioner and PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) certifications are required . Additional certifications (e.g., HACCP, BRC, or food safety auditing) are highly preferred and will prioritize candidates.
• Technical Expertise : Proficiency in GMP , HACCP , sanitation, allergen management, and regulations such as FSMA , PMO , and CFR 21 Part 113 (Thermal Processing) .
• Skills :
  • Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.
  • Strong communication skills to engage effectively with all levels of the organization.
  • Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, influence stakeholders, and drive shared goals.
  • Business acumen with a track record of developing innovative strategies and maximizing resource efficiency.
• Leadership : Positive, action-oriented leadership with a high sense of urgency, accountability, and the ability to mentor and develop teams.
• Environment : Experience in a manufacturing or industrial setting, with knowledge of production processes and clean-label food standards.

Work Environment and Expectations

• Location : Based at our state-of-the-art facility in Halethorpe, Maryland , with occasional travel for audits or supplier visits.
• Work Hours : Salaried position requiring a minimum of 50 hours per week , with flexibility to accommodate operational needs.
• Environment : Role includes time in a cold room environment to oversee production and quality processes.
• Compensation : Competitive salary range, with potential for higher pay based on experience, seniority, and certifications.

Why Join Maryland Packaging and Clean Label Gourmet Foods?

• Impactful Leadership : Shape the future of our quality and R&D programs while contributing to a growing leader in clean-label foods.
• Career Growth : Opportunities for advancement in a rapidly expanding company committed to innovation and excellence.
• Collaborative Culture : Join a supportive, dynamic team that values accountability, innovation, and customer satisfaction.
• Mission-Driven : Be part of a company dedicated to producing safe, high-quality, clean-label meals that delight customers.

Application Process

We prioritize candidates with SQF Practitioner, PCQI, and additional relevant certifications , as well as 3+ years of recent food industry experience in a leadership role . To apply, submit your resume and cover letter detailing your experience in food quality assurance, R&D, and certifications to [insert company website or application link, if available]. Highlight how your leadership has driven quality and innovation in the food industry, particularly in clean-label or ready-to-eat meal production.

Be a Part of Our Vision If you’re a strategic leader with a passion for food safety, quality, and innovation, join Maryland Packaging and Clean Label Gourmet Foods to make a lasting impact. Help us deliver exceptional clean-label meals to our customers while growing your career in a dynamic, purpose-driven environment.

Company Description

Welcome to Our Family of Companies
If you’re reading this, you might be considering joining Maryland Packaging LTD, Marwan’s Kitchen, or Nosh Table & Thyme. Before you decide, we want you to know who we are, what we do, and why we do it.

Our Structure and Mission
We’re more than just one company — we’re a connected group of businesses working together to create, produce, and deliver exceptional food experiences.

Maryland Packaging LTD – The Foundation

This is our state-of-the-art food manufacturing and high-pressure processing (HPP) facility.

We are SQF-certified and operate under the highest safety, quality, and regulatory standards.

We co-pack and manufacture products for our own brands and for partner brands across the country.

Our facility allows us to offer innovative solutions for food safety, extended shelf life, and clean-label production.

This is where precision, compliance, and operational excellence live.

Marwan’s Kitchen – The Flavor Hub

Our in-house consumer brand focused on chef-inspired ready-to-eat and heat-and-serve meals.

Meals are designed to be high-quality, flavorful, and convenient — bridging the gap between restaurant dining and at-home ease.

We combine culinary creativity with the production capabilities of Maryland Packaging to bring these meals to life.

Nosh Table & Thyme – The Elevated Experience

A premium, artisanal brand delivering gourmet prepared foods with a focus on fresh, clean, and wholesome ingredients.

This is our brand for food lovers who want that “special occasion” feel, even on a weeknight.

Think of it as restaurant-quality, ready when you are.

How We Work Together
While each brand has its own identity, they all share the same backbone — a commitment to food safety, quality, and customer experience.

Maryland Packaging provides the infrastructure and expertise to ensure our products meet the highest standards.

Marwan’s Kitchen and Nosh Table & Thyme turn those capabilities into memorable meals that people love and trust.

Our team culture values collaboration, because whether you’re in operations, culinary, logistics, marketing, or sales, your work impacts every plate we serve.

Our Values
We live by a few core principles that guide how we work and grow:

Integrity – Doing the right thing, especially when it’s the harder path.

Excellence – Never settling for “good enough.”

