Manager, Quality

Colgate; Tonganoxie (KS); On-site; USD 150,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with company match

Paid parental leave

Vacation days

13 paid holidays

Job summary

Hill’s Pet Nutrition, part of Colgate-Palmolive, seeks a Quality Manager for its Kansas manufacturing site in Tonganoxie. You will lead quality systems, ensure food safety, and drive daily quality excellence across shifts with cross-functional teams.

You will oversee regulatory compliance, CAPA, change control, and internal audits while advancing Right First Time and data-driven quality improvements for sustained product integrity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a manufacturing environment.
• 8+ years of Quality Management experience.
• Experience leading teams of Quality professionals.
• Experience participating in or leading quality and regulatory audit/inspection activities.
• Strong knowledge of Food Safety and cGMPs.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement site Quality Systems and Food Safety Plans.
• Drive local execution of the Right First Time (RFT) program.
• Champion and oversee Quality Operational Excellence and continuous improvement at the site.
• Foster a culture of quality, food safety and continuous improvement.
• Identify opportunities to leverage digital/automation solutions on the plant floor.
• Ensure compliance with Colgate/Hill’s standards and regulatory requirements.
• Track and report site Quality KPIs monthly to stakeholders.
• Serve as a key Site Leadership Team member to drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Quality leadership

Cross-functional influence

Audits & inspections

Regulatory knowledge

Continuous improvement

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Advanced degree in Food Science / Microbiology / Chemistry

Job description

A part of Colgate-Palmolive since 1976, Hill's Pet Nutrition offers the highest-quality pet nutrition available through product lines Prescription Diet® and Science Diet®. Veterinarians worldwide recommend and feed their own pets Hill's products more than any other brand of pet food.

Available in approximately 80 countries around the world, our extensive line of products includes more than 60 Prescription Diet brand pet foods and more than 50 Science Diet brand pet foods.

We believe all animals should be loved and cared for during their lifetimes. That is why we are proud our pet foods can make a difference in your pet's life.

A career at Hill’s Pet Nutrition or Colgate-Palmolive is an excellent opportunity if you seek a global experience, constant challenge, and development opportunities in an environment that respects work/life effectiveness.

Travel Required?: Travel - up to 10% of time

Posting Start Date: 9/3/26

On-site

Relocation Assistance Offered Within Country

Job Number#175781 - Tonganoxie, Kansas, United States

Quality Manager

Quality professionals are consistently drawn to Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Colgate-Palmolive by the exceptional opportunities for career advancement and our highly competitive compensation packages. While the pride of representing globally recognized and trusted brands is a strong draw, new team members frequently highlight our welcoming company culture and comprehensive benefits as primary reasons for joining our team. When you step into a Quality role with us, you join a highly stable organization that respects your ambitions, providing the solid job security and resources needed to build a fulfilling, long-term career path.

As a Quality Manager you will be responsible for executing, maintaining, and continuously improving Corporate Quality Assurance and Food Safety programs at Hill’s newest, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Tonganoxie, Kansas. Reporting to the Regional Quality Director, this role serves as a vital member of the Site Leadership Team, partnering closely with the Director of Manufacturing, Science & Technology teams, and cross‑functional operations leaders to drive daily quality excellence and support the site’s strategic objectives.

You will provide hands‑on oversight for site compliance with Hill’s/Colgate Quality Standards and regulatory requirements, managing localized elements of technology transfer, supplier alignment, ingredient non‑conformance, and microbiology/food safety protocols. Additionally, you will lead the plant‑level investigation and resolution of consumer complaints, driving root‑cause analysis and preventive actions to ensure the highest standards of product integrity on the production floor.

A key responsibility of this role is the on‑the‑ground execution of the Right First Time (RFT) program to include translating RFT principles into daily site practices, fostering a culture where quality is built into processes at the source rather than inspected in at the end. This includes identifying local process gaps and opportunities, strengthening preventive quality measures, leveraging data and digital/automation solutions, and engaging manufacturing teams across all shifts in continuous improvement and quality ownership.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement site Quality Systems and Food Safety Plans to reduce variation, minimize waste, protect the business, and ensure consistent product quality.

Drive the local execution of the Right First Time (RFT) program , championing RFT principles and establishing quality at the source as the standard across the plant.

Champion, implement, and oversee Quality Operational Excellence and continuous improvement initiatives at the local manufacturing site, identifying process gaps and opportunities to prevent defects and improve quality performance.

Foster a strong culture of quality, food safety, and continuous improvement by engaging and developing manufacturing teams to take ownership of quality in their daily work.

Identify opportunities to leverage digital and automation solutions on the plant floor to strengthen quality controls, improve process capability, and enable proactive quality management.

Ensure compliance with Colgate/Hill’s, local, and international regulatory standards; partner with regulatory agencies to address and resolve issues.

Track and report site Quality KPIs to internal and external stakeholders on a monthly (or required) basis, using data and insights to identify trends, prioritize actions, and drive business outcomes.

Serve as a key member of the Site Leadership Team to drive continuous improvement and deliver upon plant strategy.

Own daily execution of key Quality Systems such as Incoming Component & Finished Product Inspection & Release, Validation, CAPA, Change Control, Internal Audits, Laboratory Management, and Documentation Management.

Manage the site Quality Audit program to ensure conformance with standards, quality‑related regulatory requirements, cGMPs, and continuous improvement expectations; lead action plans to address internal and external quality or food safety audit findings.

Lead site consumer satisfaction programs, including consumer complaint tracking, root‑cause analysis, and reduction of plant‑controllable complaints.

Partner cross‑functionally with Manufacturing, S&T, Engineering, Supply Chain, and other site teams to proactively identify and mitigate quality and food safety risks.

Administer Performance Management and Coaching/Feedback activities and provide effective career development and planning for Quality team members.

Prepare and manage operating budgets for variable and fixed overheads for the Quality Team.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree

8+ years of Quality Management experience in a manufacturing environment

Experience leading teams of Quality professionals

Experience participating in or leading quality and regulatory audit/inspection activities

Strong knowledge of Food Safety and cGMPs

Demonstrated ability to influence cross‑functional teams and drive quality and continuous improvement initiatives

Preferred Qualifications

Advanced degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or related field

Certification in HACCP, ISO 22000, or SQF

Strong analytical experience and ability to use data and insights to drive business outcomes

Understanding of plant process systems, quality and food safety programs, and controls

Knowledge of FDA regulations and experience with audit execution and inspection readiness

Experience using continuous improvement methodologies to drive positive and sustainable change

Experience with digital, automation, or technology‑enabled quality solutions

Experience implementing or executing Right First Time, quality‑at‑the‑source, or similar quality excellence programs

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range $150,000.00 - $170,000.00 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.