Area Quality & Food Safety Specialist

Mars, Incorporated and its Affiliates; Albany (GA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company bonus

Benefits package

Job summary

Mars, Incorporated and its Affiliates seeks a seasoned Quality & Food Safety partner to lead QMP implementation across the value stream, ensuring products meet all external and internal standards. You will drive CAPAs, audits, and line trials, coordinating with R&D and operations to minimize risk and improve compliance.

Ideal candidates have 5+ years in food manufacturing/quality, strong cross-functional collaboration, and a track record of leading in fast-paced teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with 5+ years of demonstrated success in food manufacturing/quality experience.
• Understanding of key scientific principles associated with food & ingredients.
• Ability to work effectively in cross functional teams.
• Demonstrated capability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead quality and food safety activities within the value stream and drive QFP initiatives.
• Act as QFS leader in value stream meetings and quality reviews.
• Interface with R&D for line trials and raw material exception forms; represent QFS at handover meetings.
• Coordinate quality management processes including CAPAs, internal audits, and document control.
• Implement global Mars standards and drive full compliance in the value stream.
• Oversee the food safety program including external standard compliance and PCQI responsibilities.
• Manage incident handling, root-cause analysis, and post-incident closure reporting.
• Address consumer and customer complaints and lead action plans.
• Support KAPPA implementation and provide technical input to value stream projects.
• Troubleshoot QFS issues and escalate for higher-level support when needed.
• Reduce incidents through risk assessment and operations collaboration.

Skills

Cross-functional teamwork

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Prioritization

Food science knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

5+ years quality experience

BS degree in Food Science/Food Safety/Engineering

Job description

Job Description:

This position is the primary Quality and Food Safety (Q&FS) partner (‘the face of R&D’) for the Value Stream in providing technical leadership in the implementation and continuous improvement of the Quality Management Process (QMP) within the value stream that enable the reliable delivery of products that meet all external legislative requirements and all internal Quality & Food Safety global standards.

What are we looking for?

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with 5+ years of demonstrated success in food manufacturing/quality experience
• Understanding of key scientific principles associated with food & ingredients
• Ability to work effectively in cross functional teams
• Demonstrated capability to manage multiple priorities
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong presentation Skills

Preferred Qualifications

• BS degree in Food Science, Food Safety, Engineering, or related technical field
• 2-3 years of experience in different quality & food safety- related areas such as raw materials, distribution, manufacturing or internship(s) in quality and food safety in a food manufacturing environment
• Food safety risk, identification and management, HACCP and prerequisite controls. Knowledge of GMP, food allergens, pest control, sanitation, and food safety regulations
• Knowledge of and experience with ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Systems
• Knowledge of GFSI Quality Systems such as SQF, BRC, FSSC22000 or ISO9000
• Ability to work in fast paced team environment
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities in leading/influencing others

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Responsible for the quality agenda in the value stream (coordination, management). Drives Q&FS business initiatives at the value stream level
• Q&FS leader in value stream FMOS meetings and quality reviews
• Key interface for R&D related activities within the value stream. Conduct line trial risk assessment and endorse line trial/ raw material exception test forms prior to approval by site Q&FS manager. Represent Q&FS at handover meetings
• Coordinate QMP in the value stream (CAPAs, internal audits, continuous improvement, document creation & control)
• Implement global Mars standards into the value stream & drive to full compliance
• Manage the food safety program within the value stream including achieving compliance with any required external standards (e.g. FSCC 22000, GFSI) including responsibility as the site Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) for Food Safety Modernization Act. Govern the GMP/GHP and CCP/OPRP programs within the value stream
• First line Q&FS incident management including handling coordination with outside stakeholders when needed – incident coordinator until RA1. Lead root cause analysis investigation of incidents. Track and report on incident closure
• Follow up consumer & customer complaints, Lead consumer and customer complaints action plan within value stream
• Visual Product Quality (KAPPA) implementation in the value stream
• Technical input to Value Stream related activities (new equipment installation, etc.)
• Conduct level 2 troubleshooting related to Q&FS and elevate to PPTS for level 3 troubleshooting
• Reduce incidents related to change management through building capability with operations and reliability on risk assessments

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by The Five Principles.
• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

Mars does not sponsor visas for this role.

This position is not eligible for relocation benefits.