Director Quality Excellence & Food Safety (Maintenance)

About Us:
Trilliant Food and Nutrition, located in Little Chute, WI is a state-of-the-art, vertically integrated production facility that has been a pioneer in the U.S. specialty coffee market since 1979. We have used our years of experience and skill in the traditional coffee segment to produce one thing: great coffee. Our facility features the most current, high-speed equipment to support our commitment to quality, value, speed-to-market, and innovation.

Horseshoe Beverage Company, located in Neenah, WI is a leading ready-to-drink beverage manufacturer focused on providing consumers with an outstanding beverage experience wherever, whenever. Leveraging industry-leading talent, state-of-the-art equipment, and our vertically integrated supply chain, we strive to be at the forefront of beverage innovation each day and deliver the highest quality beverages to our customers first.

The teams at Trilliant and Horseshoe come to work each day with relentless energy, enthusiasm, and a promise to enhance the beverage experiences of millions of people. We invite you to explore opportunities at Trilliant or Horseshoe, to see if your talents and career aspirations may fit with our openings.

Diversity and Inclusion at Trilliant and Horseshoe:
We believe talented, great people are the building blocks of our success. We believe in finding the right people, with the right attitude, and providing them with opportunities to excel.

Position Overview:
The Director of Quality Excellence & Food Safety contributes to Trilliant's success by leading a transformation and executing all Quality Excellence, Sanitation, and Food Safety programs at all facilities and specific day-to-day responsibilities of the Trilliant Food and Nutrition facility in Little Chute, WI. The Director of Quality Excellence & Food Safety is responsible for development, implementation and daily execution of all food safety and quality processes ensuring they meet regulatory, company, customer, and SQF quality certification requirements. The right candidate will be a strong leader, strategist, and collaborator with the ability to assess and develop a more effective organization, while championing a strong Quality and Food Safety culture across all functions. This position is responsible for developing and implementing plant programs in accordance with Trilliant Quality and Food Safety Standards for the manufacturing of safe, quality products. In addition, this position is responsible for plant regulatory inspections and audits, management of projects, and successful scale up of innovation projects. As site quality leader and overseeing responsibility for the other Trilliant facilities, this role will report to the VP of Technical Affairs while maintaining a strong dotted line to the VP for Operations.

Responsibilities:

Lead the manufacturing quality excellence (beyond assurance), analytical laboratories, and sanitation teams with a staff of about 16 (direct and indirect), including managers and supervisors. Ensure appropriate staffing in all these functional areas.
In collaboration with Operations, lead sanitation initiatives and optimization of CIP systems with the proper validation and verification of the sanitation program. Lead periodic sanitation audits against the consistent application and execution of procedures and all related sanitation practices.
Engage other functions, collaborate, and lead initiatives to optimize processes and systems in sanitation and quality to generate efficiencies, sustainability and productivity.
Manage quality programs, product nonconformance RCA/CAPA, holds and release, quality reporting and KPIs, food safety programs and all associated pre-requisite and preventive control programs.
Development of written procedures (SOP) as appropriate and training on new and existing procedures.
Collaborate with Compliance and Regulatory for the interaction with state and federal regulatory inspectors and third-party auditors. Work cross-functionally to drive resolution to any observations resulting from inspections and audits.
Support R&D on product improvements and scale up for the launch of new products (line extensions and new lines) for successful product commercialization. Assure product is safe, analytical methods are in place for new products, and product quality is as designed.
Define department roles and responsibilities and select, train, develop and manage the Quality Team in support of operations quality performance against regulatory, internal and customer quality requirements.
Development and implementation of testing procedures and protocols that improve production quality processes, food safety procedures and policies.
Drive continuous improvement in product quality, food safety, product performance and process optimization.
Initiate and implement Quality Engineering program along with Technical Affairs function
Monitor, maintain, and/or improve all aspects of quality function and processes, including specifications, sampling, procedures, methods, deviations, equipment, supplies, record keeping, process documentation, and system data integrity.
Lead development of quality assurance and food safety process documentation and employee and management training.
Develop and/or ensure effective execution of quality systems and practices consistent with certification or regulatory requirements (i.e., GMP, SQF Certification, FSMA / HACCP, FDA compliance, SPC, Organic Certification, Kosher Certification, Food Defense, etc.)
Maintain quality information, specifications and other product data records including accuracy in information systems. Develop and maintain documentation of all required quality tests and activities.
Ensure compliance with all standards for incoming raw and packaging materials. Develop and implement appropriate chemical and bacteriological tests on raw materials.
Test and determine action (approve, hold, etc.) for all raw materials, in-process, and finished product. Work with production and warehouse to control, maintain, and/or improve as appropriate the handling, storage, and usage of rework and all other materials.
Communicate quality metrics and inspection results internally or to customers as needed.
Ensure proper sanitation procedures are utilized and provide coaching or direction to product or sanitation team as needed.
Provide troubleshooting leadership and support in the event of sanitation, product performance, and quality or food safety issues.
Manages third party quality and food safety audit process.
Conduct internal audits, reporting, and ensure proper documentation. Takes corrective action steps or recommends process improvements as needed to meet internal and external expectations.
Verify, approve, and ensure required documentation and record keeping of all new and revised formulas and specifications. Assists in product commercialization and plant trials.
Play key role in supplier deficiency improvement process, problem-cause identification and correction, and customer complaint resolution, etc.
Oversee the development, implementation, review, and maintenance of the SQF system taking appropriate action to ensure the integrity of the SQF system.
Facilitate verification and validation activities associated with food safety and quality controls identified in food safety and food quality plans.
Communicate to relevant personnel all information essential to ensure the effective implementation and maintenance of the SQF quality and food safety system.
Perform all other duties, responsibilities, and special projects as assigned.

