Technologist, Quality & Food Safety

Royal Canin USA Inc; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package

Company bonus

Job summary

Mars seeks a Technologist, Quality & Food Safety to ensure local site compliance with QFS standards and to provide hands-on technical expertise in identifying and controlling hazards. The role interfaces with floor operations to halt processes when needed and drive continuous improvement.

Responsibilities include leading HACCP activities, managing hold/release in SAP, and delivering GMP training to build quality culture across site teams.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in a related field is required.
• 2+ years in a food/manufacturing facility with hands-on HACCP, food safety systems, and internal auditing.
• Ability to lead RCA and write audit-ready procedures.
• Ability to halt production or hold inventory when needed and effectively coach floor operators.
• Ability to stand/walk on the manufacturing floor for extended periods in challenging environments.

Responsibilities

• Ensure site processes comply with Mars QFS standards and regulations.
• Lead site HACCP/ risk assessments and validate CCPs for changes.
• Manage site hold-and-release programs in SAP and related systems.
• Support internal audits and CAPA programs for continuous improvement.
• Lead RCA sessions and recommend corrective actions.
• Develop and deliver training modules on food safety and GMPs.
• Oversee finished product release to ensure specs are met.

Skills

Root Cause Analysis

Communication skills

Leadership on floor

Production halt authority

Education

Bachelor’s degree in food science, microbiology, chemistry, chemical engineering or related field

Tools

SAP

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description:

The Technologist, Quality & Food Safety (Q&FS) is responsible for ensuring all relevant Q&FS standards are implemented and continuously improved to assure quality and food safety at the local site, protecting the consumer and our brands. Operating at the intersection of systematic compliance and factory floor execution, this role provides thehands-on technical expertise needed to identify, mitigate, and control biological, chemical, and physical hazardsbefore they impact our products or consumers.

What are we looking for?

Minimum Requirements

• - Bachelor’s degree in food science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, a closely related scientific discipline or equivalent
• - 2+ yearsin a food or related manufacturing facility, with hands-on experience inHACCP, food safety management systems, and internal auditing.
• - Strong ability to leadRoot Cause Analysis (RCA) and write clear, audit-ready technical procedures.
• - Strong technical courage to confidently halt production or hold inventory, alongside excellent communication skills to coach floor operators.
• - Ability tostand and walk the manufacturing floorfor prolonged periods of time, working safely around high-speed machinery in hot, dusty, or noisy plant environments.
• - 10% travel

Preferred Qualifications

• - ActiveHACCP, HARPC, or PCQI(Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) certification
• - FSSC 22000 internal auditor certification
• - High proficiency in Microsoft Office; direct experience withSAP

What will be your key responsibilities?

• - Standards & Regulatory Alignment :Ensure all site processes and procedures strictly comply with corporate Mars Quality and Food Safety Standards, Business Unit directives, and regulatory agency regulations.
• - HACCP & Risk Management: Serve as a core Food Safety Representative for the site HACCP Team and Food Safety Team, leading and supporting risk assessments for all facility changes (CAB, new products/packaging/processes) and validating Critical Control Points (CCPs).
• - Incident & Hold Management: Manage the site product hold-and-release programs withinSAP, NCMGT, and Nexus. Ensuring proper isolation, disposition, and destruction of non-conforming materials and products.
• - Audit & CAPA Leadership: Supports site internal audits and Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) programs to drive continuous system improvements.
• - Incident Response & RCA: Serve as a PRIMP (Product Related Incident Management Process) owner, leading structured root-cause analysis (RCA) sessions and recommending corrective actions.
• - Continuous Improvement: Works to identify defects and trends in site processes. Develop and/or lead improvement projects in alignment with the Site Q&FS Manager.
• - Capability & Training: Develop and deliver interactive food safety and GMP training modules to build technical capability and a strong quality culture among site associates.
• - Finished Product Release: Execute the final release of finished products, ensuring all quality and food safety specifications have been met.
• - Other Duties: assigned by the Site Quality and Food Safety Manager

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.