Quality Food Safety Team Leader

Colgate; Topeka (KS); Hybrid; USD 86,000 - 121,000; Full time

Job summary

Colgate-Palmolive's Hill’s Pet Nutrition in Topeka, KS, is seeking a Quality Food Safety Team Leader to direct plant-wide food safety programs and drive quality excellence in a dynamic manufacturing environment.

You will lead HACCP, CAPA, GMP audits, and regulatory readiness (FDA/USDA/SQF), partner with Plant Engineering on sanitary design, and deliver targeted training to operations. This on-site role offers a competitive salary and benefits package.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, Chemical/Mechanical Engineering, or related.
• Minimum 3 years of hands-on food safety in a manufacturing environment with HACCP and FDA/USDA regulatory systems.
• Experience in Cleaning and Sanitation programs.

Responsibilities

• Direct daily plant food safety program execution and compliance (HACCP, Food Safety Plans, Pest Control).
• Lead internal CAPA investigations and root-cause analysis for non-conformances.
• Oversee GMP audits and facility readiness for FDA/USDA/SQF inspections.
• Manage environmental swabbing and microbial sampling per SOPs.
• Monitor Quality KPIs and identify operational risks via audits.
• Collaborate with Plant Engineering to design sanitary equipment for new projects.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Data-driven decision making

Audit/data analysis

Education

Bachelor of Science in Food Science or related

HACCP Certification

PCQI Certification

ASQ CQA or CQT

Tools

GMP auditing experience

FDA/USDA regulatory knowledge

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.

Job Title: Quality Food Safety Team Leader

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

Posting Start Date: 8/27/26

On-site

No Relocation Assistance Offered

Job Number#175474 - Topeka, Kansas, United States

Who We Are

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries specializing in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our products are trusted in more households than any other brand in the world, making us a household name!

Join Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for people, their pets, and our planet. Guided by our core values—Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous—we foster a culture that inspires our people to achieve common goals. Together, let's build a brighter, healthier future for all.

Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Accordingly, all applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis and must not require the Company's sponsorship to continue to work legally in the United States.

Founded more than 75 years ago with an unwavering commitment to pet nutrition, Hill’s mission is to help enrich and lengthen the special relationships between people and their pets. Our decades of science and research guide us in creating nutrition that’s a step ahead so pets and pet parents can enjoy every day together. As the US #1 Veterinarian recommended pet food brand, knowledge is our first ingredient with 220+ veterinarians, PhD nutritionists and food scientists working to develop breakthrough innovations in pet health.

Quality Food Safety Team Leader

Are you ready to lead plant-wide food safety standards and drive quality excellence in a dynamic manufacturing environment? As the Quality Food Safety Team Leader, you will spearhead our food safety programs, ensuring total compliance with regulatory standards and continuous improvement across factory operations. In this role, you will empower plant operational teams through targeted training, rigorous auditing, and data-driven root cause analyses to safeguard product integrity. You will also collaborate cross-functionally with plant engineering to shape hygienic design and elevate our safety culture.

Responsibilities:

• Direct the execution and daily compliance of plant food safety programs, including HACCP, Food Safety Plans, Pest Control, Environmental Monitoring, and FDA regulatory standards.
• Lead non-conformance investigations for food safety and micro deviations, driving root-cause analysis through the Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) process.
• Lead internal GMP audits and manage facility readiness for external regulatory and third-party inspections, including FDA, USDA, and SQF audits.
• Manage the environmental swabbing and microbial sampling plans in strict alignment with Quality Standard Operating Procedures.
• Oversee internal GMP and quality system audits to proactively identify operational risks and track Quality Key Performance Indicators.
• Partner with Plant Engineering to integrate sanitary equipment design into new capital projects and production enhancements.
• Design and deliver targeted food safety training programs to onboard new personnel and upskill operational teams.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, Chemical/Mechanical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
• Minimum of 3 years of hands-on food safety experience in a manufacturing environment with HACCP and FDA/USDA regulatory systems.
• Experience in Cleaning and Sanitation programs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Active HACCP Certification and PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) certification.
• ASQ Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) or Certified Quality Technician (CQT) designation.
• Proven track record of managing comprehensive sanitation validation and allergen control programs.
• Strong cross-functional leadership skills with the ability to influence cross-departmental teams and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Data-driven decision-making mindset with experience synthesizing audit data into actionable process improvements.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range $86,000.00 - $121,000.00 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.

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