The Quality Manager is responsible for managing the Food Safety and Quality Department, Quality Lab, Audit Process, and Food Safety at the facility to ensure compliance with Land O'Lakes Quality Management System, Customer Requirements, and applicable regulations. The role involves supervising and coordinating the activities of the Quality Assurance staff, reducing consumer complaints, and implementing continuous improvement initiatives for a 24/7 milk receiving plant that produces cheese and dried whey.

Required Experience and Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Biology, Dairy Technology, or a related field.

• Minimum of 5 years of hands-on quality plant experience in the dairy or food industry, with at least 3 years of supervisory experience.

• Experience with BRC, SQF, or other GFSI certification requirements, Food Safety (HACCP) plan development and maintenance, FSPCA certification preferred.

• Experience in food manufacturing and dairy regulatory compliance

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills

• Experience leading root cause investigations and CAPA plans

• Experience in cheddar cheese and dry powder manufacturing is preferred

Essential Functions:

• Direct, train, and advise personnel in test procedures and ensure compliance with quality system requirements.

• Provide technical support to all facility personnel

• Investigate and respond to quality assurance-related customer and consumer complaints.

• Oversee, update, and review the Food Safety/HACCP plan as needed

• Correct audit (internal, external, and customer) findings

• Review of plant quality and food safety data and report on plant quality metrics and performance per established quality plan. Initiate investigation and CAPA when data or trends indicate a potential quality or food safety issue.

• Lead investigations and CAPAs for food safety and quality incidents

• Develop SOPs, maintain calibration programs, and oversee lab testing.

• Ensure compliance to food and dairy regulatory requirements, lead plant regulatory inspections

• Establish and monitor laboratory safety programs.

• Oversee internal food safety and quality audit program, perform plant audits and inspections, and lead customer and third-party audits.

• Manage plant hold inventory

• Oversee management of plant sanitation and pest control programs

• Develop and manage associate training programs and support continuous improvement efforts

Supervisory Responsibilities: Direct responsibility for QA Staff, and indirect responsibility for all Manufacturing Staff. The role primarily involves 1st shift hours but may require off-shift hours, weekends, and holidays.

About Land O'Lakes, Inc.

Join us and be part of a Fortune 250, farmer- and member-owned cooperative that is reimagining the business of food. We have been named a Top Workplace by Indeed and LinkedIn, and to the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list.

Benefits for most full-time roles include medical, dental, vision, PTO, life & disability insurance, education assistance, a 401k and a variety of well-being resources. Most part-time employees are eligible for prorated PTO, holiday pay, employee development programs, prorated education assistance, and a 401(k).

Land O'Lakes, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) M/F/Vets/Disabled. The company maintains a drug-free workforce, including post-employment substance abuse testing pursuant to a Drug and Alcohol Policy.

Neither Land O'Lakes, nor its search firms, will ever contact you and ask for confidential information over the phone or in email. If you receive a call or email like this, please do not provide the information being requested.