At Danone, Manufacturing the best products and supplying them to meet demand is a key driver for our plant teams.   We are currently looking to hire a QFS Director based in Dallas, TX!

The QFS (Quality & Food Safety) Director will oversee the plant quality department and contribute to the overall, long-term success of the organization. The QFS Director will deliver the value promises to the customer and consumer by ensuring conformity in product, processes and behaviors. Act as guardian of compliance to legal and regulatory standards (master governance) by driving the delivery of the “best product every day, every time" and acting as a product superiority ambassador at the plant level.

In this role you will be responsible for: 

As a key member of our team, you will play an important role in driving our mission forward. The following responsibilities outline the core expectations and contributions for this position:

• Ensure Food Safety & Conformity of all products delivered to market, consistently with the plant’s overall safety, quality, cost, delivery, mobilization, and nature scorecard specifications.
• Responsible for validating and signing all specifications related to raw materials, packaging, and finished product, including workflow validations associated with the plant.

• Ensures full compliance with finished product Quality & Food Safety Sampling /Control / Monitoring plan.
• Ensures compliance with Local regulations, global Danone procedures and systematically execute against Danone North America specifications.
• Drive the culture of quality at the plant level - support KPI tracking and improvement.
• Build / animate and implement solid action plans for key Quality metrics (KPI's) including but not limited to consumer complaints, first pass cases, specification conformance/ABC, and finished goods losses (micro and non-micro).
• Act as primary point of contact for quality at plant level: ensure quality voice presence for all matters within the plant.
• Establishment and leadership of the plant’s Quality Pillar within the company’s IWS/TPM program.
• Ensure full compliance with Raw & Packs & Process Quality & Food Safety Sampling, Control and Monitoring plan.
• Manage Plant Laboratory ensuring maintenance of service to production, analytical expertise, equipment maintenance, and analyst training.
• Accountable for the plant metrology program (calibrations), SPC, and Quality & Food Safety preventive maintenance (cPM) program.
• Ensure full compliance with the Danone Food Safety Policy, and Danone standard's execution, demonstrated by internal audit program (FSI) score
• Comply with Federal and Local regulations including Low Acid Canned Foods, and Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (among other required certifications).
• Organize with suppliers & sourcing quality and implement incoming inspection processes with consistent feedback for suppliers.
• Develop process capability & quality visual management at all steps of the manufacturing process (incoming, production, storage, maintenance, etc.).
• Eradicate critical Q&FS issues through improved RCA investigation and a systematic PDCA approach as they arise.          • Manage non-conformance & continuous improvement in timely manner.
• Accountable for product release and adhering to rules and reporting for non-conforming product (PNC) management.
• Ensure compliance with sanitation and environmental programs.
• Promote Risk Assessment and “Built-in Quality” in all projects: productivity, new products, new equipment in compliance with Danone Global Technical Standards, regulatory standards, etc.
• Responsible for the quality related elements of the company change management process - including but not limited to validation activities associated with plant trials.

• Organize audits vs internal & external referential and use them as improvement opportunities, leading plant action plans to address audit findings.
• Continuously engage key stakeholders inside and outside the organization on quality initiatives (This includes plant leadership, universities, federal, state, and local regulatory agencies, corporate function representatives, etc.).
• Communicate and assure the execution of QFS policies including the escalation and communication of issues and results in a timely manner.
• Lead by setting behavioral examples aligned with the Danone Leadership Behaviors.
• Build and manage the Q&FS budget for the plant (FTE, Opex, Capex) in collaboration with the Plant Director and with Corporate Quality.
• Manage and animate all certifications systems, including but not limited to GFSI/FSSC 22000 Certification, Kosher, Organic, etc.
• Organize trainings & coach plant teams for daily quality management, particularly First Line Managers.
• Develop the Quality team and promote mobility and cross-functionally.
• Other duties as assigned.

