FSQ Quality Systems Director

Business Unit Description:

8th Avenue Food & Provisions is a growing organization made up of businesses that produce and sell quality products including pasta, peanut butter, granola, and fruit and nut trail mixes to retail, foodservice and ingredient customers. The company was formed in October 2018 through a combination of Post Holdings’ private brands businesses and is owned by Post Holdings and funds affiliated with Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. (“THL”), a private equity firm.

Responsibilities:

Position Summary:

This high impact Food Safety and Quality (FSQ) Systems Director role will lead shaping and implementing strategy with partners across the Supply Chain organization for an 8th Ave - wide Food Safety and Quality System. The position will assess risk, drive continuous improvement, set the strategy, and drive excellence in FSQ.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Member of 8th Ave FSQ Leadership Team. Collaborate with internal customers (cross functional) to deliver on company strategy.

Leads Quality Systems (Policy/Document Control), Predictive Quality (Red Zone), Reporting/Scorecard Development, Sanitation/Pest Control, Microbiology, Internal Audit, and Consumer and Customer Care.

Promotes the development/implementation of aligned risk assessment approach which includes 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.

Ensure that effective preventive plans are developed to eliminate deviations and complaints through analysis, proactive identification of risk, culture building and verification.

Proactively leads team in the development of systems/company procedures, knowledge, capabilities, and practices to provide fast and simple data which helps decrease risk, decrease defects, improve efficiencies, and improve consumer experiences.

Manage company-wide internal audit processes and closure of corrective actions, verifying readiness for external audits and compliance to regulatory requirements and 8th Ave standards.

Support plant audits/inspections as needed by Government agencies, Customers, and or Third-Party groups.

Develop Food Safety and Quality continuous improvement strategy for the business and utilize Continuous Improvement tools such as SPC, Six Sigma, Lean, Root Cause Analysis, and others to drive FS&Q improvement.

Monitors emerging issues in FSQ and leads development and implementation of strategies, policies and procedures to mitigate.

Delivers expertise and technical advice on complex and critical FSQ concerns.

Reports on developments, strategies and implementation to Executive Leadership Team.

Coach, onboard, mentor and supports professional development of Associates. Coordinate work and set priorities to meet objectives. Manage budget.

Plan and lead FSQ culture initiatives, driving a People and Safety First, Defect Free, First Pass Quality, Continuous Improvement culture in partnership with operations leadership.

Understand and apply HACCP, FMSA, GFSI, SPC, principles and food/beverage technology knowledge to identify opportunities and guide improvement plans.

Demonstrated capability to develop top to top rapport with strategic customers and internal stakeholders, as well as building Quality to Quality relationships with customers.

This role requires frequent travel to sites to develop teams, provide technical expertise in FSQA, and to verify and enhance programs and performance. Role will be based in Fenton, MO, but consideration may be given to other geographic locations (near a major airport).

Additional tasks and duties as assigned by management.

This role requires frequent travel to sites to develop teams, provide technical expertise in FSQA, and to verify and enhance programs and performance. Role will be based in Fenton, MO, but consideration may be given to other geographic locations (near a major airport).

Competencies / Skills/ Abilities:

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.

Strong organizational skills.

Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment.

Strategic planning skills.

Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite or similar software with the ability to learn new or updated software.

Education and Experience Required:

Bachelor’s degree from a four (4) year college or university in Biology, Food Science, Microbiology, Agricultural

systems, biological engineering or related field or equivalent combination of education and related experience.

15+ years supervisory/management experience.

15+ years food manufacturing experience.

2-3 years Sanitation Management Experience.

Previous experience leading food safety and quality management systems.

Certification / Licenses:

GFSI, PCQI, HACCP certifications required.

Must possess a valid U.S. Driver’s License.

Physical Requirements:

This position is regularly required to communicate with others, both oral and written.

This position is occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands to handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Travel:

This position may travel up to 50 – 70% of the time.

Permanent