External Manufacturing QA Lead & Supplier Partner

Mars; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 87,000 - 119,000; Full time

Job summary

Mars, Incorporated in the United States is seeking a Senior Quality Manager to serve as the primary interface between Mars and External Manufacturing partners. You will lead as the face of R&D between Mars and EM stakeholders, safeguarding high-quality products that meet Mars standards and legal requirements.

This role anchors EM quality management, audits, HACCP/GMP, and supplier development, with up to 40% travel to ensure compliance and continuous improvement across external manufacturers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in food science/technology or related field.
• 3+ years in Food Development/Manufacturing with focus on Quality & Food Safety and auditing experience.
• Strong leadership and passion for quality (Mars' first principle).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Proven project management and organizational experience.
• Strong communicator with supplier management skills.
• Knowledge of HACCP, GMP/GHP, FSSC22.000.
• Willing to travel up to 40%.

Responsibilities

• Translate and embed Mars' principles and culture.
• Partner with commercial teams to drive EM performance and QFS compliance.
• Develop processes for supplier development and product implementation at External Manufacturers.
• Collaborate to mitigate Change Management impacting product compliance.
• Own incident management responsibilities for non-conformances at External Manufacturers.
• Perform co-manufacturing QFS audits to verify quality systems and compliance.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in food science/technology

Tools

Audit experience

Job description

Mars, Incorporated in the United States is seeking a Senior Quality Manager to serve as the primary interface between Mars and External Manufacturing partners. You will lead as the face of R&D between Mars and EM stakeholders, safeguarding high-quality products that meet Mars standards and legal requirements.

This role anchors EM quality management, audits, HACCP/GMP, and supplier development, with up to 40% travel to ensure compliance and continuous improvement across external manufacturers.