Quality & Food Safety Manager External Manufacturing

Mars; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 101,000 - 139,000; Full time

Job summary

Mars is seeking a Quality & Food Safety (Q&FS) Manager for External Manufacturing to guide quality initiatives across Mars external sites and ensure compliance with Mars Quality and Food Safety Standards.

The role involves site qualification, product risk assessments, change control, and technical support for externally manufactured products, with a focus on consumer safety and process improvement.

Qualifications

• BS degree in Chemistry, Food Science, Engineering, or related technical field.
• 3+ years of experience in quality/food safety, R&D product development, lab quality systems, or food process engineering.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Auditor with accreditation in GFSI quality systems (SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000, ISO9000).
• Ability to travel 40% of the time.

Responsibilities

• Leads deployment and compliance of the EMQM standard within the External Manufacturing network.
• Assists site selection by assessing quality capability and food safety performance; coordinates with Supply Chain team.
• Validates new lines and develops External Manufacturing Product Risk Assessments and Technical Specifications.
• Provides technical support in statistical analysis, product disposition, and risk assessment for external products.
• Leads audits, QFS training, and CAPA/CI implementations at external sites.
• Leads incident management and investigation for external manufacturers; manages product disposition for non-conforming products.
• Manages product verification program at sites auditing Quality and Food Safety protocols.
• Coordinates packaging queries, donor product, and finished product disposition communications.
• Partners with Supply and Procurement for periodic reviews on quality and safety with external manufacturers.
• Active participation in EM Community of Practice.

Skills

Quality & Food Safety

Auditing

Teamwork

Travel readiness

Education

BS degree in Chemistry, Food Science, Engineering, related technical field

Job description

Job Description:

The Quality & Food Safety (Q&FS) Manager External Manufacturing role leads external manufacturing quality initiatives to ensure the ongoing production of high quality and safe food products within the external manufacturing network. This role ensures the implementation of all applicable Mars Quality and Food Safety Standards. In addition, it supports qualification, product start up, performance management, and process improvement initiatives at Mars external manufacturing locations. The incumbent will use food science, engineering knowledge, quality management, project management and quality skills to identify opportunities to improve consumer satisfaction, optimize processes and establish measures of quality conformance.

What are we looking for?

Minimum Requirements

• BS degree in Chemistry, Food Science, Engineering, related technical field or equivalent
• 3+ years of experience in a technical area such as Quality & Food Safety, R&D product development, laboratory management quality systems, or food process engineering
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently and as a member of a team
• Experienced auditor with accreditation in GFSI Quality systems such as SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000, ISO9000
• Ability to travel 40% of the time

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced MS degree in Chemistry, Food Science, Engineering or related technical field
• 7+ years of Quality experience in a Food manufacturing facility
• ASQ certification
• Advanced understanding of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs), HACCP, Sensory, Microbiology, Regulatory and Food Law guidelines

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Leads the deployment and compliance of the Mars Global EMQM (External Manufacturing Quality Management) standard and other applicable standards within the External Manufacturing network
• Supports manufacturing site selection by assessing quality capability and food safety systems performance. Coordinates with the Supply Chain External Manufacturing Team to resolve site selection and audit concerns.
• Validates new lines and/or capabilities at assigned sites. Initiates, develops, and implements the External Manufacturing Product Risk Assessments and Technical Specifications for assigned external manufacturers. Ensures robust change management procedure is in place and verified.
• Provides technical support in statistical analysis, problem solving, product disposition, and risk assessment related to externally manufactured products.
• Leads audits, Q&FS training, and follows up on CAPA/CI implementations at the external manufacturing sites
• Coordinates and leads incident management and investigation for assigned external manufacturers. This responsibility includes initiation of PRIMPs, on-going interpretation and reporting of information from our consumers and customers, executing the business decision regarding product disposition on non-confirming product and incidents which impact food safety.
• Manage the product verification program at assigned sites that will audit the Quality and Food Safety protocols in the production schedule.
• Communication disposition on product to relevant parties, support queries related to packaging, donor product, and finished product
• Partners with Supply and Procurement to lead periodic reviews with external manufacturers on Quality & Food Safety areas such as consumer and customer complaints, incidents, CAPAs, CI, and standards
• Active participation in EM Community of Practice

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by The Five Principles.
• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

Mars does not sponsor visas for this role.

This position is not eligible for relocation benefits.

The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is between the range listed below, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.The total compensation package for this position will include variable pay, medical and dental benefits, participation in 401k plan, and paid time off benefits.Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an applicant receives an offer of employment.

The pay range shown is applicable to all US locations listed within the job posting:USD 101,120.00 - USD 139,040.00