Sr Specialist, Quality Programs

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

Job summary

Mars Accelerator is seeking a Sr. Specialist, Quality Programs to lead the Quality Supply Chain for brands within the Accelerator portfolio.

You will drive MSE pillar initiatives across multiple sites to ensure 100% in specification, food safety, and regulatory compliance, while advancing continuous improvement and waste reduction. You will partner with site teams and leadership to embed TPM/Quality practices, coach staff, and deliver measurable improvements in quality performance and

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 and the ability to engage site teams and drive adoption.
• Demonstrated ability to drive implementation through coaching, clear expectations and accountability.
• Development of site leaders and Quality teams so MSE/TPM practices are embedded.
• Strong project management skills to deploy MSE work streams.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Responsibilities

• Lead essential elements of MSE quality pillars across Accelerator internal manufacturing sites; including loss intelligence, loss elimination, and loss prevention.
• Measure existing waste data to analyze current state and improve future state.
• Develop and implement methodology for reducing waste through quality systems, process improvements, training, cross-functional collaboration, and problem solving.
• Co-develop capability building plans and targets for site associates with pillar leads

Skills

Food manufacturing

Food safety

Quality systems

Continuous Improvement

Change leadership

Project management

Power BI

Microsoft Office

Tools

Power BI

Job description

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.

We’relooking for passionate talent who dare to dream big, agile collaborators who talk straight and decide fast, and driven performers with a growth mindset.We’reproudly part of Mars, while also building something boldly different. If this inspires and energizes you,you’vefound the right place where you can do cool things with fun people for one of the biggest snacking companies in the world!

Whatyou’lldo

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 newlyacquiredKellanovabrands. The roleis responsible forthe 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

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.

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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