For you to be successful in this role…you must be…

A consumer first: The consumer guides our decision-making We solve their needs through our customers. It all begins with them.
An owner: The performance of the brand management starts with you; however, you also influence the organization. One individual's actions can shape or make change across the organization.
A farmer: We are building for the It takes hard work and a humble attitude. Start small, plant ideas, anticipate change, adapt, and grow to harvest success in the future.
A teammate: We want to go far, not "just" To go far, we must go together.
An entrepreneur: Embrace risk and be willing to The greatest ideas often come from learning from failures.
Persistent: If we are moving fast, taking calculated risks, and striving for excellence, we will face adversity. You must be able to get back up and persist.

Qualifications:

Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science, Engineering, Microbiology, or a related technical discipline. Master's degree in a related field of study preferred.
Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in the food and/or beverage industry in Quality or Operations.
Minimum of 7-10 years of direct management experience, including experience managing Managers.
Expertise in Aseptic and ESL fillers and processes. Expertise in CIP optimization and sanitation.
Proficiency in GMP's, GLPs, quality systems, HACCP, sanitation and allergen management, as well as regulations, such as the PMO and FSMA -related rules.
SQF Practitioner and Preventive Controls Qualified Individual certifications preferred.
Organizational skills and strong attention to detail within a fast-paced environment. Demonstrated track record of working successfully across functions to achieve shared goals, and proven ability to interact cross-functionally.
Business acumen. Strength in creating competitive and breakthrough strategies and plans. Work effectively and influence all organizational levels. Strong, positive team leadership and collaboration skills. Ability to negotiate and maximize effectiveness of resources and influence others internally and externally.
Knowledge and understanding of systems and application knowledge, such as SAP and LIMS.
Ability to travel up to 10% domestically.
Knowledge of food packaging principles, food industry quality and food safety requirements, ingredient performance and interactions with equipment, statistical process control, critical control points and new product scale up dynamics.
Experienced in SPC development and solid understanding of system capabilities.
Experience development, implementation, training, and administration of quality lab processes, GMP, SQF, HACCP, FDA, USDA Organic, Kosher or other regulatory or industry certification program development and administration.
Demonstrated strength in process improvement, SOP documentation and plant employee training.
Understanding of sanitation systems, techniques, and procedures.
Possesses understanding of the basics of change management.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, and simultaneous user needs.
Strong project management skills
Attention to detail.
Strong interpersonal skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate well cross-functionally and work well at all levels of the organization.
Strong analytical skills, troubleshooting and judgment skills.
Results driven.
Solid computer skills including Microsoft Office tools (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) and related production and product information systems.
Desire to work in a fast-paced high growth environment.
Must be willing to be a hands-on performer and spend significant time on the plant production floor and provide coverage and support across shifts as needed.

Hours, Location and Pay:
We offer a competitive base pay rate and comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees. This position works out of our Little Chute, WI facility with regular travel to our Neenah, WI facility. Depending on the business needs, some weekend and off hours work maybe needed.

Physical and Mental Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, hear, use hands to type data, use a personal computer and telephone. This employee may occasionally have to operate business machines and lift and/move up to 50 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required in this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Mental demands include multi-tasking, decision making, problem solving, comparing, copying, computing, compiling, analyzing, coordinating, and synthesizing data.
Potential for exposure to chemicals, heights, loud noises, mechanical equipment, wet environments, and other potential hazards exists.

Safety Statement:
At Trilliant and Horseshoe, safety is every employee's first responsibility. We expect all employees to adhere to all safety practices, have the moral courage to stop other individuals from performing unsafe acts, and immediately report unsafe conditions.

Disclosures:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.
Responsible for following food safety/regulatory policies and procedures, executing responsibilities as identified in standard operating procedures, and reporting food safety/regulatory concerns to the Production or Quality Manager.
Trilliant Food & Nutrition and Horseshoe Beverage Company are Drug Free Workplaces. All applicants are subject to a drug screen and background check as a condition of employment.
Trilliant Food and Nutrition and Horseshoe Beverage participate in the E-Verify process.
EEO/AA including Vets and Disabled
If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at HR@trilliantfood.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.
Trilliant Food and Nutrition and Horseshoe Beverage are Equal Opportunity Employers.
The principles of the OECD and UN have been taken into consideration and used as guidance in our human rights practices and procedures.