Cesar Jerez

Food Safety and Quality Assurance Director with 15+ years of leadership experience in food manufacturing, produce packing, USDA-regulated operations, and international supply chains. Expertise in regulatory compliance, audit management, and leading multi-site quality teams across North and Central America, specifically in the U.S.A., Mexico, Guatemala, and Peru. Wholesale and retail experience.

Director of Quality Assurance at So-Alive Company (2019-09 – Present)

• Direct quality and food safety operations for produce packing facilities serving major retail and high-volume wholesale customers throughout North America
• Lead 40 quality control employees between five multi-site teams across facilities in California, Mexico, and Central America, ensuring compliance with customer, regulatory, and food traceability requirements
• Create specifications for implementation by quality control team
• Perform internal audits and prepare quality team for third-party audits
• Oversee third-party and customer audits
• Manage customer complaints
• Maintain audit scores at 98 percent and above
• Perform root cause analysis and corrective and preventive actions (CAPA)

Quality Assurance Manager at Foster Farms (2018-03 – 2019-09)

• Managed quality control department for USDA protein product packing plant, including school lunch products such as tacos, burritos, and quesadillas, and military rations
• Maintained quality assurance records
• Responsible for GFSI, AIB, and NSF audits
• Coordinated health inspection audits with outside agencies including USDA

Director of Business Development at L.A. Salad Company (2012-06 – 2018-03)

• Developed new products including packaging, presentation, and extension of shelf-life for existing customers in the produce industry
• Expanded business into new markets in North America and Japan

Quality Assurance Manager at L.A. Salad Company (2009-02 – 2012-05)

• Implemented and managed all quality control programs, including food safety programs and USDA audits
• Oversaw production at four fresh produce packing plants in Guatemala, Mexico, and California
• Supervised and trained 25 quality control employees at plants in Mexico, Guatemala, and Peru
• Enforced HACCP requirements and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
• Ensured compliance with company and regulatory requirements
• Directed audit readiness and compliance programs for customer, regulatory, and third-party audits across multiple processing plants

Quality Manager at SunOpta Fruit Group (2007-05 – 2009-02)

• Managed 15 quality control employees in frozen produce processing plant
• Enforced Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs)
• Ensured compliance with company and regulatory requirements
• Maintained technical documentation

Quality Control Manager at Corn Maiden Foods, Inc. (2006-11 – 2007-04)

• Managed and supervised ten sanitation and food safety workers preparing ready-to-eat products (RTE) including tamales and burritos
• Worked directly with and reported to USDA inspector

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture – University of Jerusalem

Environmental and Occupational Health – California State University, Dominguez Hills (2007)