The Quality & Food Safety Manager leads the development, implementation, and management of Quality systems at the Wauconda, IL facility. This role ensures compliance with quality policies and government regulations, leads all aspects of the Quality Management Program, and drives continuous improvement in quality and manufacturing processes. The Manager is responsible for managing and developing the Quality team to ensure the site is adequately resourced, trained, and equipped to meet quality deliverables.
Key Responsibilities - Lead the Quality Management System (QMS) to meet food safety, regulatory, and quality standards while ensuring alignment with business objectives.
- Serve as the primary liaison with regulatory agencies, managing audits, compliance, and corrective actions.
- Oversee Quality Management reviews and establish systems to measure performance and drive improvement in quality processes.
- Develop and implement a Corrective and Preventative Action (CAPA) program, leveraging data and trends to address quality challenges and enhance site performance.
- Maintain and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for quality and operational excellence, providing insights to leadership and adjusting strategies based on trends and metrics.
- Ensure compliance with food safety and quality programs (e.g., HACCP, GMP, FSP) and manage scalable internal auditing systems for new products and processes.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., Operations, Regulatory, Suppliers) to address quality challenges, develop improvement plans, and allocate resources effectively.
- Regularly communicate quality performance, initiatives, and challenges to internal and external stakeholders.
- Provide training and mentoring to teams on HACCP, GMP, regulatory compliance, and quality programs, fostering readiness, expertise, and continuous improvement.
- Lead risk management processes for quality and food safety, guiding responses to recalls or crises and mitigating potential risks.
- Partner with suppliers to ensure compliance with quality standards and lead customer audits, addressing and resolving corrective actions.
Skills and Requirements - Bachelor of Science degree required, with a preferred focus in Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Microbiology, or related disciplines.
- Minimum 7 years of progressive quality assurance experience, including team leadership, preferably in food manufacturing, a major flavor house, or food retail.
- Expertise in FSMA and GFSI Quality Systems (e.g., SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000), including development and implementation.
- Strong knowledge of production methods, quality control systems, and testing procedures, including analytical, microbiological, sensory, and cost-of-quality standards.
- Exceptional leadership skills to set strategies, foster accountability, and support team development in a learning-focused environment.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively across all levels of the organization.
- Strong problem-solving skills, sound judgment, and the ability to make timely, data-driven decisions.
- High integrity, dependability, and results-oriented approach with a sense of urgency.
Key Competencies - Building Effective Teams: Creates strong teams with clear goals, fosters collaboration, and invests in development to ensure growth and adaptability.
- Decision Quality: Demonstrates sound judgment and makes timely decisions based on accurate analysis and relevant data.
- Interpersonal Savvy: Builds constructive relationships across organizational levels, navigating complex situations with ease.
- Drive for Results: Maintains focus and determination to achieve objectives, even in challenging circumstances.
- Integrity and Trust: Consistently acts ethically and gains trust by delivering on commitments.
Salary Range: $92,648.92 - $138,973.39
The actual compensation that you will be offered will depend on a variety of factors including geography, skills and abilities, education, experience and other relevant factors. This role will remain open until filled.