Chinenye Oyarebu
Avenel,NJ
Summary
Strategic and results-driven Food Safety & Quality Assurance executive with 14+ years of progressive leadership experience overseeing food safety, regulatory compliance, quality systems, supplier management, and operational risk mitigation within FDA- and USDA-regulated food manufacturing, production, distribution, and food service environments. Proven expertise in developing and scaling enterprise-wide Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS), HACCP plans, HARPC/Food Safety Plans, environmental monitoring programs, supplier compliance programs, and continuous improvement initiatives across multi-site operations.
Recognized for building strong food safety cultures, leading cross-functional operational excellence initiatives, improving audit performance, strengthening regulatory readiness, and driving measurable quality improvements in fast-paced and high-growth organizations. Experienced in leading teams through regulatory inspections, GFSI-benchmarked audits, customer audits, recalls, CAPA investigations, and large-scale operational expansion.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director, Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA)
Wonder Group Inc
Cranford, New Jersey
09.2025 - Current
- Direct enterprise-wide Food Safety & Quality Assurance strategy and regulatory compliance initiatives across multiple FDA- and USDA-regulated production facilities, distribution operations, and food storage facilities.
- Lead organizational food safety governance, regulatory readiness, and operational risk management programs supporting high-growth production and distribution operations.
- Oversee the continued development and optimization of company-wide Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS), HACCP plans, Food Safety Plans, SOPs, SSOPs, environmental monitoring programs, and preventive controls.
- Partner with Executive Leadership, Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, R&D, Engineering, and Facilities teams to drive food safety integration across all operational functions.
- Lead regulatory and third-party audit strategy, including FDA, USDA, local health departments, customer audits, and GFSI-benchmarked audit preparation and execution.
- Spearhead food safety and quality initiatives for new production facilities, distribution centers, and operational expansion projects, including dual-jurisdiction USDA/FDA operations.
- Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), trend analysis programs, and executive reporting dashboards to drive continuous improvement and strengthen food safety culture.
- Lead enterprise recall readiness initiatives, mock recall programs, traceability improvements, and crisis management response activities.
- Provide executive leadership and mentorship to FSQA Managers, Quality Control teams, and cross-functional partners while building scalable organizational structures.
- Drive supplier quality management and vendor compliance programs, including supplier audits, corrective action management, specification reviews, and risk-based approval processes.
- Lead enterprise-level CAPA investigations, customer complaint escalations, food safety incidents, and root cause analysis activities to mitigate operational and regulatory risks.
- Support strategic planning, capital project reviews, facility design evaluations, and operational startup activities to ensure compliance with regulatory and food safety requirements.
- Ensure consistent improvement in the food safety culture across all Wonder’s production facilities by analyzing KPI’s from internal audits and routine food safety assessments
Associate Director, FSQA
Wonder Group Inc
Cranford, New Jersey
09.2022 - 09.2025
- Led the development, implementation, and maintenance of food safety and quality programs, policies, and procedures across five FDA-regulated production facilities, a food distribution center, and two USDA-regulated facilities.
- Ensured compliance with FDA, FSMA, USDA, HACCP, and company food safety standards across all production and storage operations.
- Developed and strengthened enterprise risk management systems to proactively identify, mitigate, and manage food safety hazards and operational risks.
- Directed internal food safety audits, regulatory inspections, and third-party audits, contributing to significant improvement in audit performance from 91% to 99%.
- Oversaw supplier management and supplier verification programs, partnering closely with Supply Chain and Procurement teams to improve vendor compliance and food safety performance.
- Led food safety investigations, customer complaint resolution activities, CAPA implementation, and root cause analysis initiatives to prevent recurrence of non-conformances.
- Developed and administered food safety training programs for more than 600 employees across multiple production facilities and operational teams.
- Managed and coached a growing FSQA organization consisting of FSQA Managers, Quality Control professionals, and FSQA Technicians.
- Collaborated with senior leadership and operational stakeholders to drive continuous improvement initiatives, food safety culture enhancement, and process optimization.
- Monitored regulatory developments and ensured organizational alignment with evolving federal, state, and industry requirements.
- Led KPI analysis, environmental monitoring trend reviews, and food safety performance reporting to support data-driven decision making.
Senior Manager, Food Safety and Quality Assurance
Wonder Group Inc
Cranford, NJ
02.2021 - 02.2022
- Managed the development and implementation of the company’s Food Safety Management System, quality assurance programs, HACCP plans, and Food Safety Plans across three FDA-regulated production facilities.
- Ensured compliance with Food Safety Plans, HACCP plans, CCPs, preventive controls, and applicable food safety and quality standards.
- Led and managed the activities of the Quality Control team and FSQA Managers across production facilities, vehicle hubs, and over 400 mobile kitchens.
- Directed trend analysis activities related to customer complaints, environmental monitoring programs, and internal audits to support continuous improvement initiatives.
- Led routine inspections, internal audits, third-party audits, and operational assessments across production facilities and distribution operations.
