Senior Director Food Safety

Position Overview

The Senior Director of Food Safety leads enterprise-wide food safety, supplier Food Safety, product compliance, and food safety risk management strategies across all Texas Roadhouse brands. This role is accountable for developing and executing a comprehensive food safety framework that safeguards our Guests, Roadies, and Brand while supporting operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement.

As the company's senior food safety leader, this individual provides strategic oversight for food safety, supplier food safety performance, product recalls, allergen management, and regulatory affairs. The role serves as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and partners closely with Operations, Purchasing, Culinary, Risk, Legal, Training, International, and Communications teams to proactively identify food safety risks, strengthen controls, and ensure food safety remains a cornerstone of the Legendary Guest Experience.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute the Company's long-term food safety strategy.
• Establish food safety objectives, key performance indicators, and governance processes.
• Provide strategic guidance and recommendations to senior leadership regarding food safety risks, emerging regulations, and industry trends.
• Drive enterprise-wide food safety initiatives.
• Represent Texas Roadhouse as a leader in food safety and quality within the restaurant industry.

Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure procedrues and training are in compliance with all applicable FDA, USDA, FSMA, HACCP, state, and local food safety regulations.
• Maintain enterprise food safety standards, policies, procedures.
• Oversee development and maintenance of HACCP plans and preventive control programs.
• Monitor regulatory changes and implement strategies to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Serve as the contact for regulatory agencies and public health authorities.

Supplier Quality & Product Safety

• Oversee the strategy of the supplier approval, qualification, and compliance program.
• Establish Texas Roadhouse Food Safety standards and performance expectations for suppliers
• Oversee the management of supplier audits, corrective action programs, and vendor performance reviews.
• Partner with Purchasing and Culinary teams during product sourcing, vendor onboarding, and product innovation initiatives.
• Ensure appropriate food safety requirements are integrated into supplier contracts and agreements.

Recall & Crisis Management

• Lead enterprise product recall, traceability, and crisis response programs.
• Oversee mock recall exercises and business continuity planning.
• Coordinate cross-functional response efforts during food safety incidents or potential public health events.
• Partner with Risk, Legal, Communications, and Operations teams to protect Guests and the Brand during crisis situations.

Restaurant Food Safety & Operational Excellence

• Establish standards and programs that support food safety execution across all restaurants.
• Analyze food safety, sanitation, inspection, complaint, and claims data to identify trends and opportunities.
• Partner with Product Coaches and Operations leaders to drive compliance and continuous improvement.
• Ensure consistent food safety training, education, and awareness across the organization.
• Support restaurant openings, international expansion efforts, and new operational initiatives.

Technology & Innovation

• Champion food safety technology solutions that improve compliance, reporting, visibility, and operational execution.
• Leverage data analytics to identify risks and improve food safety outcomes.
• Evaluate and implement emerging technologies and industry best practices.
• Oversee food safety systems, dashboards, traceability tools, and compliance platforms.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing Food Safety team.
• Establish clear goals, development plans, and succession strategies.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Build organizational capability by serving as a trusted advisor and educator across the business.

Industry Representation

• Represent Texas Roadhouse with industry organizations, regulatory groups, and professional associations.
• Participate in food safety councils, conferences, industry working groups, and advisory boards.
• Build external relationships that strengthen the Company's food safety leadership position.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Biochemisty, Food Science or other science- based curriculum preferred

• Candidate must have CPFS certification or higher.

•  10+ years of progressive food safety, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, or food manufacturing experience.
• 5+ years of senior leadership experience managing food safety and quality programs.
• Experience supporting complex, multi-unit restaurant, retail, food service, or food manufacturing organizations.
•  Demonstrated experience in supplier quality management, recalls, crisis management, and regulatory affairs
• Word, Excel skills required 
• Enhanced skills with food safety technology including digital platforms a plus