Job Summary: 

Whole Foods Market is seeking a passionate and experienced Executive Leader (Director) of Total Quality Management and Systems to lead the charge in delivering exceptional fresh food quality across our growing manufacturing operations. This pivotal role will help shape a culture that emphasizes delicious food, premium ingredients, and uncompromising quality standards throughout the entire production lifecycle—from sourcing to customer experience. 

The ideal candidate is a true enthusiast for food quality, with a sharp eye for detail and a deep understanding of fresh food characteristics. They bring a proven ability to translate culinary concepts, ideation, and vision into tangible, scalable quality specifications, while overseeing the complex systems involved in large-scale food production. This position reports to the Vice President of Strategic Supply Chain, Procurement, Development, Commercialization, Manufacturing, and Distribution. 

Leadership Philosophy: This role requires a transformational leader who inspires others through clear vision, emotional intelligence, and purpose-driven action. The ideal candidate leads with authenticity, earns trust through candid communication, and makes sound decisions with a strong bias for action. You will bring a store-centric mindset and a deep focus on customer satisfaction—ensuring food quality standards enhance the in-store experience. With the ability to empower others, navigate ambiguity, and think both strategically and tactically, this leader drives impact across teams and systems. 

*This role is based in Austin, TX, with an expectation of five days per week in the Store Support office.  

Responsibilities 

Strategic Leadership: 

• Develop and execute a comprehensive quality management strategy aligned with the company's overall business objectives and the specific needs of the fresh food manufacturing strategic initiative. 

• Provide strategic direction and leadership to the Quality and Systems team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and excellence. 

• Serve as a key member of the senior leadership team, providing expert guidance on food quality-related matters. 

Fresh Food Quality Excellence: 

• Develop and articulate a clear vision for product quality excellence, emphasizing delicious food, premium ingredients, and high-quality presentations, aligned with Whole Foods Market's standards. 

• Establish and enforce stringent quality specifications for raw materials, in-process production, intra-process products, and finished goods—focusing on specifications, flavor, texture, appearance, and overall sensory experience and organoleptic qualities. 

• Lead the implementation of sensory evaluation programs for products at scale to ensure consistent product quality and adherence to high quality standards. 

• Partner on the creation of visually appealing and functional packaging and labeling that enhances the customer experience and reflects the brand's commitment to quality and sustainability. 

Fresh Food Production Quality Management: 

• Develop and implement comprehensive quality management systems that prioritize the unique characteristics of fresh food production and products at scale. 

• Establish and maintain robust quality control procedures throughout the manufacturing process, focusing on minimizing degradation and maximizing freshness. 

• Monitor and analyze quality data—with a strong emphasis on sensory attributes and internal/external customer feedback—to identify areas for improvement. 

• Collaborate with Exclusive Brands S&PD commercialization teams to translate recipe concepts into precise quality specifications and formulations at scale, ensuring consistent execution at WFM manufacturing facilities. 

Supplier Quality & Ingredient Sourcing: 

• Partner with Procurement and Sourcing teams to ensure that premium, high-quality ingredients meet Whole Foods Market's rigorous standards and are appropriate for manufacturing at scale. 

• Collaborate with Procurement to develop detailed ingredient specifications for scaled manufacturing. 

Systems Management: 

• Manage recipes and formulations across various tech tools, ensuring accuracy and consistency across platforms. 

• Oversee the formulation process at scale, ensuring consistent product quality and yield. 

• Implement systems for food quality control and compliance auditing, ensuring adherence to all relevant regulations and Whole Foods Market standards. 

• Ensure the correct ingredients, yields, and Bill of Materials (BOM) are entered and maintained accurately within the ERP system. 

• Oversee interactions with external labs related to shelf-life testing and quality analysis, maintaining accurate documentation of results. 

• Maintain comprehensive documentation for all food quality and systems processes. 

Training & Operational Excellence: 

• Drive comprehensive training plans for operational excellence and execution, ensuring all team members understand and adhere to quality standards and systems. 

Quality Systems & Food Safety Fundamentals: 

• Maintain a robust Quality Management System (QMS) that meets relevant regulatory requirements (e.g., FSMA, HACCP, GMP) while preserving fresh food quality. 

• Ensure compliance with all applicable Quality Assurance and GFSI certifications (e.g., BRCGS, SQF), prioritizing both quality and the customer experience. 

• Oversee documentation and management of all quality-related records. 

• Develop Product Quality Excellence programs and deploy them across all WFM Food and Beverage facilities. 

Continuous Improvement & Innovation: 

• Drive a culture of continuous improvement, focusing on enhancing product quality, sensory experience, and customer satisfaction. 

• Explore and implement innovative technologies and processes to optimize fresh food quality and extend shelf life. 

• Lead quality improvement projects, focusing on enhancing product quality attributes and the customer experience. 

Team Leadership and Development: 

• Recruit, train, and manage a high-performing quality team, fostering a passion for culinary excellence and fresh food quality. 

• Provide coaching and mentoring to team members, promoting their professional development and culinary understanding. 

• Work closely with all departments involved in the building and start-up of the new facility to ensure all quality requirements are met. 

Qualifications: 

• BA/BS degree and 8–10 years of relevant experience in quality management within the fresh food manufacturing industry, with a strong emphasis on product quality at scale. Equivalent combinations of education and relevant experience will be considered. 

• Graduate degree preferred. 

• 4–6 years of leadership experience. 

• Demonstrated passion for food and a deep understanding of fresh food quality principles and sensory evaluation. 

• Proven ability to translate culinary recipes into tangible quality specifications and formulation standards at scale. 

• Strong understanding of fresh food characteristics, degradation processes, and preservation techniques. 

• Proficiency in managing food manufacturing systems, including ERP platforms, recipe management tools, and quality control software. 

• Knowledge of food quality and safety regulations and certifications (e.g., FSMA, HACCP, GMP, SQF, BRCGS). 

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills. 

• Experience in the building and start-up of a new food manufacturing facility is highly valued. 

• Alignment with Whole Foods Market's higher purpose, core values, and leadership principles, ensuring work reflects the company's mission. 

• Ability to travel up to 40%. 

• This position is located at the Store Support Office in Austin, TX.