Materials and Equipment Directly Use:
• Office machinery including: computers/tablets, printers, fax machines, copiers, telephones, etc.
• Software including: Microsoft Office including Outlook, SAP, Smartsheet

Physical Demands:  
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs and ladders, balance; stoop, kneel or crouch; talk and hear.  Occasionally required to lift and / or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands:  
• Must understand vague and implicit instructions and react favorably in all work situations. 
• Must be mentally adaptable and flexible in dealing with a variety of people.  
• Must be able to communicate providing verbal feedback in a professional manner. 
• Ability to give, receive and analyze information, formulate work plans, prepare written materials, and articulate goals and action plans.  
• Must understand people and be able to communicate effectively with them.

Work Environment
• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works near moving mechanical parts and is regularly exposed to wet and/or humid conditions.  The employee may be exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals and may be exposed to loud noises in the plant.  The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to extreme cold, risk of electrical shock and vibration.

Engagement in our Integrated Work Systems
Ensure adherence to plant standards and procedures (including but not limited to GMP, AIB, FDA, IWS, Quality, Safety, Finance, ISO, HOPE, Danone Behaviors, Daily Direction Setting, Driving OE). As a fundamental piece of the organization, your responsibility is to participate and own the implementation and deployment of IWS system and its pillars (Leadership foundation, Daily Direction Setting, Driving OE; Autonomous Maintenance; planned Maintenance; Focused Improvement; Education and Training; Environmental, Health and Safety; Quality; Organization; Supply Network; Early Equipment Management) with the objective of owning your space, owning your performance (Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery, Mobilization, Nature) and owning your continuous improvement.    

Danone North America additionally offers a performance-based bonus and has a strong benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug Coverage, 401k Plan, Wellness Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Flexible Time Off, and Paid Parental Bonding Leave, among other benefit plan options.  

The ideal candidate will bring a combination of education, experience, and skills that enable them to excel in this position. The following qualifications outline what we’re looking for, including both required and preferred criteria:

Education & Experience:
•Bachelor’s degree in food science or microbiology or related field, required.  
•Minimum of 10 years of quality experience within a food or beverage manufacturing environment, required.
•Prior experience in the dairy industry is desired.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
• Highly developed communication, leadership, interpersonal, project management, and training skills, coupled with organizational sensitivity and the ability to influence key decision makers at all levels.
• Act as a change agent who is able to build positive relationships on a foundation of trust and mutual respect.
• Technical expertise in finding root cause of quality issues and implementing best solution possible.
• Formal root cause analysis training preferred and must be demonstrated.
• Ability to sift through data to find key factors that contribute to a successful product and the ability to communicate this information to non-technical plant leaders and employees.
• Have the ability to live and model the Danone Values and Leadership behaviors
• Able to anticipate and prepare 3-5 year strategic vision for Quality excellence.
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal quality regulations is desired.
•  Ability to support a 24/7 manufacturing environment as business needs dictate.  Work schedules could include early morning, late night or weekend work as needed.

Danone U.S. is part of Danone North America, a purpose-driven company and an industry leader in the food and beverage category. You’ll work with some of the best-known food and beverage brands in the world. Our strong portfolio of brands includes: Activia®, DanActive®, Danimals®, Dannon®, evian®, Follow Your Heart®, Happy Family® Organics, International Delight®, Light + Fit®, Nutricia ®, Oikos®, Silk®, So Delicious® Dairy Free,  STōK® Cold Brew Coffee ®, Too Good & Co™, and YoCrunch®. 

With approximately 5,000 employees and 13 production locations across the U.S., Danone North America's mission is to bring health through food to as many people as possible. 

You’ll be part of one of the largest Certified B Corps™ in the world, working to make sure our company creates real value for people and the planet. Come join our movement for a healthier world: One Planet. One Health BY YOU.

Danone North America is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. It is our policy to give equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to legally protected characteristics, or any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state/provincial and/or local law. For our EEO policy statement and your EEO rights under law click here.

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