This role reports to the VP RDI and is responsible for working with Supply chain, FSQA, R&D and Operations to troubleshoot quality and operational issues, to support R&D trials and new product launches, to evaluate and approve new suppliers of existing ingredients and to support necessary reformulations of existing products, to manage product transfers between plants. Also, to conduct root cause analysis for customer complaints and out of spec production and to update operational control limits and procedures for existing products to improve the “right first time” percentage.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support R&D project leaders with new product, process, and procedure introductions.
• Collaborate with all stakeholders (R&D, FSQA, Ops, Supply Chain, Finance) on any modifications of existing products.
• Ensure existing and new products/processes/procedures are safe and suitable for purpose.
• Maintain and analyze data in a predictive and proactive manner, identifying and reporting weekly/monthly on trends and issues that impact Quality or Efficiency.
• Share with members of management on a regular basis your analysis report quality data, creating actionable insights, help build consensus and receive feedback to provide the best quality product possible.
• Champion collaborative cross functional teams to develop solutions to recurring problems (Customer complaints, near misses, out of spec production) at the root cause level and to incorporate these learnings into our procedures and policies.
• Regularly visit our various facilities, develop productive working relationships with key stakeholders, walk the production floor, interact with, mentor and train people at operational level to assist in ensuring plant production meets or exceeds customer requirements.
• Be a champion for Quality, Safety, Operational efficiency, new products/processes/procedures.
• Advise and guide senior leadership and the organization on the resources and training needed to meet relevant standards ensure food safety and quality.
• Work with NPD to ensure that new product introduction process is adequate to protect our customers and consumers and is being adhered to.
• Lead in the identification and adoption of best practice across all our US facilities.

Education and Experience:

• BS/MS in food/dairy science, technology, microbiology, or related area.
• Preferably 7 years of experience in R&D/FSQ/Operations in a process cheese or dairy/dairy analogue plant.
• Lean Six Sigma certification with strong statistical skills and familiarity with Red Zone would be a plus.
• Knowledge of USDA/FSIS and FSMA regulations, HACCP, SSOP, LSOP, GMP requirements.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to work effectively in a stressful, deadline driven environment.

Other Requirements:

• Sit in a stationary position or walk the production floor up to 80% of workday.
• Use hands/fingers to handle or feel, operate, office and lab related items.
• Constantly operates a computer, phone, and other office machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, computer printer, etc.
• Communicate verbally with employees and customers.
• Vision requirements include reading computer screens, hazard signs, identifying colors.
• Ability to lift and carry office related items up 25 pounds as needed in the office (supplies).
• Works in office conditions regularly.
• Will be exposed to general manufacturing operations requiring personal protective equipment such as uniform, bump cap, safety glasses and hearing protection.
• Will need to possess valid driver’s license and own transportation to be willing and able to drive to or fly to Ornua plants and possibly Customer and or Supplier locations.