Sr. Quality Specialist

Campari Group; Lawrenceburg (TN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Campari Group seeks a Senior Quality Specialist (Bottling) for Lawrenceburg, KY. The role centers on supporting Packaging and Distillery Operations at Wild Turkey, ensuring adherence to quality systems, Campari specifications, and customer expectations while driving continuous improvement.

Responsibilities include leading shift quality tasks, supplier non-conformances, inspections, sensory analysis, and equipment calibration/validation, with emphasis on GMP and food safety standards across the

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, Food Science, Biology or related field.
• Associates Degree in science with additional relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and distribute daily quality tasks on shift.
• Submit and manage supplier non-conformances.
• Conduct incoming inspections on packaging materials.
• Perform analytical testing on product using DMA, refractometers, turbidimeters, GC.
• Train new Quality Specialists.
• Maintain calibration and validation programs for equipment.
• Conduct internal GMP inspections and audits.

Skills

Analytical skills

Mathematical skills

Sensory analysis

Problem solving

Effective communication

Attention to detail

Microsoft Office

GMP knowledge

HACCP / Food safety

ISO 19011 knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, Food Science, or Biology

Associates Degree in science with relevant experience

Tools

Minitab

Job description

Campari Group today is a major player in the global branded spirits industry, with a portfolio of over 50 premium and super premium brands, marketed and distributed in over 190 markets around the world, with leading positions in Europe and the Americas.

Headquartered in Milan, Italy, Campari Group owns 25 plants worldwide and has its own distribution network in 26 countries, and employs approximately 4,700 people.

Shares of the parent company Davide Campari - Milano N.V. are listed on the Italian Stock Exchange since 2001. Campari Group is today the sixth-largest player worldwide in the premium spirits industry.

Job Title: Senior Quality Specialist (Bottling)

Job Location: Lawrenceburg, KY

Reports to: Quality Assurance Manager

Organizational Layer (global, regional, or local): Local

General Description of the Role

The Quality Specialist II will support the Packaging and Distillery Operations for the Wild Turkey Distillery. This position will be based predominately in the Packaging Operation. The position is responsible for the application and adherence of all quality control systems designed to ensure continuous production consistent with established quality standards, Campari specifications, customer expectations and production goals.

Mission/Objectives

To provide superior support to operations as well as other facets of the business by providing knowledge, expertise, and data accuracy while driving continuous improvement and problem solving.

Key Responsibilities and Activities

Safety:

• Follow prescribed PPE safety and clothing requirements for the designated work areas
• Ensure all suppliers and vendors comply with relevant ISO and food safety standards

Quality:

• This position shall work with the North American Quality team to resolve any critical quality issues as defined by the US Quality Director, Plant Director, or Quality Manager
• Oversee and distribute daily tasks of quality specialists on shift
• Submit and manage supplier non-conformances
• Compose and submit daily shift reports
• This position will cover packaging & raw material inspection based on organizational needs.
• Ensure incoming bulk materials, such as grains, GNS and sweeteners, are in compliance with specifications
• Execute incoming inspections on packaging materials, including glass, corks, closures, etc.
• Ensure all Global End to End testing is being executed.
• Comply with all GMP, ISO, and Food Safety standards in place at the facility
• Work with appropriate internal stakeholders to resolve identified quality risks
• Perform analytical analyses on product using DMA’s, Refractometers, Turbidimeters, GC, etc.
• Interpret and train on quality control philosophy to key personnel within Company.
• Train new Quality Specialists
• Review and revise SOP’s and paperwork
• Support incoming inspections program
• Support the creation and execution of validation programs on any new Laboratory equipment and maintain equipment as needed, including necessary maintenance and calibrations
• Schedule outside calibration services, including writing PO’s
• Maintain calibration matrix for plant
• Conduct multiple on-line checks of the process and production of finished product, ensuring package quality
• Maintain all quality instrumentation, including calibration, verification, and general equipment maintenance
• Assist in validation of new laboratory equipment
• Maintain bottling Sensory Program
• Conduct sensory analysis on appropriate distillery and bottling samples
• Place any non-conforming product on hold pending final disposition from the Quality Supervisor or Quality Director.
• Maintain laboratory inventory levels and order supplies as necessary
• Assist with organization and completion of internal RCA’s within Quality and assist cross departmentally as needed
• Support RCA’s within Quality and assist with RCA’s cross-departmentally
• Input and interpret testing data into relevant quality systems.
• Analyze and report trending data to appropriate departments, including outside of Quality
• Perform internal audits and GMP inspections
• Generates export and customer COA
• Includes all responsibilities of a Quality Specialist I (Bottling & Packaging)
• Perform any other duties as assigned by management

