Vice President, Quality Assurance

Your Opportunity as the Vice President, Quality Assurance

Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Science & Technical Excellence, you will be the face of our Company for all things quality and food safety. Smucker is a make/pack/ship company at our core and we believe that everyone is responsible for quality and food safety. Collaboratively lead from the front to ensure quality is deeply embedded throughout our Company’s systems and processes. Establish the strategic direction of the department consistent with our Company's short- and long-term objectives, talent development and deployment of technical expertise to achieve operational excellence across the manufacturing network, on-time/on-budget project execution and delivery of performance objectives. Due to our Company’s strategic focus on Food Safety and Quality Assurance, this position and the team’s progress will have regular visibility with the CEO, Leadership Team and Board of Directors.

Location: Orrville, OH

Work Arrangements: Hybrid, 35% in office expectation with up to 35% travel annually

In this role you will:

• Serve as the Smucker leader and expert in all Quality Assurance and Food Safety matters, internal and external.

• Further enhance the Food Safety and Quality Culture at Smucker facilities towards continuous food safety improvement. 

• Provides technical leadership, direction and advice across levels - from executive level to plant teams.

• Lead and develop a team of six, fostering future leaders while advancing quality, food safety, compliance, and continuous improvement across the organization.

• Continued implementation of comprehensive Food Safety and Quality Processes throughout the Company and supply chain to meet FSMA & SFCR requirements.

• Drive further Food Safety enhancements through newly formed Food Safety Center of Excellence

• Build food safety technical acumen within and throughout the ~20 company-owned manufacturing facilities and the broader manufacturing and supply chain footprint

• Utilize internal and external experts to continually challenge the food safety program for high-risk products to maintain our industry leading position (specifically microbiological and mycotoxin programs)

• Convene and Lead Food Safety Escalation Team as needed

• Manage crisis management program and response in conjunction with Vice President and Deputy General Counsel and Vice President, Communications.

• Be the QA leader (visible inside and outside the company) during:

  • FDA, USDA, CFIA and state inspections;

  • Response to inquiries and notices form FDA and other regulatory agencies, including Form 483s;

  • Evaluation of environmental and finished product test results;

  • Withdrawals and recalls

• Maintain a high level of expertise on all food safety and quality related subjects, including regulations, legislation, and trends in the US and abroad.

• Communicate situation assessments, technical information and recommendations, internally and externally, in a manner that clearly demonstrates expertise and action-orientation.

• Provide regular updates to the Board of Directors on Quality and Food Safety

• Lead investments in capability building and talent development to enable the future needs of the function.

• Partner with both the Supply Chain leadership and Operations leadership to achieve operational excellence across the supply chain.

• Bachelor's degree in food science, microbiology, or other related technical field

• 15+ years of experience in QA Management and QA leadership in Food/CPG industry

• Demonstrated expertise in leading quality functions and driving excellence across food and beverage operations

• Broad operational and/or supply chain experience with the ability to drive cross-functional collaboration in FDA/USDA-regulated environments

• Experience developing and managing large quality organization

• Demonstrated success in meeting goals and driving Food Safety culture

• Demonstrated ability to develop, implement and manage food safety and quality systems within complex organizations both internally and with external suppliers and co-manufacturers

• Deep understanding of how products are produced and move through a complex Supply Chain and understanding the impact of FSMA on this process

• Experience delivering results through high performance work systems

• Develop active and strong working relationships with regulatory agencies (e.g., FDA, USDA, CFIA) and industry groups (e.g., Consumer Brands Association – CBA, Global Food Safety Initiative - GFSI)

• Strong ability to work cross-functionally, including the most senior levels and managing relationships effectively

• Strong team builder with exceptional experience leading, managing and developing top talent into future leadership

• Proven experience developing, inspiring, and activating teams to deliver best in class results

• Lead programs that mitigate corporate food safety risk and co-manage Company crisis team with Vice President and Deputy General Counsel

• Strong combination of strategic vision and an ability to get involved on a “hands-on” basis

• Adaptable/Change Agent – must be flexible and able to adapt quickly to rapidly changing Food Safety landscape

• Must be able and willing to regularly travel within the U.S. and internationally (~35%)

The Right Place for You 

We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs, and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs. 

Stay connected with us on LinkedIn® 

We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status.