Director, Quality Assurance

Lord Jones formulates, manufactures and distributes the world’s finest hemp-derived CBD infused products. Our company has been recognized as an industry leader by the New York Times, Vogue, Rolling Stone, Forbes, Fast Company and the New Yorker, among others. In October 2020, we launched our second hemp-derived CBD skincare brand, Happy Dance, with actress Kristen Bell. We make best-in-class products and are looking for ultra-talented employees to join us in a rapidly growing industry in the world.

We hire talented people who thrive on solving difficult problems and give them the opportunity to hone new skills and approaches. If you want to play a part in shaping an innovative industry and help build a historically significant company, we want to meet you.

Reporting to the Chief Innovation Officer, the Director of Quality Assurance oversees the US Quality and Food Safety teams, providing strategic direction for product registrations and product entries in collaboration with the business. The ideal candidate is a seasoned people leader, able to foster a high-performance team by mentoring and developing management to ensure the group is well-equipped for scaling QA efforts. The ideal candidate has deep knowledge of GMP documentation requirements, understanding of the US regulations, is highly organized, thinks strategically and creatively, adapts to changing priorities and demonstrates good communication, project management and problem-solving skills.

This position is based out of Los Angeles, then will transition to Culver City, California.

What you’ll be doing:

• Recruit and retain the Quality Assurance team by creating an environment that stimulates creativity, promotes their strengths, and supports their ongoing development
• Work closely with the Quality Manager to ensure that product manufacturing data generated for regulatory submissions comply with relevant jurisdiction-specific regulations and policies
• Oversee the drafting, compiling, and controlling of product quality documentation to support Product Registration and Market Launch initiatives. Work cross-functionally with the business and global quality teams to ensure accurate communication occurs between all relevant internal stakeholders
• Partners with Business Development and Regulatory teams to generate an up-to-date library of all documentation related to product quality
• Establish and enforce GAP, GMP, GPP and quality assurance standards, providing technical and regulatory input for growing, packaging and production
• Ensure compliance with US QA guidelines pertaining to business, production, facility, security, storage, packaging, labelling, import/export and distribution
• Lead all key product quality issues such as complaint handling, recall coordination, investigations on deviations/failures and implementing corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), to close out quality and security gaps
• Oversee ERP System; Corrective Action and Preventative Action (CAPA) investigations
• Ensures Quality System maintenance and management
• Assess and stay up-to-date on regulatory requirements for CBD products in the USA market; ensure Cronos product quality standards meet regulatory requirements
• Evaluate all feasible pathways for product registration via the applicable specific regulatory frameworks
• Perform regular impact assessment reports of any regulatory changes to ensure continuous compliance with applicable regulations
• Develop and maintain excellent relations with health regulatory agencies, including timely and professional communications
• Provide GMP-related regulatory advice to QA-site members and other departments (Facilities, Procurement, Manufacturing, Logistics, etc.) and advise on incorporating regulatory requirements into QMS documentation

You’ll need to have:

• M.Sc degree in a technical discipline (Food, Chemical or Biological Sciences preferred)
• 7+ years experience as a QA Leader in a GMP regulated environment
• Strong experience and knowledge of the food and supplement industry
• Experience implementing and maintaining quality management systems and programs (ISO9001, GMP for foods, drugs and cosmetics requirements)
• Strong understanding of regulatory requirements for international transfer of controlled substances
• Good Manufacturing Practice, HACCP, Food Safety, regulatory and environmental guidelines
• Experience in identifying GMP gaps with experience in writing SOPS, work instructions, HACCP plans, identifying GAPs, and with regulatory compliance and internal and external audits experience
• Consumer goods background strongly preferred
• Good understanding and knowledge of Regulatory Affairs and cGMPs
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to develop staff, implement significant initiatives, and drive toward exceptional performance
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to juggle multiple projects and prioritize according to urgency and/or business need
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to foster productive, collaborative partnerships
• Ability to work in a fast paced and changing environment
• International experience preferred
• Cannabis experience is an asset but not a pre-requisite.

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, and we welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities and people with diverse backgrounds, identities, and cultures. For candidates with disabilities, accommodations are available upon request in all phases of the selection process.