Technologist, Quality & Food Safety

Mars, Incorporated and its Affiliates; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Mars, Incorporated and its Affiliates is seeking a Technologist for Quality & Food Safety to ensure QFS standards are implemented and continuously improved at the local site. The role operates at the intersection of compliance and floor execution, with hands-on expertise to identify, mitigate, and control hazards before products reach consumers.

The incumbent will lead HACCP risk assessments, manage hold/release programs, support audits, and drive continuous improvement across site processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, microbiology, chemistry, chemical engineering or related field or equivalent.
• 2+ years in a food/manufacturing facility with hands-on HACCP, food safety mgmt systems, and internal auditing.
• Strong ability to lead RCA and write audit-ready procedures.
• Ability to halt production or hold inventory when needed and coach floor operators.
• Ability to stand and walk on manufacturing floor for prolonged periods in hot/noisy environments.
• Willingness to travel up to 10%.
• Active HACCP/HARPC/PCQI certification is preferred.
• FSSC 22000 internal auditor certification.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office; direct experience with SAP.

Responsibilities

• Standards & Regulatory Alignment: Ensure site processes comply with Mars Quality and Food Safety Standards and regulations.
• HACCP & Risk Management: Lead and support risk assessments for changes and validate CCPs.
• Incident & Hold Management: Manage site hold-and-release programs in SAP/NCMGT/Nexus.
• Audit & CAPA Leadership: Support internal audits and CAPA programs to improve systems.
• Incident Response & RCA: Lead RCA sessions and implement corrective actions.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify defects/trends and lead improvement projects with Site QFS Manager.
• Capability & Training: Develop and deliver food safety training to build quality culture.
• Finished Product Release: Execute final release of finished products meeting specs.
• Other Duties: As assigned by Site Quality and Food Safety Manager.

Skills

Root Cause Analysis

Auditing

Quality assurance

Communication skills

Leadership

GMP/HACCP knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in food science or related

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.