Manager, QFS Contract Manufacturing

Danone North America, LLC; Louisville (CO); Hybrid; USD 78,000 - 113,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Performance-based bonus

Tuition reimbursement

401(k) plan

Parental leave

Job summary

Danone North America, LLC is seeking a Manager, QFS Contract Manufacturing to oversee quality and food safety for products produced by third-party contract manufacturers across North America. The role emphasizes audits, continuous improvement, and cross-functional collaboration with teams spanning procurement, R&I, EHS, regulatory, and operations.

You will lead site qualification, risk assessments, specifications approvals, and corrective actions to ensure safety and high quality.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in science, Food Science, or similar major.
• 4+ years of combined experience with ingredients, food packaging, quality and manufacturing processes.
• Strong understanding of Quality & Food Safety Systems and current Food Regulations.
• Solid understanding of plant production systems, GMP, SPC, sanitation and EHS.
• Experience with auditing suppliers and driving corrective actions and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead qualification of new 3PM manufacturing sites, processes, and materials.
• Support innovation and renovation through risk assessments, specs reviews, and validation.
• Mitigate risk using scientific principles and quality standards.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to meet Danone standards.
• Design controls and batching/process changes to reduce variability and improve quality.
• Manage 3PM audits, reports, and corrective actions.
• Support supply quality and supplier issue resolution.
• Ensure process instructions and specs are current and enforced.

Skills

Leadership

Collaboration

Influence

Deadlines

Adaptable

Detail oriented

Communication

Documentation

Learning quickly

Confidential materials

Education

Bachelor's degree in science/food science

Tools

SAP

Job description

Manager, QFS Contract Manufacturing

Short Intro and About the Job

This position works within Danone's Quality & Food Safety Department and cross functionally within US & Canada Operations. The primary responsibilities are to ensure the Quality and Food Safety of products & ingredients being produced at third party, Contract Manufacturing, finished goods supplier locations in North America.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position must ensure that all assigned contract manufacturing, 3rd party manufacturing (3PM) locations produce safe ingredients & products of the highest and most consistent quality by assuring compliance with Danone standards and operating protocols. This role also drives ongoing performance improvement efforts, compliance to standards and adherence to specifications.

• Lead Qualification of new 3PM manufacturing sites, processes, and new Raw and Pack materials.
• Activities associated with the innovation & renovation process such as technical risk assessments, specification reviews and approvals, documentation reviews, Food Safety validations and approvals, design assessments, trial support, etc.
• Mitigation of risk through application of scientific principles, technical experience and employment of Quality and Food Safety Standards
• Collaboration with internal functions including Cycles & Procurement, Research & Innovation, Environmental Health and Safety, Sustainability, Regulatory, Food Safety, Project Management, Operations to deliver products to the market that meet Danone's standards.
• Design and installation of appropriate controls, sample plans, hold/release system modifications, code rotation, batching and processing controls, and other production systems that will drive a reduction in variability and improvement in product consistency.
• 3PM Audit Management: planning, auditing, report writing, action plan follow-up and continuous improvement activities as needed.
• Plant operations support related to supply quality.
• Problem solving, Resolution of supplier issues and claims, Follow-up on issues to ensure appropriate corrective actions are complete.
• Partner cross functionally to ensure that manufacturing process instructions, finished good and raw material specifications exist, are current, and enforced.
• Coordination with Global QFS Contract Manufacturing teams including audit coordination, performance reporting, and scorecard management.
• Utilizing Six Sigma, SPC, Lean, and/or other continuous improvement concepts to improve quality, efficiency, and waste.
• Staying current with regulatory and certifying agency guidelines and relevant Danone standards.
• Manage Veeva process for consumer complaint, RCA, Product Non-conformity (PNC), and Supply Quality issue tracking.
• All other duties as assigned.

TRAVEL: Estimated at 50%-60%

The salary range for this position is $78,000.00 - $113,000.00 USD. The exact salary offered will depend on several factors, including the candidate's relevant experience, geographic location, internal equity, and market conditions. Danone North America additionally offers a performance-based bonus and has a strong benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug Coverage, 401k Plan, Wellness Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Flexible Time Off, and Paid Parental Bonding Leave, among other benefit plan options. To give our employees flexibility, Danone is a hybrid work environment.

This role is considered a "hybrid" position that allows for flexible work, meaning it is a role where collaboration with key stakeholders in Danone Hubs occurs. While you may have the option to work from home on a schedule as agreed to with your supervisor, you are also expected to regularly report to your assigned office location at least 3 days per week.

About You

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in science, Food Science, or similar major
• 4+ years of combined experience with ingredients, food packaging, quality and manufacturing processes.
• Strong understanding of Quality & Food Safety Systems and current Food Regulations.
• Solid understanding of plant production systems, manufacturing equipment, GMP, SPC, sanitation and EHS.
• Experience with auditing suppliers and a demonstrated ability to drive corrective actions and continuous improvement.
• Experience in problem solving and driving conflict resolution, including financial claims resolution.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Must be collaborative and have leadership ability.
• Able to influence without direct authority
• Ability to work under deadlines, with multiple priorities.
• Must be adaptable and flexible.
• Self-driven, results oriented, detail oriented and also able to work independently.
• Ability to work with confidential materials.
• Excellent communication / presentation skills.
• Excellent record keeping / documentation skills.
• Able to quickly learn new systems, tools, and programs.

NONESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Previous experience in Food or Food Packaging & Research and Innovation
• Prior or present responsibility as QA Manager, Supervisor, or similar position at a food manufacturing facility
• Working knowledge of SAP and/or similar ERP databases.

About Us, We offer and What's next

Life at Danone With approximately 5,000 employees and 13 production locations across the U.S., our vibrant culture and endless growth opportunities are just a couple of the reasons our employees call themselves "Proud Danoners."

Learn more about Life at Danone

Our Brands When you join us, you'll work with some of the best-known food and beverage brands in the world, including Activia, DanActive, Danimals, Dannon, evian, Follow Your Heart, Happy Family Organics, International Delight, Light + Fit, Nutricia , Oikos, Silk, So Delicious Dairy Free, STK Cold Brew Coffee , Too Good & Co, and YoCrunch.

Our Purpose We're committed to making a positive impact on our world. Rooted in our mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible, we're proud to be the world's largest B Corp.

Learn more about our mission.

Our Benefits Our commitment to making the world healthier starts with our employees.

• Physical Wellbeing: We pay for the majority of your medical benefits - which include medical, dental and vision - with our competitive 80%/20% cost-sharing model.
• Mental Wellbeing: Danoners receive fitness discounts, unlimited flexible time off and hybrid work schedules. We also have a range of programs that support mental health and substance abuse.
• Financial Support: We offer a performance-based bonus, a 401(k) plan, tuition reimbursement, employee discount programs and voluntary perks.
• Family Care: We offer caretaker benefits, 18 weeks of parental bonding, fertility, surrogacy, adoption benefits and pet insurance.

Learn more about our benefits.

Equal Opportunity Employer Danone North America is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. It is our policy to give equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to legally protected characteristics, or any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state/provincial and/or local law. For our EEO policy statement and your EEO rights under law click here.

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