Corp Quality Mgr, Contract Manufacturing Food Safety & Quality

Description

Ready for more than just a job? Build a career with purpose.

At Lactalis in the USA, we're committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive-whether you're just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed.

As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family-owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we're proud to produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together.

In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani Italian cheeses and ricotta, President specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone's cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond cheddar, and Parmalat milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi's, Stonyfield Organic, Brown Cow, Oui, Yoplait, Go-Gurt, :ratio, Green Mountain Creamery, and Mountain High, along with a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun, Gopi, and Arz.

At Lactalis, we live by our core values-Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone's unique background and ideas are valued.

Even if you don't meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy.

From your PASSION to ours

Lactalis American Group, part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Corp Quality Mgr, Contract Manufacturing Food Safety & Quality based in Buffalo, New York.

As a Corporate Quality Manager-Contract Manufacturing Food Safety and Quality, the role will carry out responsibilities such as but not limited to, securing food safety & compliance of all cheese co-manufacturers and co-packers (CoMan) with the Group QFS standards & FDA standards; to ensure Business Continuity & Reputation. Responsible for reviewing, assessing, and approving Coman facilities against Food Safety and Quality standards at onboarding and on a continuous basis.

This position works closely with the Purchasing, Research and Development and Project managing team on board new co-mans and the production of Lactalis dairy products, to align duties with the company's goals and values.

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

Coman Management

• Clearly communicate Lactalis expectations to CoMan regarding food safety and quality policies, quality systems and finished product specifications.
• Conduct initial facility assessment as part of procurement co-man approval process, as necessary.
• Plan and conduct CoMan audits according to Lactalis required frequency. Utilizes the principles of GFSI, HACCP & ISO 9001/22000 and Lactalis Group guidelines in audits to assess food safety/quality risks & recommends mitigation strategies.
• Produces audit reports and distributes internally and externally in a timely manner, after each visit.
• Follow up on any non-conformances raised during audit, ensuring they are properly addressed and closed.
• Oversee CoMan documentation, ensure updates of the same, according to Group rules.
• Manage the CoMan quality program by collaborating with cross functional teams with the approval and continued management of CoMan sites
• Accountable to maintain the CoMan quality Cockpit to follow all pertinent KPIs.
• Plan and conduct regular performance reviews to review KPIs, address compliance concerns, discuss new projects and ensure co-mans are effectively adhering to established standards, specifications and processes.
• Validate CoMan traceability system by performing random mock recall exercises.
• Coordinate investigation of consumer complaints, spec deviations and offer solutions to problems at CoMan in all realms of activity: microbiological, manufacturing, logistical, planning
• Collaborate with Sensory Coordinator to establish regular sensory and analytical evaluation of finished products from the market.
• Ensure full compliance with FDA and Lactalis SQMP standards; cultivate win-win relationships with co-mans; and maintain a robust QFS CoMan management program focused on key metrics.
• Apply Group CoMan Criticality and Food Fraud protocols; participate in creating CoMan specifications and defining analytical criteria; and develop/implement initiatives to enhance QFS culture.
• Manage crisis/alert and incident/withdrawal/recall procedures; establish an integrated QFS management system; and maintain close relationships with internal teams and CoMans.

Industrial Quality

• Ensure all co-manufactured products are produced according to dairy industry's best practices and Lactalis Group standards; guaranteeing the highest food safety and quality standards are met with regards to product manufacturing and warehousing.
• Ensure the proper analytical methods are used to ensure the finished product consistently meets specifications.
• Collaborate with Lactalis cross functional teams to establish finished product specifications, finished product monitoring plan, and ongoing assessment of production data to ensure the production of consistent quality products.
• Assist CoMan in complex matters that require technical expertise with the help of Lactalis Group experts.

Organizational & Cross-Functional Support

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Logistics, R&D, Purchasing, Marketing, plants QA) and Corporate Quality managers in the development and launch of new products and execute assigned tasks.
• CoLead with R&D the industrial trials for inno/reno projects.
• Collaborate with CoMan procurement to drive alternative sourcing and productivity projects
• Participate in commercialization calls to follow innovation pipeline.
• Conducts food safety and quality risk assessments and ensures proper execution of specifications.
• Maintain a close partnership with the cross functional teams at LAG, LHD, LUSY.
• Maintain a connection with Lactalis Group Quality Department to maintain and gain technical knowledge.
• Work with other departments to achieve overall company objectives.
• Alert senior management on major issues.
• Reporting to Director, Supplier Quality and Comans

Requirements

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Dairy, Food, Nutritional Sciences or Food Microbiology.

Experience

• 7-10 years' experience in quality assurance with a minimum of 5 years' quality management experience within a dairy and food industry. Experience in sanitation and manufacturing are a plus.
• Well versed in PMO and FSSC 22000 and its related regulations, with 3 years' experience managing PMO regulatory compliance in a dairy manufacturing facility preferred.
• Strong computer skills including experience with Microsoft Suite.
• Ability to think in a logical manner.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to speak in front of large groups is a must.
• Ability to take direction and work both independently and in a team environment.
• Ability to follow procedures to detail and work under pressure.
• Ability to maintain an organized and clean work area.
• Ability to work overtime and weekends as needed.
• Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines within specified time constraints.
• Ability to adapt to a changing work environment.

Certifications and specific knowledge

• Knowledge of: The agri-food and/or dairy industry, industrial technologies & processes, QFS management systems; current regulation on food contact material, food safety, labelling.
• Crisis management knowledge, quality audits.
• Preferred HACCP certification, GFSI as FSSC 22000.

At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities. Further, any division of the Company that is an Affirmative Action Employer will comply with all related legal obligations.