Principal Innovation Quality

Nestlé; Solon (OH); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Nestlé is seeking a Principal Innovation Quality professional to serve as the primary QA/食品安全 contact across the Dairy Culinary Solutions category, with cross-functional collaboration with R&D, Manufacturing, Operations, and Quality teams to drive risk assessments and QbD initiatives.

You will lead scientific studies, ensure regulatory alignment, and guide project management to support innovation, consumer safety, and business growth across dairy, frozen, and chilled products.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Microbiology, Food Science or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Quality Management Systems and regulatory requirements.
• Experience applying DoE, risk assessments and QA techniques.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and communicate effectively.

Responsibilities

• Represent Quality & Food Safety on product/process development projects and deliver QA/compliance assessments.
• Design, oversee, and interpret scientific studies including shelf-life and validation activities.
• Serve as primary QA contact for Dairy Culinary Solutions, including frozen and chilled categories.
• Lead cross-functional groups to identify needs and implement improvements focused on QbD.
• Define category requirements and knowledge-transfer strategies for I&R initiatives.
• Author and maintain Quality & Food Safety standards and guidelines for dairy solutions.
• Provide QA expertise to factories, markets and zones; support problem solving and risk assessments.
• Demonstrate digital savviness to improve efficiency and decision-making.
• Prepare BRQ materials and communicate insights for decision-making.
• Identify opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement; manage projects to meet timelines.
• Support site QA/FS team in audits and address food safety challenges.

Skills

Quality & Food Safety

Project management

Design of Experiments

Regulatory guidance

Digital tools

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor of Science in Microbiology/Food Science

Graduate degree preferred

FSSC Lead Auditor Certification

HACCP Certification

FSMA PCQI Certification

ISO 22000/ISO 9001

Job description

Foods you love. Brands you trust. And a career that empowers you to grow.

At Nestlé USA, we’re all working towards the same goal – to delight and deliver for our consumers. With a rich portfolio of beloved brands, including DiGiorno, Toll House, and Coffee mate, in 97% of U.S. households, we have a unique opportunity – and responsibility – to be there for every moment in our consumers’ lives.

Joining Nestlé means becoming part of an inclusive workplace that inspires innovation, encourages strategic thinking and creativity, and celebrates your achievements. No matter where you work within the organization, you are empowered to challenge the status quo, embrace risk-taking, and pioneer new ideas. Our supportive and collaborative environment encourages bold ambitions and continuous learning so that everyone can grow and thrive.

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.

Position Summary:

The Principal Innovation Quality serves as the primary point of contact for Quality and Food Safety across the Dairy Culinary Solutions category, with additional oversight for frozen and chilled products. This role leads quality and food safety initiatives throughout product and process development, ensuring products are safe, compliant, and ready for successful commercialization. Partnering cross-functionally with R&D, Manufacturing, Operations, and Quality teams, the incumbent drives risk assessments, scientific studies, continuous improvement initiatives, and quality-by-design strategies while providing technical leadership, regulatory guidance, and project management expertise to support innovation, consumer safety, and business growth.

Responsibilities:

• Represent Quality & Food Safety on designated product and process development projects. Execute end-to-end Quality and Food Safety project deliverables, ensuring appropriate quality, food safety, and compliance assessments are correctly completed before industrialization to enable flawless implementation and assure consumer safety.
• Assess the food safety of products, ingredients, and processes by designing, overseeing, and interpreting scientific studies, including shelf-life studies, challenge studies, method development, and validation activities, utilizing sound Design of Experiments (DOE) principles.
• Serve as the primary Quality and Food Safety contact for the Dairy Culinary Solutions category, with additional responsibility for frozen and chilled product categories.
• Lead cross-functional working groups to identify category needs, develop action plans, and implement strategic improvements that strengthen end-to-end Quality and Food Safety performance with focus on quality by design.
• Define category requirements, documentation, and knowledge-transfer strategies to support Innovation & Renovation (I&R) initiatives. Establish project scope, identify gaps, and lead plans to ensure requirements are clearly defined and effectively implemented.
• Author, maintain, and support the implementation of Quality & Food Safety standards and guidelines to ensure alignment with company and regulatory requirements, with focus on dairy culinary solutions category.
• Provide Quality and Food Safety expertise to factories, markets, and zones, supporting technical problem solving, risk assessments, continuous improvement initiatives, and technical assistance requests.
• Demonstrate digital savviness and agility by rapidly learning, adopting, and applying digital tools and solutions to increase efficiency, improve decision-making, and enhance Quality & Food Safety outcomes.
• Prepare clear, concise, and impactful communications for stakeholders, including Business Review of Quality (BRQ) materials, ensuring key quality, food safety, risk, and/or project insights are effectively communicated to support decision-making and awareness.
• Identify opportunities for innovation, value creation, and continuous improvement. Lead projects that accelerate innovation, deliver business objectives on time, and maintain strong stakeholder communication and alignment throughout project execution.
• Support site Quality and Food Safety team in maintaining compliance, preparing for and participating in internal audits, and addressing food safety-related challenges as needed.

Qualifications/Certifications:

• Minimum of a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology, Food Science or relevant field. Relevant Graduate degree preferred.
• FSSC Lead Auditor Certification
• HACCP Certification
• FSMA PCQI Certification
• ISO 22000/ISO 9001

Critical Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Microbiology, Food Science, or a related scientific field required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of food industry experience in manufacturing, R&D, or product development, preferably with exposure to dairy culinary, frozen, and chilled food categories.
• Demonstrated ability to apply scientific and technical expertise to ensure product and process safety and deliver right-first-time solutions.
• Quality Management and manufacturing experience preferred; Factory Quality Manager experience highly desirable.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, assess risks, and make sound food safety and quality decisions with minimal supervision.
• Active participation in external food industry networks and professional organizations preferred.
• Experience with Quality Management Systems (QMS) and continuous improvement methodologies preferred.
• Ability to coach, train, and influence others without direct reporting relationships.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate effectively and influence both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proven stakeholder management skills, including collaboration, coaching, and relationship building across functions and organizational levels.
• Strong leadership and team facilitation skills, including the ability to lead cross-functional teams, anticipate challenges, and develop others.
• Excellent project and process management skills, with a track record of planning, prioritizing, and delivering results.
• Digital proficiency and agility, with the ability to adopt and leverage evolving digital tools, data, and technologies to improve efficiency and decision-making.
• Available to travel 20 - 30%.

It is our business imperative to remain a very inclusive workplace.

To our veterans and separated service members, you're at the forefront of our minds as we recruit top talent to join Nestlé. The skills you've gained while serving our country, such as flexibility, agility, and leadership, are much like the skills that will make you successful in this role. In addition, with our commitment to an inclusive work environment, we recognize the exceptional engagement and innovation displayed by individuals with disabilities. Nestlé seeks such skilled and qualified individuals to share our mission where you’ll join a cohort of others who have chosen to call Nestlé home.

The Nestlé Companies are equal employment opportunity employers. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Prior to the next step in the recruiting process, we welcome you to inform us confidentially if you may require any special accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment experience. Contact us at [e-mail] or please dial 711 and provide this number to the operator: 1-800-321-6467.

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.

Review our applicant privacy notice before applying at https://www.nestlejobs.com/privacy.

Job Requisition: 413575

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