Quality & Food Safety Manager External Manufacturing

Mars • Chicago, IL

3d • $101,120 - $139,040 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Quality & Food Safety (Q&FS) Manager External Manufacturing leads quality initiatives across the external manufacturing network to ensure the ongoing production of high-quality, safe food products and implementation of applicable Mars Quality and Food Safety Standards. The role supports qualification, product start-up, performance management, and process improvement at Mars external manufacturing locations. It applies food science, engineering, quality management, project management, and quality skills to identify opportunities to improve consumer satisfaction, optimize processes, and establish measures of quality conformance.

The role includes assessing manufacturing sites, validating new lines and capabilities, developing product risk assessments and technical specifications, and providing technical support for statistical analysis, problem solving, product disposition, and risk assessment. It also leads audits, training, incident management, investigations, and follow-up on corrective and preventive actions and continuous improvement. The position requires travel 40% of the time and is tagged as hybrid. Mars does not sponsor visas for this role, and it is not eligible for relocation benefits.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry, Food Science, Engineering, a related technical field, or equivalent.
• At least 3 years of experience in a technical area such as Quality & Food Safety, R&D product development, laboratory management quality systems, or food process engineering.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
• Experienced auditor with accreditation in GFSI quality systems such as SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000, or ISO 9000.
• Ability to travel 40% of the time.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced MS degree in Chemistry, Food Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.
• At least 7 years of Quality experience in a food manufacturing facility.
• ASQ certification.
• Advanced understanding of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs), HACCP, Sensory, Microbiology, Regulatory, and Food Law guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Lead deployment of and compliance with the Mars Global EMQM (External Manufacturing Quality Management) standard and other applicable standards across the External Manufacturing network.
• Support manufacturing site selection by assessing quality capability and food safety systems performance; coordinate with the Supply Chain External Manufacturing Team to resolve site-selection and audit concerns.
• Validate new lines and/or capabilities at assigned sites.
• Initiate, develop, and implement External Manufacturing Product Risk Assessments and Technical Specifications for assigned external manufacturers; ensure robust change-management procedures are in place and verified.
• Provide technical support in statistical analysis, problem solving, product disposition, and risk assessment for externally manufactured products.
• Lead audits and Q&FS training, and follow up on CAPA/CI implementations at external manufacturing sites.
• Coordinate and lead incident management and investigations for assigned external manufacturers, including initiating PRIMPs, interpreting and reporting consumer and customer information, and executing business decisions on disposition of non-conforming product and incidents affecting food safety.
• Manage the product verification program at assigned sites to audit Quality and Food Safety protocols in the production schedule.
• Communicate product disposition to relevant parties and support queries related to packaging, donor product, and finished product.
• Partner with Supply and Procurement to lead periodic reviews with external manufacturers on Quality & Food Safety topics, including complaints, incidents, CAPAs, continuous improvement, and standards.
• Actively participate in the EM Community of Practice.

Benefits

• Industry-competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.
• Variable pay.
• Medical and dental benefits.
• Participation in a 401k plan.
• Paid time off benefits.
• Learning and development support from day one, including access to Mars University.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level