Walter Major

Director of Food Safety & Quality Assurance @Whitsons Culinary Group

Chicago, IL, US

Ensure compliance with USDA-FSIS and FDA regulations, HACCP, FSMA, and other applicable federal, state, and local requirements- Oversee development, implementation, and maintenance of HACCP plans, Food Safety Plans, and Sanitation SOPs- Lead facility audits and inspections by USDA, FDA, SQF, and customers- Monitor and interpret changes in food safety regulations and update programs accordingly- Develop and oversee the Quality Management System (QMS) to ensure product consistency, safety, and quality- Manage product testing programs (microbiological, chemical, allergen, and sensory)- Establish and maintain robust traceability and recall systems- Oversee Master Sanitation Schedule and environmental monitoring programs- Validate and verify sanitation effectiveness, including allergen controls and pathogen reduction- Lead and develop the FSQA team (managers, supervisors, technicians)- Provide food safety and quality training for all plant employees (GMPs, HACCP, allergen awareness, sanitation)- Foster a culture of food safety ownership throughout the organization- Implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance food safety, quality, and efficiency- Conduct risk assessments on new products, processes, and suppliers- Drive root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA)- Collaborate with R&D, Operations, Procurement, and Supply Chain to ensure food safety is built into all processes- Serve as the primary contact for customer audits, complaints, and inquiries related to food safety and quality- Oversee supplier approval and verification programs- Partner with procurement to ensure suppliers meet USDA/FDA and company standards- Maintain all required records, logs, and verification documents for regulatory compliance- Prepare management reports on key metrics: audit results, customer complaints, non-conformances, and KPIs- Present findings and recommendations to VP of FSQA and C-level team.

UNIVERSIDAD LAICA ELOY ALFARO DE MANABI

Business Administration and Marketing

Stony Brook University

Project Management