Sr. Manager, Quality Operations

Lactalis USA is currently seeking candidates to join our Corporate Quality team in Buffalo, NY or Nampa, ID.

Lactalis, the world leader in dairy, is a family-owned business with more than 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals worldwide, committed to nurturing the future by providing healthy and delicious dairy products that bring people together every day. We produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together every day. We offer an enviable range of dairy brands including Galbani, President, Kraft Natural Cheese, Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond, Parmalat, Siggi's, and Stonyfield Organic in addition to several brands imported from our affiliates in Europe.

At Lactalis, our core values of AMBITION, ENGAGEMENT, and SIMPLICITY are at the heart of everything we do. We are dedicated to building a safe, diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace and we know that our candidates come from many different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. If you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we still encourage you to apply and share with us your STORY, your PASSION, and your EXPERTISE! You may be just the perfect candidate for this or other roles within our company.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities.

From your PASSION to ours

The Quality in Operations Sr Manager is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining key quality policies to ensure the Best Quality at the right Cost, according to industry best practices. This role involves risk assessment on current practices, process improvement on operational activities, and providing technical guidance to the teams on operationalizing quality in the manufacturing environment. The position will animate the QinOps program via a set of transversal Quality KPIs with the LAG quality manufacturing network.

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

"Right First Time" policy: Develop/Implement the building blocks in accordance to Act 4 Quality vision.

* RFT KPIs: Define quality metrics to measure the percentage of products that meet quality standards without requiring rework or correction.

* Variability of recipe: Develop center-lining KPIs for operating parameters to guaranty low variability Vs product specifications

* Rework procedure: Reframe current operational practices and alert limits with manufacturing teams to reduce by 50% rework generated in factories.

* Staff Training: Provide comprehensive training and introduce visual work instructions to staff to perform tasks correctly the first time.

* Quality Assurance checks: Develop rigorous quality checks on process parameters and products quality attributes to identify and correct deviations promptly.

* Digital Support: Using technology, such as automated systems or digital checklists, to assist staff in meeting the quality standards without errors.

Prevention policy:

* Foreign Object Mgt: Develop program across all production areas, including inspection routines, operator training, detection equipment daily mgt.

* Sanitation: CoDevelop + implement Sanitation program with sanitation managers for each LAG sites and other divisions LUSY/LHD.

* Quality Standards: Deployment Corporate std for Air treatment, water treatment, allergen mgt, and zoning.

Control policy:

* Quality Control Plan: Design the microbio sampling plan according to risk assessment of the operation/site and guidance from Corporate Quality guidance

* Environment plan: Revamp the Pathogen sampling plan according to risk assessment of the operation/site and guidance from Corporate Quality guidance.

* Lab operational mgt: Codevelop with Lab Excellence Mgr, the operational metrics and practices for lab managers to manage cost control of their operation and efficiency of their staff.

Networking: The position will coordinate the roll out of the QinOps program within LAG, but also will be the key network point with other LUSA divisions and will contribute with Central Quality Team in Laval to co-construct QinOps references documents.

Quality in Ops reporting:

* Generate QinOps dashboards to visualize key performance indicators (KPIs) on all Building blocks of the QinOps program

* Prepare comprehensive reports and presentations for senior management on quality initiatives, project status, and compliance outcomes.

Budget and Capex Support: Participates in operating budget, goals, and objectives of the department and works toward meeting and/or exceeding these expectations. Propose QFS improvements for the department and division.

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

Education

* Bachelor's degree in Microbiology, Food Engineering, Dairy, or Natural Sciences required; or an equivalent combination of required education and experience.

* Master degree in Food Engineering is considered a plus

Experience

* 5+ years of proven experience in quality management, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance within the food industry, preferably with knowledge of FSMA regulations.

* Good understanding of quality management systems and regulatory requirements.

Specialized Knowledge

* Strong experience in food quality system and technologies for quality assurance and compliance purposes.

* Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex regulatory requirements and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills / Abilities

* Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

* Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.

* Ability to convince, negotiate and lead by influence transversal operational teams.

* Ability to interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form

* Strong communication skills, as well as ability to work in autonomy

* Sense of organization and attention to details

* Ability to prioritize and manage projects in a changing, complex environment