ABOUT THE ROLE:

We are seeking a Senior Director, Food Safety & Quality (FSQ) – Baked Goods, Snacks, & Griddle , to join our team based in Oak Brook, IL. This role will play a critical leadership role in developing and executing the company’s FSQ strategy across the entire enterprise supply chain. This individual will oversee the implementation of operational food safety and quality systems, ensuring alignment with company-wide policies and regulatory standards. Collaborating closely with Quality Systems, Supply Chain, Business, and Commercial partners, the Senior Director will drive continuous improvement to meet—and exceed—customer, consumer, and regulatory expectations. They will also champion a strong culture of food safety and quality, leading field-based Quality Pillar teams to deliver operational excellence across all manufacturing locations.

YOU’LL ADD VALUE TO THIS ROLE BY PERFORMING VARIOUS FUNCTIONS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• Provides leadership and oversight to compliance, quality and food safety programs across operations. Promotes continuous improvement strategies, especially in the world of changing regulations.
• Proactively leads team in the development of systems, knowledge, capabilities, and practices in order to comply with all applicable food safety regulations, company procedures and FSQ Regulatory audits (such as customer, GSFI, Regulatory and identity preserved).
• Promotes the development and implementation of programs for conducting risk assessments, verification, validation and monitoring of effectiveness of food safety plans, company food safety procedures and regulations for current processes and new line and equipment commissioning.
• Monitors emerging issues related to food safety and quality and leads development and implementation of strategies, policies and procedures to mitigate. Delivers expertise and technical advice on complex and critical food safety concerns. Reports on developments, strategies and implementation to Food Safety & Compliance Steering Committee.
• Lead and develop the Corporate Sanitation Manager as they support the manufacturing locations under their responsibility.
• Communicates prioritization and status of initiatives to organizational leadership to ensure timelines and compliance dates are met.
• Ensure manufacturing facilities maintain GFSI certification and internal FS&Q System compliance.
• Strategically identify CI opportunities for the business and utilize Continuous Improvement tools such as SPC, Six Sigma, Lean, Root Cause Analysis, and others to drive FS&Q improvement.
• Assign, coordinate and review the technical work of the department or project teams; while remaining a subject matter expert in the categories they support.
• Lead facilities in the adoption and disciplined use of the commercialization process for new product/process launches and redesigns by establishing relationships with Commercialization, Research and Development, Packaging Engineering, Regulatory, and Operations.
• Support Engineering, Procurement, and other supply chain initiatives, ensuring projects meet all required food processing paraments while maintaining required FS&Q standards and financial objectives.
• Management of programs designed to improve FS&Q-based trends from customers/consumers comments, internal deviations, and industry trends. Develop improvement goals and lead improvement efforts for each plant against defined KPIs.
• Support plant audits/inspections as needed by Government agencies, Customers, and or Third-Party groups.
• Interface with the Divisional leaders on new or expanded product opportunities.
• Provide technical support to Commercial and Customer Affairs teams regarding customer responses and meetings.
• Contribute to the development of the annual Divisional Strategic Plan.
• Develop team member skill sets by conducting evaluations and recommending development opportunities through the use of continuing education, seminars, trade shows, and other methods.
• Coaches, mentors and supports professional development of employees. Coordinates work and sets priorities to meet objectives..
• Promotes consistency and aligns across plants where possible.
• Extended member of the division leadership team to provide technical support for commercialization and a food safety and quality approach to business
• The duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list of all tasks. Additional tasks and duties may be assigned from time to time as necessitated by business needs.