- Developed and maintained food safety programs, policies, procedures, and compliance documentation aligned with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
- Conducted food safety, GMP, and onboarding training for employees and new hires.
- Supported regulatory inspections and collaborated cross-functionally to ensure operational compliance and corrective action implementation
Manager, Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA)
Wonder Group Inc
Cranford, NJ
04.2020 - 02.2021
- Developed and managed ROP HACCP plans (sous-vide, cook-chill), MAP, seafood, pizza, and sushi HACCP programs across five production facilities.
- Developed, implemented, and enforced food safety policies, SOPs, and SSOPs in accordance with NJ Chapter 24 health code requirements.
- Managed the company’s Food Safety Employee Training Program and maintained training documentation and compliance records.
- Ensured employee compliance with GMPs, sanitation requirements, and food safety policies.
- Coordinated with Sanitation and Operations teams to maintain facility and mobile kitchen sanitation standards.
- Managed local health inspections and internal food safety audits across production facilities and mobile kitchens.
- Oversaw the Supplier Management Program and ensured compliance with supplier approval and FSMA requirements.
- Conducted CCP verification activities and managed corrective and preventive action investigations for food safety incidents and customer complaints.
- Led implementation and management of the company’s digital Food Safety Management System using SafetyChain.
Quality Assurance Manager
Gregory Packaging
Newark, NJ
02.2017 - 04.2020
- Developed, implemented, and maintained quality systems and SOPs in compliance with cGMPs, Juice HACCP, USDA, SQF, FDA, and FSMA requirements.
- Implemented and managed Juice HACCP/HARPC programs, SSOPs, and cGMP compliance initiatives.
- Developed and maintained food safety, quality, sanitation, and food defense procedures.
- Established and managed the Supplier Verification Program (SVP) and Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP).
- Led third-party audits, internal audits, food safety inspections, and regulatory readiness activities.
- Coordinated sanitation optimization efforts with chemical suppliers to improve CIP/COP effectiveness and operational efficiency.
- Investigated non-conformances and customer complaints, conducted root cause analysis, and implemented CAPA programs.
- Managed the facility’s Integrated Pest Management Program.
- Conducted employee food safety, GMP, HACCP, allergen, and food defense training programs.
- Monitored product quality and specification compliance while managing disposition of non-conforming products
Public Health Sanitarian
New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
New York, New York
03.2014 - 02.2017
- Conducted environmental health and food safety inspections of restaurants, food vendors, camps, and permitted food service establishments throughout New York City.
- Enforced compliance with NYC and New York State health regulations, sanitation requirements, HACCP standards, and food safety policies.
- Evaluated food handling, processing, storage, sanitation, and operational practices to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
- Monitored HACCP/HARPC compliance for ROP foods and potentially hazardous food processes.
- Provided technical guidance and food safety education to food service operators regarding compliance requirements and corrective actions.
- Prepared detailed inspection reports, regulatory documentation, and investigative findings.
- Assisted in training and mentoring new inspectors and department employee
Education
Bachelor of Science - Food Science And Technology
University of Nigeria, Nsukka
08-2008
Skills
- Food Safety & Quality Systems (FSMS)
- FDA, USDA, FSMA & cGMP Compliance
- HACCP, HARPC & Preventive Controls
- GFSI, SQF & Third-Party Audit Management
- Environmental Monitoring Programs (EMP)
- Supplier Quality & Vendor Compliance
- Quality Systems Digitization & Data Analytics
- Training Program Development & Food Safety Culture
- Food Recall, Crisis and Risk Management
- CAPA, Root Cause Analysis & Investigations
- Food Defense & Food Fraud Programs
- KPI Development & Trend Analysis
- Cross-Functional Leadership & Team Development
- Regulatory Inspection Readiness
- Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement
Certification
- Environmental Monitoring Program Certification, 2025
- FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food, 2022
- Serve safe Manager Certificate, 2020
- SQF Certification-Implementing SQF Systems, 2019
- Advanced HACCP Certification, 2019
- Central Atlantic States Association of Food and Drug Officials (CASA)-Attendee, 2015
- Food Service Inspection Officer (FSIO) Certificate, 2015
- FDA Inspections Training (ROP), 2014
- New York City Food Compliance and Safety Training (HACCP, GMP, SOP), 2014
- FDA Food Safety Certificate, 2014
- New York City Food Protection Certificate, 2014
Timeline
Director, Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA)
Wonder Group Inc
09.2025 - Current
Associate Director, FSQA
Wonder Group Inc
09.2022 - 09.2025
Senior Manager, Food Safety and Quality Assurance
Wonder Group Inc
02.2021 - 02.2022
Manager, Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA)
Wonder Group Inc
04.2020 - 02.2021
Quality Assurance Manager
Gregory Packaging
02.2017 - 04.2020
Public Health Sanitarian
New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
03.2014 - 02.2017
Bachelor of Science - Food Science And Technology
University of Nigeria, Nsukka