A multinational food manufacturing company, well-known for its iconic branded snacks. The North American division had been undergoing a major transformation involving operational reset, cultural change, and strategic sourcing shifts. 

The Challenge   

The Director of FSQA position had been open for over six months. A previous recruiter had overwhelmed the business with unsuitable candidates, creating hiring fatigue and operational strain. 

Key pain points: 

• Two senior FSQA managers lacked the leadership guidance needed during organisational change. 

• Resistance to change at plant level. 

• Need for a leader with credibility from large-scale food manufacturing to set strategy across multiple plants and mentor the team for long-term succession. 

The Recruitment Journey 

Engagement: 

A deep-dive briefing uncovered operational complexities and cultural challenges. A targeted search focused solely on senior FSQA leaders with proven success in large, branded food environments. 

Process Overview: 

• Shortlist of 5 fully aligned candidates delivered within two weeks. 

• All 5 met both technical and leadership criteria. 

• 4 progressed to first-round interviews; 3 to second round; 2 to final global FSQA panel. 

• One finalist stood out for their balance of strategic vision and hands-on capability and accepted shortly after final interview. 

Support Provided: 

Provided strategic input at each hiring stage, ensuring momentum and quality candidate experience. 

The Result 

The Outcome: 

The new Director quickly embedded best practices, influenced plant leaders, and strengthened quality culture across the division. 

Quantifiable Impact: 

• Role filled in under 8 weeks from engagement. 

• Improved operational stability and quality leadership coverage during transformation. 

Testimonial: 

“The entire process was efficient and focused on quality. We were presented with only the most relevant candidates, and our new Director has already made a measurable impact on our FSQA performance and culture.”
– Head of R&D, FSQA and Regulatory (Americas)