Assistant Director, Retail Compliance & Food Protection

Additional Considerations (if any):

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At Hy-Vee our people are our strength. We promise “a helpful smile in every aisle” and those smiles can only come from a workforce that is fully engaged and committed to supporting our customers and each other.

Job Description:

Job Title: Assistant Director, Retail Compliance & Food Protection

Department: Compliance and Food Protection

FLSA: Salary (Exempt)

Revision Date: 07/2026

About Hy-Vee

At Hy-Vee, we believe the shortest distance between two people is a smile. We’re seeking professionals who bring proven skills, a desire to grow, and a commitment to work together in building a company that strives to make our customers’ lives easier, healthier and happier.

The Role and Why It’s Important

As Assistant Director of Retail Compliance & Food Protection at Hy-Vee, you serve as a key strategic and operational partner to the Director, helping lead the programs, processes, and people that keep our retail locations safe, compliant, and aligned with the highest food safety standards. You bring deep expertise in food safety and sanitation, and you apply it across a wide range of responsibilities, from developing and delivering training and building audit frameworks to managing corrective actions and guiding our team of Compliance & Food Protection Supervisors. Your work directly protects our customers, our employees, and the integrity of our brand, and the leadership you provide to the compliance function helps set the standard for how Hy-Vee approaches food safety across our entire retail footprint.

What You’ll Do

• Partner closely with the Director, Retail Compliance & Food Protection to plan, develop, and manage food safety programs and processes across all retail locations, ensuring alignment with company standards, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.

• Provide leadership, guidance, and day-to-day support to the team of Compliance & Food Protection Supervisors, serving as a resource for complex compliance questions, audit findings, and escalated issues.

• Develop, maintain, and deliver food safety and sanitation training programs for retail staff and compliance team members, ensuring content is clear, current, and consistently applied across all locations.

• Lead and coordinate the retail food safety audit program, conducting audits, reviewing findings, identifying deviations from standards, and working with store and field teams to develop and monitor corrective action plans.

• Maintain and continuously improve sanitation standards and processes across the retail network, identifying emerging risks and implementing proactive measures to reduce food safety exposures.

• Document food safety issues, audit results, and corrective actions accurately and thoroughly, preparing summary reports and trend analyses for department leadership.

• Participate in health department inspections and support new store openings and remodel projects, ensuring food protection and compliance requirements are addressed throughout.

• Stay current on federal, state, and local food safety regulations, proactively identifying regulatory changes that impact Hy-Vee’s retail operations and communicating updates to the team.

• Build and maintain relationships with regulatory agencies, third-party auditors, and industry organizations to support the department’s compliance objectives.

• Support the Director in department planning, budgeting, and cross-functional initiatives as needed.

• Maintain confidentiality with all company, store, and regulatory information.

Your Skills

• Commitment to the Hy-Vee mission and a willingness to promote the values of the company.

• Deep knowledge of food safety regulations, sanitation standards, and compliance requirements in a retail or food service environment, including FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements and applicable state and local regulations.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver effective food safety training programs for diverse audiences.

• Strong audit and assessment skills, with experience identifying compliance gaps, documenting findings, and driving corrective action to resolution.

• Ability to lead and influence without direct authority, providing guidance and support to a team of field-based compliance professionals.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify root causes and implement sustainable, practical solutions.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear reports and present findings and recommendations to leadership.

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, programs, and deadlines simultaneously.

• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality as it pertains to company, store, and regulatory information.

Reporting Relationships

Accountable and Reports to: Director, Retail Compliance & Food Protection

Direct Reports: None

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Environmental Health, Public Health, Biology, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.

• 5–7 years of experience in food safety, regulatory compliance, or a related field, with demonstrated progression into a leadership or program management capacity.

• Experience conducting food safety audits in a retail, food service, or food manufacturing environment required.

• Experience developing and delivering food safety training programs preferred.

• [Food safety certifications — to be confirmed with Director; e.g., PCQI, SQF Practitioner, ServSafe Manager, or REHS/RS]

• Valid driver’s license required; regular travel to retail locations required.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally.

• Ability to operate standard office technology, including computers and telephones.

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods during store assessments and field visits.

• Ability to perform physical activities associated with retail environment work, including stooping, kneeling, reaching, handling, and repetitive motions.

• Ability to lift and transport materials weighing up to 20 pounds occasionally.

• Ability to work in varying temperature environments, including walk-in coolers and freezers, during store visits.

• Ability to travel regularly to retail locations, including overnight stays as needed.

Working Environment

This position operates across both office and retail food environments, with regular field travel to assigned retail locations for audits, inspections, and team support. Work involves exposure to food handling equipment and processes, temperature extremes from walk-in coolers and freezers, and cleaning chemical products. Standard office equipment is used regularly, including PC (Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook) and a company vehicle.

Are you ready to smile, apply today.  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre employment drug screen.