Operations Quality Manager – Butter and Milk Powder

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in California, +2 more states.

📋 Description

• Provide support for butter and milk powder production facilities.

• Assist plants in overseeing and evaluating product safety and quality data, which includes customer feedback and complaints, product testing outcomes, ingredient problems, audit findings, and processing parameters.

• Communicate effectively with customers as necessary.

• Support plants in conducting root cause analyses and developing CAPA plans for product safety and quality challenges, audit results, and customer complaints.

• Confirm the completion of CAPAs.

• Advise plants on product disposition processes.

• Report on quality and food safety metrics while liaising with cross-functional leaders about quality issues and customer concerns.

• Aid in the recruitment and onboarding of new quality personnel and in training plant quality staff.

• Assist with customer audits, third-party assessments, and regulatory inspections as required.

• Coach, mentor, and oversee the activities of plant quality teams at manufacturing locations.

• Collaborate with corporate and external technical experts alongside site Quality Assurance teams to establish and execute comprehensive QMS programs.

• Work with cross-functional teams regarding product specifications, ingredient and supplier challenges, and the design and commercialization of new products and manufacturing processes.

• Support line trials and initial production runs as required.

• Ensure adherence to Land O’Lakes QMS, food regulatory standards, and customer quality and food safety requirements.

• Assist plant quality teams in developing, implementing, and sustaining quality and food safety initiatives.

⛳️ Requirements

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Chemistry, Microbiology, or a related field.

• Seven (7) years of experience in production, quality assurance, or sanitation within the food or pharmaceutical sectors.

• Five (5) years of experience in a progressively responsible leadership position in plant quality or corporate quality roles.

• Preferred experience in butter and/or milk powder manufacturing.

• Extensive knowledge of HACCP, GFSI certification, quality assurance standards, food laboratory testing, statistical process control techniques, and food processing sanitation.

• PCQI certified or the capability to obtain certification.

• Preferred certifications in CQE, LEAN, or Six Sigma and/or relevant experience.

• Experience in managing quality across multiple sites is preferred.

• Familiarity with dairy processes and sanitation, including raw milk receiving, butter, and milk powder.

• Exceptional organizational, communication, interpersonal, and teamwork skills.

• Willingness to travel approximately 50% to 75% of the time.

🏝️ Benefits

• Medical insurance.

• Dental insurance.

• Vision insurance.

• Paid Time Off (PTO).

• Life and disability insurance.

• Education assistance.

• 401(k) plan.

• Well-being resources.

• Prorated PTO for eligible part-time employees.

• Holiday pay for eligible part-time employees.

• Employee development programs.

• Prorated education assistance for eligible part-time employees.

• Equal Opportunity Employer.