Manager, QFS Contract Manufacturing

This position works within Danone’s Quality & Food Safety Department and cross functionally within US & Canada Operations.  The primary responsibilities are to ensure the Quality and Food Safety of products & ingredients being produced at third party, Contract Manufacturing, finished goods supplier locations in North America.

This position must ensure that all assigned contract manufacturing, 3rd party manufacturing (3PM) locations produce safe ingredients & products of the highest and most consistent quality by assuring compliance with Danone standards and operating protocols. This role also drives ongoing performance improvement efforts, compliance to standards and adherence to specifications. 

• →Lead Qualification of new 3PM manufacturing sites, processes, and new Raw and Pack materials.
• →Activities associated with the innovation & renovation process such as technical risk assessments, specification reviews and approvals, documentation reviews, Food Safety validations and approvals, design assessments, trial support, etc. 
• →Mitigation of risk through application of scientific principles, technical experience and employment of Quality and Food Safety Standards
• →Collaboration with internal functions including Cycles & Procurement, Research & Innovation, Environmental Health and Safety, Sustainability, Regulatory, Food Safety, Project Management, Operations to deliver products to the market that meet Danone’s standards. 
• →Design and installation of appropriate controls, sample plans, hold/release system modifications, code rotation, batching and processing controls, and other production systems that will drive a reduction in variability and improvement in product consistency.
• →3PM Audit Management: planning, auditing, report writing, action plan follow-up and continuous improvement activities as needed.
• →Plant operations support related to supply quality.
• →Problem solving, Resolution of supplier issues and claims, Follow-up on issues to ensure appropriate corrective actions are complete.
• →Partner cross functionally to ensure that manufacturing process instructions, finished good and raw material specifications exist, are current, and enforced.
• →Coordination with Global QFS Contract Manufacturing teams including audit coordination, performance reporting, and scorecard management.
• →Utilizing Six Sigma, SPC, Lean, and/or other continuous improvement concepts to improve quality, efficiency, and waste.
• →Staying current with regulatory and certifying agency guidelines and relevant Danone standards.
• →Manage Veeva process for consumer complaint, RCA, Product Non-conformity (PNC), and Supply Quality issue tracking.
• →All other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in science, Food Science, or similar major
• 4+ years of combined experience with ingredients, food packaging, quality and manufacturing processes.
• Strong understanding of Quality & Food Safety Systems and current Food Regulations.
• Solid understanding of plant production systems, manufacturing equipment, GMP, SPC, sanitation and EHS.
• Experience with auditing suppliers and a demonstrated ability to drive corrective actions and continuous improvement. 
• Experience in problem solving and driving conflict resolution, including financial claims resolution.

• Previous experience in Food or Food Packaging & Research and Innovation

• Prior or present responsibility as QA Manager, Supervisor, or similar position at a food manufacturing facility
• Working knowledge of SAP and/or similar ERP databases.

• Must be collaborative and have leadership ability.
• Able to influence without direct authority
• Ability to work under deadlines, with multiple priorities.
• Must be adaptable and flexible.
• Self-driven, results oriented, detail oriented and also able to work independently.
• Ability to work with confidential materials.
• Excellent communication / presentation skills.
• Excellent record keeping / documentation skills.
• Able to quickly learn new systems, tools, and programs.