Product Integrity Manager

Ahold Delhaize•Pleasant Hill, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Ahold Delhaize USA, a division of global food retailer Ahold Delhaize, is part of the U.S. family of brands, which includes five leading omnichannel grocery brands – Food Lion, Giant Food, The GIANT Company, Hannaford and Stop & Shop. Our associates support the brands with a wide range of services, including Finance, Legal, Sustainability, Commercial, Digital and E-commerce, Technology and more. Primary Purpose Lead product integrity, supplier validation and ongoing verification, product & supplier sustainability compliance, product validation, and coordinate with the ADUSA Sourcing in order to ensure full alignment with safety, quality and compliance standards for Private Brands. The Product Integrity leader is responsible for the development and operation of the Private Brands Product Integrity, Sustainability and Compliance team. Contribute to the strategic development of guidelines and Code of Best Practice standards for private brands. Implements and ensures compliance with the Product Integrity guidelines as well as contributing to the sustainable retail reporting. Oversees interactions with Private Brand manufacturers and outsourced Product Integrity third party organizations (where applicable) for Private Brand products. Our flexible/ hybrid work schedule includes 3 in-person days at one of our core locations and 2 remote days. Our core office locations include Salisbury, NC, Quincy, MA, Carlisle, PA, and Scarborough, ME. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and related work experience in one of the following or related subject: Food Science, Food Technology, Microbiology, Chemical Engineering, Sensory Science, Biochemistry.
8+ years of related experience
2 - 4 years of management experience
Supervisory/leadership skills
Effective presentation skills
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Effective oral and written communication skills across functions
Negotiation skills
Ability to analyze, interpret and take appropriate action on information.
Understanding of HACCP principles and the values that must be met to ensure food safety compliance in manufacturing
Ability to identify potential hazards in product design and development
Skills in navigating legal requirements and ensuring products meet safety standards
Ability to handle safety-related crises and make recommendations that protect the end user and minimizes damages to the business
Ability to critically evaluate multiple aspects of food and non- food products
Significant experience with product improvements and product lifecycle management
A passion for working with food and non food retail products
A knowledge of the technologies of key non-food product categories.
Knowledge of sustainable sourcing
Strong merchant knowledge
Understanding of the private label retail business environment and metrics
Influence/communicate cross functionally and with department and AD USA and AD Group management
Focus on product safety – both food and non-food.
Customer focus
Ability to adapt and drive change
Ability to inspire and motivate and train others

Responsibilities

Leads all efforts around Private Brands product safety, supplier validation & verification
Develops and executes Private Brands Product Integrity guidelines, strategies and codes of best practice standards for the Private Brand program serving all local Brands in the areas of non-perishable, fresh and non-foods.
Leads the team to ensure full compliance with ADUSA and AD Group product safety requirements and commitments.
Manage interactions and reporting to AD Group , specifically Product Safety and Social Compliance.
Monitors progress towards achievement of all sustainability goals and elevates issues/risks as appropriate.
Oversees all efforts to ensure all Private Brands suppliers have full compliance with GFSI food safety, standards and non-food standards with agreed upon goals/requirements.
Closely collaborates with ADUSA Quality Assurance, ADUSA Supply Chain, AD USA Communications, AD USA Health and Sustainability and communication teams at local Brands as appropriate.
Ensure all aspects of product safety requirements for Private Brands are met through conducting audits/inspections as relevant which may include; manufacturing facilities, warehouse, supply chain and retail stores as it relates to Private Brand product safety.
Initiates and collaborates with ADUSA QA around the execution of Private Brands product recalls.
Oversees analysis, collation and retention of Product Safety (Food & Non-Food) and social compliance certification, audit reports and other supporting information for all manufacturers to ensure compliance with Private Brand product safety requirements.
Identifies manufacturers, processors, packers and growers who are not able to meet established product safety standards and works with them to implement corrective actions.
Ensures that the Private Brands Product Integrity and Sustainability database(s), systems and TraceOne are maintained and current with all necessary data.
Ensures through their design that Private Brands products meet required standards to maintain product safety all the way through to consumption.
Oversees confirmation and assessment of product specifications for product safety and data integrity within the Private Brands specification database.
Ensures Product Integrity team reacts to customer, store feedback about a given product in terms of product safety and develops a plan to investigate, assess and correct situation.
Supports, and where relevant, leads the negotiation, development and directs all aspects of the third-party QA resources (where applicable) and respective participation in the Private Brand program.
Leads all efforts around supplier compliance with all Private Brands Sustainability targets (i.e. Responsible retailing and responsible products).
Leads the team to ensure full compliance with AD USA and AD Group product safety and all other Sustainability requirements and commitments.
Audits, monitors, tracks and reports compliance for Private Brands sustainability commitments and requirements, including social compliance, global ingredient commodities; soy, palm oil, seafood, pulp/paper, coffee, tea, cocoa etc.
Works with supplier partners in ensuring all the responsible product requirements are met.
Creates corrective action plans and monitors progress.
Monitors progress toward achievement of sustainability goals, elevates issues/risks as appropriate, and develops proposals to overcome issues.
Manages interactions and reporting to Global Support Office (GSO) Product Integrity and Sustainable Retailing.
Oversees analysis, collation and retention of Private Brands sustainable product information (Food & Non-Food) certification, audit reports and other supporting information for all manufacturers to ensure compliance with Private Brand product sustainability requirements.
Identifies manufacturers, processors, packers and growers who are not able to meet established sustainable standards and works with them and the Health and Sustainability lead to implement corrective actions.
Ensures that the Private Brands Product Integrity and Sustainability database(s), systems and TraceOne are maintained and current with all necessary data.
Supports, and where relevant, leads the negotiation, development and directs all aspects of the third-party resources (where applicable) and respective participation in the Private Brand program.
Supports TraceOne relationship, recognizing gaps and changes that maybe needed to support new and changing initiatives by providing feedback and solutions with appropriate parties.
Monitors PB items for food fraud, specifically high risk items such as Honey and olive oil.
Leads the Product Integrity Private Brands team at AD USA
Responsible for the development, talent planning, career guidance, and performance management of Private Brands associates within the Product Integrity Team.
Influences organizational alignment within the Private Brands team.
Private Brands advocate at the Brands and AD USA.
Exudes a high degree of credibility and the ability to work with and through all levels of management (including Category Management leadership and the AD Group).
Creates a positive work environment and has the ability to inspire and motivate others.
Delivers intentional and authentic on-going feedback.
Identify opportunities to improve Product Excellence organizational effectiveness and make recommendations to the Director, Product Excellence.
Serve as the back up to the Director, Product Excellence as needed.
Additional job duties may be assigned as needed to meet the needs of the business and support our Values.