Food Safety Team Leader

Hill's Pet Nutrition; Clinton (OK); On-site; USD 86,000 - 121,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) retirement plan

Paid vacation and holidays

Job summary

Colgate-Palmolive Company is seeking a Quality Food Safety Team Leader at the Clinton, Oklahoma facility to drive the Plant Food Safety Program and ensure product safety and quality.

You will oversee sanitation, audits, CAPA investigations, and collaborate with engineering on equipment design, with a focus on regulatory compliance and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, Microbiology, Biochemistry, or a closely related scientific field.
• 3+ years of progressive manufacturing experience, with 1+ year in a food safety, compliance, or quality role.
• Experience managing cleaning/sanitation programs, HACCP, FSMA, CAPA, and FDA/USDA regulations.
• Experience leading internal/external audits and prior supervisory experience.
• Ability to meet physical demands (temperatures, lifting up to 55 lbs, PPE).

Responsibilities

• Drive execution, improvement, and documentation of the Plant Food Safety Program (HACCP, FSMA, CCP, FDA, Product Release).
• Investigate Food Safety, Environmental, and Microbiology non-conformances using CAPA.
• Oversee plant cleaning, sanitation, pest control, and sampling plans to ensure SOP compliance.
• Lead internal GMP and quality system audits and assist with regulatory inspections (FDA, USDA, SQF, State).
• Deliver food safety training and collaborate with Plant Engineers on Sanitary Equipment Design for new capital projects.

Skills

Food Safety

Audits

CAPA

GMP

Sanitation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science / Chemistry / Biology / Engineering

Job description

Relocation Assistance Offered Within Country

Job Number #175297 - Clinton, Oklahoma, United States

Who We Are

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries specializing in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our products are trusted in more households than any other brand in the world, making us a household name!

Join Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for people, their pets, and our planet. Guided by our core values—Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous—we foster a culture that inspires our people to achieve common goals. Together, let\'s build a brighter, healthier future for all.

Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Accordingly, all applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis and must not require the Company\'s sponsorship to continue to work legally in the United States.

At Hill’s we have a purpose to transform the lives of millions of pet families through pioneering innovation, science-led nutrition, and the best and brightest people. If you\'re interested in work that matters, fueled by passion for pets, we invite you to apply.

Founded more than 75 years ago with an unwavering commitment to pet nutrition, Hill’s mission is to help enrich and lengthen the special relationships between people and their pets. Our decades of science and research guide us in creating nutrition that\'s a step ahead so pets and pet parents can enjoy every day together. As the US #1 Veterinarian recommended pet food brand, knowledge is our first ingredient with 220+ veterinarians, PhD nutritionists and food scientists working to develop breakthrough innovations in pet health.

Role Summary

As the Quality Food Safety Team Leader at our Clinton facility, you will lead the Food Safety team to ensure our stringent company quality standards are consistently met. You will drive the execution of the Plant Food Safety Program, oversee continuous improvement initiatives, and champion our cleaning and sanitation processes. By ensuring rigorous compliance with food safety regulations and leading critical audits, you will directly safeguard our product integrity and our mission to provide the best nutrition for pets everywhere

Responsibilities

• Drive the execution, continuous improvement, and documentation of the Plant Food Safety Program, including HACCP, FSMA, CCP, FDA, and Product Release requirements.
• Conduct thorough investigations of Food Safety, Environmental, and Microbiology non-conformance issues utilizing the CAPA process to implement effective solutions.
• Oversee plant cleaning, sanitation programs, pest control, and environmental microbial sampling plans to ensure compliance with Corporate Quality SOPs.
• Lead internal GMP and quality system audits, while successfully assisting with and managing regulatory and external inspections (e.g., FDA, USDA, SQF, State).
• Develop and deliver engaging food safety training to plant operations teams and collaborate with Plant Engineers to ensure proper Sanitary Equipment Food Design for new capital projects

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, Microbiology, Biochemistry, or a closely related scientific field.
• 3+ years of progressive manufacturing experience, with 1+year(s) in a food safety, compliance, or quality role within the food or pet nutrition industry.
• Proven experience managing cleaning and sanitation programs, HACCP, FSMA, CAPA processes, and applying knowledge of FDA/USDA regulations.
• Direct experience leading internal and external audits, along with prior supervisory experience demonstrating the ability to guide and mentor teams.
• Ability to meet physical demands, including working in extreme temperatures, bending, climbing, lifting up to 55 lbs, and wearing proper personal protective equipment.

Preferred Qualifications

• PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual), HACCP, SQF/ISO 22000, and/or cGMP certifications.
• 2+ years of supervisory experience paired with a strong background in microbiology.
• Proficiency in Quality Management Systems, SAP or any similar ERP system, Google Suite, Microsoft Office, and strong experience with Lean Six Sigma or Statistical Process Control methodologies.

Compensation And Benefits

Salary Range $86,000.00 - $121,000.00 USD

Pay is determined based on experience, qualifications, and location. Salaried employees may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, profit-sharing, and long-term incentives for Executive-level roles.

Benefits: Salaried employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, paid parental leave, disability coverage, and participation in the 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions subject to eligibility requirements. Additional benefits include a minimum of 15 vacation/PTO days (hourly employees receive a minimum of 120 hours) and 13 paid holidays (vacation days are prorated based on the employee\'s hire date within the calendar year). Paid sick leave is adjusted based on role and location in accordance with local laws. Detailed information regarding paid sick leave entitlements will be provided to employees upon hiring and may be subject to adjustments based on changes in legislation or company policies.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Our journey begins with our people—developing strong talent with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to best serve our consumers around the world and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels a true sense of belonging. We are dedicated to ensuring that each individual can be their authentic self, is treated with respect, and is empowered by leadership to contribute meaningfully to our business.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Colgate is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status (United States positions), or any other characteristic protected by law.

Reasonable accommodation during the application process is available for persons with disabilities. Please complete this request form should you require accommodation.

For additional Colgate terms and conditions, please click here.

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