Efficiency:

• Ensure all required product and package testing is completed in a timely manner and meets the needs of the operation.
• Participate in cost saving measures, including supporting continuous improvement projects
• Ensure all testing and equipment records are accurately completed and stored per retention policy
• Work with the management team to identify Capex needs
• Perform any other related duties as assigned by management.

Key Relationships

Internal:

• Americas Quality Team
• Quality Manager
• Quality Director - US
• Packaging Director
• Packaging Department
• Plant Director
• Distillery Quality
• Environment, Health, and Safety Department (EH&S)
• Distillery and Site Operations Management
• Distillery Operations Staff

External:

• Raw material suppliers/vendors
• Packaging suppliers/vendors
• 3PL
• TTB – the Federal Tax and Trade Bureau – tasked with regulating the beverage alcohol industry in the U.S.
• Suppliers of laboratory equipment and materials/chemicals
• Instrument manufacturers’ technical service and support representatives
• Third-party consumer feedback and advocacy groups

Experience Required

• A minimum of 3-5 years experience in Quality Control.
• At least 2 year experience in material quality and incoming inspections
• ISO 19011 or equivalent certification is required
• A minimum of 1-3 years experience with Microsoft Excel
• Experience in beverage alcohol is a plus
• Lean Six Sigma Manufacturing techniques a plus
• Experience with developing/documenting procedures/methods
• Experience working with high performance teams
• Experience with Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) and FSSC 22000, or other food safety certification(s), a plus

Education / Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, Food Science, Biology, or a related field
• Or an Associates Degree in a science (or related field) with additional relevant experience

Skills

• Strong analytical and mathematical skills are preferred
• Knowledge of safe handling of hazardous materials, laboratory chemicals, and sensitive equipment is required.
• Must be capable of performing sensory analysis for visual, aroma, and/or taste of products that contain alcohol. A screening test to check for physiological deficiencies in organoleptic perception may be conducted prior to hire (color vision deficiency, anosmia, etc.)
• Analysis of statical data. Experience with Minitab (or something similar) is preferred.
• High attention to details
• Ability to problem solve
• Effective verbal and written communicator, to include interaction with internal and external customers
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• HAACP Certification and basic FSSC 22000 overview training
• A working knowledge of TTB regulations.

Managerial

Essential Job Functions

• Must have the ability to multi-task in a high-speed manufacturing environment to meet production demands
• Problem solving skills, attention to detail and customer service orientation are essential functions of this role
• Physically able to navigate a plant/production environment – including the climbing of stairs, elevated walkways etc.
• Willingness to work independently on off-shifts, weekends, and holidays, as necessary
• Must be able to follow technical directions, either via instruction or from reading technical documents, and reliably execute.

Our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:

At Campari Group we believe in building more value together, thus we see diversity in all forms as a source of enrichment. Our employment policies and practices ensure that we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities in all aspects of employment without regard to any individual’s race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or characteristics or expression, political affiliation or activity, age, veteran status, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Campari Group believes that fair compensation and equal opportunities are crucial for employees’ well-being, empowerment, and engagement. Our efforts to ensure fair pay have earned us the Fair Pay Certification by Fair Pay Workplace, an independent organization dedicated to dismantling pay disparities based on gender, race and their intersection.

Note to applicants:

Your application will be assessed based on your abilities, expertise, general knowledge and experience, not because of any confidential, proprietary or trade secret information you may possess. You must not disclose to Campari Group any such information. In the event that you are asked a question that cannot be answered without disclosure of any confidential, proprietary or trade secret information (including from a current or prior employer or their vendors or customers), you must decline to answer the question.