Senior Director, Manufacturing Quality
Dean Foods

Job Info

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Provide thought leadership, food safety/quality expertise, and technical guidance to the Ingredient Solutions business unit (BU) and manufacturing plants. Leverage expertise to manage risk, establish proper mitigation controls, and grow the business organically by building trust, confidence and strong partnerships with the customer base.

Overall Expectations:

A food safety and quality senior leader that functions as an integrated business partner to Ingredient Solutions in matters relating to food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. Demonstrates executive maturity, collaboration and a drive to execute with excellence. Has deep functional expertise in food safety, quality, manufacturing technologies, regulatory compliance, product development, quality control and risk mitigation. Measures progress and opportunities through data analytics and compliance verification.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Leadership and Stakeholder Management

• Function as a key member of the Enterprise FSQR extended leadership team. Help shape the strategies, programs and overall FSQR road map across the Enterprise.
• Represent Enterprise FSQR as part of the Ingredient Solutions Leadership team (ILT). Ensure successful execution of the Enterprise FSQR strategy aligned with the BU priorities. Coordinate business needs with Enterprise FSQR resources to deliver the desired outcome.
• Champion a culture of excellence with emphasis on food safety and integrity. Drive engagement through servant leadership.
• Provide leadership for Manufacturing Quality Directors (MQD) and plant quality teams; create high performing teams that are customer centric and focused on preventive risk mitigation and predictive analytics. Develop and grow the team in a sustainable manner.
• Create a strong partnership with manufacturing and assets/technology leaders, and drive alignment regarding current state and any future planning/action regarding FSQR programs, capital needs and optimization of process.
• Collaborate and work in tandem with R&D, sales, operations, BU leadership and other stakeholders.
• Serve as the FSQ contact for Ingredient Solutions' customers. Provide support for issue resolution, technical inquiries and metric management. Ensure compliance to customer agreements and monitor trends in data that may lead to rejection or non-compliance. Put preventive programs in place as needed.
• Leverage data analytics to improve efficiencies, optimize cost of quality and minimize the cost of nonconformance.
• Provide timely communication, KPI reports and written summaries regarding projects, mitigation activities, findings and compliance to programs/policies (short, mid and long-range goals).

Food Safety and Quality Management

• Manage the execution of food safety systems and quality assurance programs for the Ingredient Solutions BU.
• Ensure food safety and food quality plans are current, relevant and are being implemented and followed. Ensure all PC's/CCP's are appropriate and records are complete and accurate.
• Lead serious issue management within the Ingredient Solutions BU. Ensure appropriate escalation and coordination with Enterprise FSQR senior leadership to reach the best possible outcome.
• Drive excellence in execution for QC programs and laboratory operations. Ensure appropriateness of testing methodologies, laboratory proficiency and accuracy/precision of analytical results. Verify QC programs at manufacturing sites and third-party laboratories are effectively and efficiently supporting production management and the needs of the customer and the BU.
• Establish plant environmental monitoring programs and verify corrective actions/sanitation programs are robust and mitigating risk. Provide leadership in mitigation activities.
• Proactively drive continuous improvement by understanding the gaps, and reviewing trends, action plans and data analytics. Ensure RCA/CAPAs are robust, and actions are closed in a timely manner. Align with the plant teams and Operations Directors on any items that require capital and ensure the completion of those requests.
• Support the planning, due diligence, construction and commercialization of new plant builds/acquisitions or existing plant expansions.
• Provide direction and support to Corporate Sanitation initiatives, and that appropriate action plans are in developed to address areas of improvement. Ensure continued training and education of chemical use, software, SSOP practices and sanitation verification activities.
• Participate in food safety risk assessments and infrastructure evaluation as needed. Work with MQDs to ensure action plans are developed in tandem with the Enterprise Food Safety team and are closed in a timely manner.

Technical Services

• Support R&D, sales, operations and the business on evaluating new opportunities within Ingredients Solutions. Provide risk-based evaluations and customer driven solutions.
• Ensure plants have the appropriate food safety/quality standards and practices to deliver against the customer requirements and country regulations.
• Provide food safety and quality support/guidance throughout the entire product development process.

Regulatory

• Well versed on US and international regulations for foods, dairy and nutritional products.
• Able to adequately interpret regulations, educate the business on regulations and ensure compliance to the regulations through verification.

The requirements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employee, but is not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Other duties may be assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Minimum of Bachelor of Science in Food Science, Biology, Chemistry or Chemical Engineering. Master of Science in Food Science or Microbiology preferred.
• Fifteen (15) years of FSQ experience in a dairy, food, nutritional products and/or food ingredients multi-national company.
• Experience in a senior FSQ role with multi-plant experience. Must have experience working in a manufacturing plant as well as operating in a centralized FSQ role. At least ten (10) years in a managerial position is expected.
• Global experience related to customer management and export requirements across various product categories and geographies.
• Experience with food safety/quality systems, KPI management, continuous improvement, customer engagement and deep knowledge of pertinent manufacturing processes.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge of food safety, quality assurance/control, risk mitigation, manufacturing/product technologies and regulatory compliance
• Ability to manage quality processes and methods in multiple locations and maintain consistency and compliance with all applicable regulations
• Ability to work and communicate with people at all levels of the organization
• Ability to demonstrate excellent troubleshooting, problem-solving, and follow-up skills
• Ability to demonstrate good leadership and coaching skills.
• Must be able to read, write and speak English

An Equal Opportunity Employer

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