Quality Specialist

Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream•Bakersfield, CA

13d•$72,000 - $75,141

About The Position

The Quality Specialist role ensures compliance with food safety regulations, monitors production processes, and implements quality control measures to maintain high standards in ice cream production. The position works closely with production, R&D, and regulatory teams to support consistency and excellence in the final product. The role develops quality standards and ownership across the value chain; leads by example in carrying out operational Quality and Food Safety policies and procedures; and promotes behavioral quality improvements. It provides expertise to operations, supervises quality specialists and technicians, and partners with operations management on quality checks, hold programs, root-cause learning, corrective actions, complaint reduction, and net-content compliance. The position also supports new product launches and formulation work when requested, shares best practices, drives facility quality metrics and KPI improvements, and supports GMP, HACCP, and FSMA FSP compliance through coaching on the production floor. It ensures audit compliance, supports government agencies when requested by local quality management, reviews KPI performance, and reports on the effectiveness of quality systems while implementing improvements. The employee regularly works around other people in a fast-paced environment, including wet or humid areas, high-noise areas, and areas with mechanical, electrical, and pressurized equipment. The position involves frequent exposure to nuts and other potential allergens. The stated annual pay range is $72,000–$75,141.

Responsibilities

Develop high-quality standards and ownership across the value chain.
Lead by example in carrying out operational Quality and Food Safety policies and procedures.
Promote behavioral quality improvements.
Provide expertise to operations to promote and execute quality standards.
Direct and supervise quality specialists and quality technicians to support quality production on the lines.
Partner with operations management on key quality checks performed by line operators and periodically evaluate those checks against hold and complaint data.
Manage the quality hold program and partner with operations on lessons learned, root-cause analysis, corrective actions, and trend reporting on corrective-action effectiveness.
Lead customer complaint reduction efforts with operations, using complaint trend data to prioritize actions.
Oversee net-content quality and establish facility-specific rules for compliance with volume and weight targets.
Support TAG on new product launches or formulations when requested.
Identify, communicate, and apply best practices within the facility and across the broader network.
Drive improvements and monitor facility quality metrics and KPIs.
Challenge departments on quality- and food-safety-related matters.
Support GMP, HACCP, and FSMA FSP compliance by coaching operators on the floor and promoting minimal water use during production.
Ensure compliance with internal and external audits, including FSSC 22000 and market audits.
Support local, state, and federal agencies when requested by local quality management.
Drive monthly KPI reviews and contribute to the facility’s annual business goals.
Monitor quality-system performance, report effectiveness to management, and implement improvement actions.
Deploy QA standards and achieve market-level QA targets, including CPMU, RFT, and CRQS, as well as hold-program and net-content execution targets.
Work on the production floor and drive improvements based on benchmarking.