Project Manager, Large Capital Quality

Fairlife; Camden (MI); On-site; USD 125,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Paid time off

Parental leave

401(k) match

Wellness reimbursement

EAP

Life insurance

HSA funding

Tuition reimbursement

Learning & development

Rewards program

Job summary

fairlife, LLC, a Chicago-based nutrition company, seeks a Quality Project Manager to drive quality workstreams for large capital projects, including lab design, equipment validation, and regulatory filings. This role partners with Quality and Operations to ensure timelines and requirements are met.

You will oversee budgets, risk management, and inspections while coordinating flavor trials, sensory testing, and analytical chemistry. Travel up to 50% may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Food Science, Chemistry, or related field.
• Exceptional project management capabilities.
• Demonstrated knowledge of quality systems, lab equipment, food safety and quality standards, and standard audit practices.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Quality and Operations teams to ensure engineering designs, plans, and timelines meet requirements and act as main liaison between project and quality teams.
• Lead the design of quality labs, lab equipment, and building utility requirements for greenfield and plant expansion projects.
• Ensure all lab equipment is installed, calibrated, tested in accordance with project timelines to support line validations.
• Manage validation, commissioning runs, and filing process for the FDA with our Process Authority (PA).
• Develop and maintain budgets, timelines, and risk registers for all projects.
• Manage all state inspections and equipment sealing activities.
• Coordinate all product acceptance plans during flavor trials, including sensory testing, analytical chemistry, and external lab sampling.
• Create and roll out training plan for quality systems and enablers.
• Develop process maps for all quality processes from milk receiving to finished goods testing.
• Plan and conduct CIP validations to ensure equipment cleaning processes are working effectively.
• Represent the quality function during design stages to ensure food safety and quality standards are met.

Skills

Project management

Quality systems

Lab equipment knowledge

MS Excel

AutoCAD

MS Project

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Food Science, Chemistry, or related field

Tools

MS Excel

AutoCAD

MS Project

Job description

fairlife, LLC is a Chicago-based nutrition company that creates great‑tasting, nutrition‑rich and dairy products to nourish consumers.

With over $3B in annual retail sales, fairlife’s portfolio of delicious, lactose‑free, real dairy products includes: fairlife® ultra‑filtered milk; Core Power® High Protein Shakes, a sports nutrition drink to support post‑workout recovery; fairlife® nutrition plan™, a nutrition shake to support the journey to better health.

A wholly owned subsidiary of The Coca‑Cola company, fairlife, LLC has been recognized by both Fast Company and Nielsen for its industry leading innovation.

To learn more about fairlife and its complete line of products, please visit fairlife.com.

Job Purpose

The Quality Project Manager will report to the Director of Operations Readiness and Execution and will be responsible for ensuring that quality workstreams are delivered effectively for all large capital projects. This includes quality lab design & fit out, building utility coordination, state and federal requirement management, quality process design, product acceptance testing.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Quality and Operations teams to ensure engineering designs, plans, and timelines meet requirements and act as main liaison between project and quality teams
• Lead the design of quality labs, lab equipment, and building utility requirements for greenfield and plant expansion projects
• Ensure all lab equipment is installed, calibrated, tested in accordance with project timelines to support line validations
• Manage validation, commissioning runs, and filing process for the FDA with our Process Authority (PA)
• Develop and maintain budgets, timelines, and risk registers for all projects
• Manage all state inspections and equipment sealing activities
• Coordinate all product acceptance plans during flavor trials, including sensory testing, analytical chemistry (particle dispersion, viscosity, micro, composition), and external lab sampling
• Create and roll out training plan for quality systems and enablers
• Develop process maps for all quality processes from milk receiving to finished goods testing
• Plan and conduct CIP validations to ensure equipment cleaning processes are working effectively
• Represent the quality function during design stages to ensure food safety and quality standards are met

Skills / Qualifications Required

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Food Science, Chemistry, or related field
• Exceptional project management capabilities
• Expert in using MS Excel, AutoCAD, and MS Project
• Demonstrated knowledge of quality systems, lab equipment (e.g., LECCO, ash oven, FOSS, etc.), food safety and quality standards, and standard audit practices
• Experience working in value added dairy or related field
• Strong cost management and forecasting experience and knowledge

Food Safety Requirements

• Notify supervision of any repairs or adjustments that are required that may affect product quality or food safety.
• Understand, observe, and comply with the handling and usage of the color‑coded container policy while in the Production Areas.
• Perform all duties necessary to meet Company, Customer and/or Government requirements/standards as prioritized by the Company.
• Ability to initiate action to prevent the occurrence of nonconformities relating to Food Safety and the Quality of the product, processes, quality system, or safety system.
• Identify and record any problems relating to Food Safety and the Quality of the ingredients, processes, quality system, or safety system.
• Control further processing or delivery of nonconforming product in terms of Food Safety and Quality issues until the deficiency or unsatisfactory condition has been corrected.
• In the event of absence, another employee with the same skill level will assume the duties and responsibilities as required.

How fairlife Nourishes You

At fairlife, we believe in better — and that includes how we support our people. We offer a comprehensive suite of benefits and well‑being resources designed to support you physically, emotionally, socially, and financially, both in and out of work.

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, effective day one!
• Supplemental health plans (hospital indemnity, accident, and critical illness insurance)
• Paid Time Off to recharge and support work‑life balance
• Paid parental leave & adoption assistance (up to $10,000)
• Parental support & family care benefits, including childcare resources and lactation support
• 401(k) to support retirement planning with up to 9% in employer match
• Wellness reimbursement (up to $500 for qualified wellbeing expenses)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for emotional wellbeing and work‑life support
• Company‑paid life insurance and short‑term disability
• Employer HSA funding (for HDHP participants)
• Tuition reimbursement (up to $10,000) and student loan repayment ($200/month)
• Learning & development programs to unlock your full potential
• Rewards & recognition, matching gifts, free product, and Business Resource Groups

fairlife’s nour!sh program is designed to meet you where you are — supporting your individual wellbeing journey while enabling you to do your best work every day.

Position Location: Coopersville, MI, Webster, NY, or Chicago, IL

Reports to: Director, Large Capital Projects

Travel Requirements: Up to 50% depending on location

Exempt Status: Exempt

Base pay range: $125,000 – $140,000 USD

fairlife, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. All qualified applicants and employees will be given equal opportunity. Selection decisions are based on job‑related factors.

In addition to its nondiscrimination commitment, the Company will also provide reasonable accommodation of qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on the Company. If you have a disability and would like to request accommodation in order to apply for a position with us, please email [e-mail].

For Recruitment Agencies

At fairlife, we manage the majority of our hiring internally through our dedicated Talent Acquisition team, which is actively engaged in direct candidate sourcing. Most of our roles are filled through applications submitted via our careers site or through direct outreach by our team.

As our recruitment is primarily handled in-house, we work only occasionally with external agencies, and only those on our existing, pre‑approved vendor list. At this time, we are not reviewing or expanding that list.

Unsolicited resumes or submissions from external agencies not authorized by our Talent Acquisition team will be considered direct candidate applications. As such, fairlife will not assume responsibility for any placement fees associated with these submissions.