Innovation – Constantly seeking new ways to improve food, processes, and experiences.

Respect – For our team, our partners, and our customers.

Passion for Food – If you don’t love food, you won’t love it here.

Why Join Us?
Working here means being part of a company that:

Has the resources and equipment of a large-scale manufacturer but the creativity and agility of a culinary startup.

Offers diverse career opportunities — from food production and packaging to culinary innovation, brand building, and logistics.

Values personal growth as much as professional growth — when you succeed, we succeed.

Encourages ideas from every corner of the business — if you see a better way, we want to hear it.

The Bigger Picture
We’re growing fast — expanding our product lines, exploring new markets, and investing in new technology. That means we need people who are adaptable, eager to learn, and ready to roll up their sleeves.

You’re not just taking a job here. You’re joining a team that’s reshaping how people think about prepared food — and that’s something to be proud of.

Company Description

Welcome to Our Family of Companies\r\nIf you’re reading this, you might be considering joining Maryland Packaging LTD, Marwan’s Kitchen, or Nosh Table & Thyme. Before you decide, we want you to know who we are, what we do, and why we do it.\r\n\r\nOur Structure and Mission\r\nWe’re more than just one company — we’re a connected group of businesses working together to create, produce, and deliver exceptional food experiences.\r\n\r\nMaryland Packaging LTD – The Foundation\r\n\r\nThis is our state-of-the-art food manufacturing and high-pressure processing (HPP) facility.\r\n\r\nWe are SQF-certified and operate under the highest safety, quality, and regulatory standards.\r\n\r\nWe co-pack and manufacture products for our own brands and for partner brands across the country.\r\n\r\nOur facility allows us to offer innovative solutions for food safety, extended shelf life, and clean-label production.\r\n\r\nThis is where precision, compliance, and operational excellence live.\r\n\r\nMarwan’s Kitchen – The Flavor Hub\r\n\r\nOur in-house consumer brand focused on chef-inspired ready-to-eat and heat-and-serve meals.\r\n\r\nMeals are designed to be high-quality, flavorful, and convenient — bridging the gap between restaurant dining and at-home ease.\r\n\r\nWe combine culinary creativity with the production capabilities of Maryland Packaging to bring these meals to life.\r\n\r\nNosh Table & Thyme – The Elevated Experience\r\n\r\nA premium, artisanal brand delivering gourmet prepared foods with a focus on fresh, clean, and wholesome ingredients.\r\n\r\nThis is our brand for food lovers who want that “special occasion” feel, even on a weeknight.\r\n\r\nThink of it as restaurant-quality, ready when you are.\r\n\r\nHow We Work Together\r\nWhile each brand has its own identity, they all share the same backbone — a commitment to food safety, quality, and customer experience.\r\n\r\nMaryland Packaging provides the infrastructure and expertise to ensure our products meet the highest standards.\r\n\r\nMarwan’s Kitchen and Nosh Table & Thyme turn those capabilities into memorable meals that people love and trust.\r\n\r\nOur team culture values collaboration, because whether you’re in operations, culinary, logistics, marketing, or sales, your work impacts every plate we serve.\r\n\r\nOur Values\r\nWe live by a few core principles that guide how we work and grow:\r\n\r\nIntegrity – Doing the right thing, especially when it’s the harder path.\r\n\r\nExcellence – Never settling for “good enough.”\r\n\r\nInnovation – Constantly seeking new ways to improve food, processes, and experiences.\r\n\r\nRespect – For our team, our partners, and our customers.\r\n\r\nPassion for Food – If you don’t love food, you won’t love it here.\r\n\r\nWhy Join Us?\r\nWorking here means being part of a company that:\r\n\r\nHas the resources and equipment of a large-scale manufacturer but the creativity and agility of a culinary startup.\r\n\r\nOffers diverse career opportunities — from food production and packaging to culinary innovation, brand building, and logistics.\r\n\r\nValues personal growth as much as professional growth — when you succeed, we succeed.\r\n\r\nEncourages ideas from every corner of the business — if you see a better way, we want to hear it.\r\n\r\nThe Bigger Picture\r\nWe’re growing fast — expanding our product lines, exploring new markets, and investing in new technology. That means we need people who are adaptable, eager to learn, and ready to roll up their sleeves.\r\n\r\nYou’re not just taking a job here. You’re joining a team that’s reshaping how people think about prepared food — and that’s something to be proud of.

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