This position works within Horizon Family Brands as a member of the Quality & Food Safety organization. The primary responsibility of this role is to ensure and lead the Quality and Food Safety efforts through technical expertise in statistical analysis, laboratory methodology, document management, and testing requirements.
In this role, you will act as a subject matter expert in testing methods, specifications and quality systems. Your role will guide the team in verification and validation efforts for the commercialization of new materials, formulas and finished products.
This position is part of a team working to make certain that materials, procedures, formulas, manufacturing processes, and equipment used to produce Horizon Family Brands products meet our Quality and Food Safety requirements. This individual serves as a liaison between the QFS organization and several functions across the enterprise, which can include project management office, procurement, research and development, and operations.
This role is hybrid based in Broomfield, CO.
Key Responsibilities:
- Mitigation of risk through application of scientific principles, technical experience and employment of Quality and Food Safety Standards.
- Collaboration with internal functions including Procurement, Research & Innovation, Sustainability, Regulatory, Project Management, Operations.
- Collaborate in the development of specifications of raw materials, packaging, and finished goods, to ensure Quality and Food Safety requirements are appropriately defined
- Determination of appropriate methods and frequency for testing against ingredient and product specifications.
- Development of sampling plans and success criteria for new materials, formulas, shelf-life validations, or changes to existing processes.
- External lab selection and approval based on needs of the business.
- Support Milk QFS on Raw Receiving Rejections (on call)
- Document Control, Change Management, and management of the repository system
- Find and propose opportunities to lead changes and improve ways of working.
- Utilizing Six Sigma, Lean, and/or other continuous improvement concepts to improve quality, efficiency, and waste.
- Staying current with all key regulatory and certifying agency guidelines and relevant Horizon Family Brands standards.
- All other duties as assigned.
Travel: Estimated at < 25%
Qualifications:
Required:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Science/Food Science/Technology or similar major
- 5+ years of combined experience with food, ingredients, quality, and manufacturing
- Solid understanding of Quality Systems, Food Safety, and Quality Assurance and current Food Regulations
- Strong understanding of data analysis, analytical methods and developing sampling plans and success criteria
- Strong understanding of laboratory testing and methodologies
- Ability to put standards and regulations into clear, concise documentation policies and procedures
- Basic understanding of plant production systems, manufacturing equipment, GMPs, sanitation and EHS
- Basic Quality & Food Safety auditing knowledge
Preferred:
- Trained in SQF or FSSC (GFSI) auditing schemes.
- Previous experience managing external suppliers/co-manufacturers
- Previous experience in Food or Food Packaging Research and Innovation
- Prior or present responsibility as QA Manager/Engineer for a food manufacturing facility
- Working knowledge of SAP and/or similar ERP databases
- Previous experience in Organic Regulations
Key Competencies
- Must be collaborative and have leadership ability
- Ability to work under deadlines, with multiple priorities
- Ability to work cross-functionally within organization
- Must be adaptable and flexible
- Self-driven, results-oriented, able to work independently
- Ability to work with confidential materials
- Excellent communication / presentation skills
- Excellent record keeping / documentation skills
- Detail oriented
- Able to quickly learn new systems, tools, and programs
