Sr Specialist, Quality Programs

Mars Incorporated; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 108,000 - 149,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company bonus

Mars University learning

Learning & development support

Job summary

Mars Incorporated, Acceler ator division, seeks a Sr. Specialist for Quality Programs to lead quality pillars, reduce waste, and drive MSE/TPM adoption across multiple sites. You will coach site teams and ensure regulatory compliance while leveraging data to improve performance.

This role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, project leadership, and hands-on process improvements across the accelerated portfolio with a strong focus on site-level execution.

Qualifications

• 3 years of food manufacturing experience in a role related to food safety or quality.
• Knowledge of TPM, MSE, Lean, Continuous Improvement in manufacturing.
• Change leadership to influence site teams and drive adoption.
• Ability to coach site leaders and Quality teams to embed MSE/TPM practices.
• Strong project management skills for capability building and deployment.

Responsibilities

• Lead elements of MSE quality pillars across Accelerator sites, including loss prevention.
• Measure waste data to analyze current state and drive improvements.
• Develop and implement methodologies to reduce waste through quality systems.
• Co-develop capability building plans and targets for site associates.
• Drive implementation with coaching, clear expectations, accountability, and follow-through.
• Coach site leaders to embed TPM and MSE practices across sites.
• Manage projects for deployment of MSE Work Stream.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.

Skills

Change leadership

Project management

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Data analysis

Microsoft Office Suite

Power BI

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Power BI

Job description

Who are we?

Accelerator, a global Division of Mars Snacking, is on the front line of unlocking growth across high-potential categories and brands to fuelwhat'snext for Snacking.It'shome to both emerging and enduring brands, including KIND, TRÜ FRÜ, NATURE'S BAKERY, RXBAR, EGGO, POP-TARTS and RICE KRISPIE TREATS. Combining the scale of Mars with the agility of a start-up, ourDivisionhas the ambition to accelerate the future of snacking by delivering products consumerslove today, discovering category-shaping innovations for tomorrow and developing entrepreneurial teams whose impact will last for generations.

What you'll do

Reporting to the Director, Supply Chain Quality/MSE, the Sr. Specialist, Quality Programs, leads the Quality Supply Chain for the Accelerator business— the division supporting KIND, Tru Fru, Nature's Bakery, and the newlyacquired Kellanovabrands. The role is responsible for the implementation of the Quality Pillar within MARS Supply Excellence (MSE) Working Systems. As the Accelerator division continues to evolve, this role will continue to play a critical role in enabling our sites to produce 100% in specification, food safe, legally/regulatory compliant products, made right the first time.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Lead essential elements of MSE quality pillars across Accelerator internal manufacturing sites; including but not limited to loss intelligence, loss elimination, and loss prevention
• Measure existing waste data to analyze current state and improve future state
• Develop & implement methodology for reducing waste through quality systems, process improvements, training, cross-functional collaboration, and advanced problem solving.
• Co-develop capability building plans & targets for site associates with pillar leads
• Implementation - Demonstrated ability to drive implementation through coaching, clear expectations, accountability, and sustained follow-through
• Development - Proven ability to coach site leaders and Quality teams so that MSE/TPM practices become embedded and sustained rather than centrally managed.
• Solid project management skills to manage capability building & deployment of MSE Work Stream.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite

What are we looking for?

• 3 years of food manufacturing experience in a responsible position related to food safety or quality and food safety management system and/or a combination of education and 5+ years demonstrated success in relevant field
• Working knowledge of TPM, MSE, Lean, Continuous Improvement, or a comparable manufacturing excellence system, with experience applying foundational CI principles in a manufacturing environment
• Change leadership - ability to influence and engage site teams, build ownership, and drive adoption without relying solely on positional authority.
• Implementation - Demonstrated ability to drive implementation through coaching, clear expectations, accountability, and sustained follow-through
• Development - Proven ability to coach site leaders and Quality teams so that MSE/TPM practices become embedded and sustained rather than centrally managed.
• Solid project management skills to manage capability building & deployment of MSE Work Stream.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience deploying MSE/TPM pillars, conducting maturity or gap assessments, and supporting site-level implementation
• Change management - Demonstrated ability to lead and sustain change within a manufacturing environment
• Data & performance management - ability to establish and use KPIs, maturity measures, and performance trends to identify gaps and demonstrate progress.
• Problem-solving expertise - experience with structured root-cause analysis, corrective action, loss elimination, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Cross-site standardization - ability to identify best practices, establish common approaches, and drive consistency while recognizing legitimate differences among sites.
• Ability to interact with a range of levels from regional manufacturing leadership to plant associates.
• Power BI experience

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.
• A strong focus on 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.

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 108,160.00 - USD 148,720.00