Quality and Technical Application Group Manager

Nestle Operational Services Worldwide SA•Arlington, VA

3d•$124,963 - $179,257

About The Position

Lead end-to-end Quality and Technical Applications for NESTLÉ USA, INC. and GLOBAL WATERS & PREMIUM BEVERAGES USA, LLC. The role provides governance and technical leadership for internally and externally manufactured water and beverage products, including cross-border supply, ensuring suppliers, products, packaging, innovation, renovation, and launches meet U.S. Quality, Food Safety, and regulatory requirements. Responsibilities span co-manufacturing and co-packing, import/export compliance, FSVP governance, state registrations and permitting, water analysis and reporting, complaint management, inspection readiness, issue resolution, and stakeholder engagement. The position directly leads Quality, Technical Applications/product development, and packaging resources within scope. It establishes priorities and accountability, allocates resources, develops team capabilities, and translates business strategy into risk-based plans. It supports innovation and renovation, governs external manufacturing and supplier relationships, and serves as a Quality business partner for products imported into or exported from the United States. The role also oversees regulatory and agency interactions, complaints and corrective actions, and risk-based decisions concerning suppliers, products, projects, and supply pathways.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Engineering, Quality, or a related technical field; relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
In-depth understanding of Food Safety and Quality Management Systems, HACCP, prerequisite programs, validation and verification, allergens, contaminants, traceability, FSMA requirements, FDA Title 21 CFR Parts 129 and 165, FSVP management, and PCQI certification.
Experience leading people or managing complex cross-functional programs involving external manufacturing, supplier quality, import/export, water and beverage compliance, analysis, licensing, permitting, regulatory reporting, corrective actions, stakeholder alignment, and traceability.
Proficiency with SAP, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Strong leadership, coaching, influence, stakeholder alignment, and effective challenge skills.
Demonstrated risk assessment, problem solving, analytical judgment, executive communication, and regulatory communication skills.
Agility, digital literacy, data stewardship, a quality mindset, and continuous improvement capability.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree preferred.
Internal auditor training and experience with a GFSI-benchmarked scheme are highly preferred.
At least 10 years of progressive Quality and Food Safety experience in food, beverage, CPG, or a similarly regulated U.S. environment is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop Quality and Technical Applications team members, including Quality, Technical Applications/product development, and packaging resources.
Set priorities, clarify accountability, allocate resources, build capability, translate business strategy into risk-based plans, and promote a quality mindset through sound judgment, timely escalation, and clear decision support.
Provide technical applications, product development, and packaging support for innovation and renovation through cross-functional collaboration and expertise in co-manufacturing, co-packing, and cross-border supply projects.
Identify compliance requirements early, assess project risk, confirm launch readiness, ensure appropriate resourcing, and coach teams on prevention, risk assessment, and product compliance.
Manage Quality, innovation, and packaging governance for co-manufacturers, co-packers, external suppliers, and affiliate manufacturing sites.
Ensure partners maintain effective Food Safety and Quality Management Systems and collaborate with Procurement, Operations, Supply Chain, Regulatory, Legal, and Trade Compliance to mitigate supplier, material, and product risks.
Serve as the Quality business partner for products imported into or exported from the United States; oversee FSVP governance and documentation and maintain inspection-ready records.
Support intermarket agreements, product briefs, market and site communications, product disputes, complaint investigations, and FDA inspection support.
Oversee investigation and resolution of consumer, customer, and intermarket complaints; monitor complaint trends, engage producing sites on corrective action, and lead or support detentions, regulatory inquiries, product concerns, and complex Quality or Food Safety events.
Represent the company in FDA and State agency registrations, inquiries, detentions, permits, inspections, and related compliance matters.
Oversee FDA registrations, FCE/LACF permits, water registrations, licensing, testing, reporting, renewals, traceability enablers, and quality systems supporting regulatory compliance and inspection readiness; manage third-party compliance partnerships.
Recommend approval, conditional approval, suspension, or escalation of suppliers, products, projects, or supply pathways based on Quality and Food Safety risk; require corrective action, escalate significant risk through governance, and set operating priorities within scope.