Food Quality Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Company: Wells Enterprises (a Ferrero Company)

Functional Area: Quality

The Role

Responsible for day-to-day supervision of assigned teams of employees who perform specific tasks as part of manufacturing control and quality assurance monitoring activities, including, but not necessarily limited to food safety and food quality concerns in a food manufacturing environment. Responsible for communicating expectations, managing accountability and delivering desired results in the areas of safety, quality, delivery and cost. Assures direct reports comply with company and CFR requirements for food quality and food safety. Serve as back-up to QA Manager if necessary.

What You'll Do

• Utilize and manage the necessary resources and processes across functions to achieve designated performance goals. Assures Quality team members work effectively with Corporate QA functions and Plant Operations, CI, Administration and Maintenance.
• Administer standards of work to ensure employees consistently, safely and effectively perform assigned tasks and responsibilities in accordance with established QFSEs, SQF precepts, PMO, SOPs/Standard Work and document the work as required. Take ownership of the training and qualification process of all direct reports.
• Optimize labor schedules to ensure appropriate coverage in support of attainment goals, labor budget, and quality monitoring needs. Work proactively to provide adequate coverage yet minimize schedule changes and balance the needs of the operation.
• Supports and maintains a continuous improvement (CI) culture while promoting and supporting food quality and food safety programs, including, but not necessarily limited to: Positive Release (in conjunction with Product Release Coordinator); hold order management; plant microbiological monitoring (in conjunction with Hygienist) as well as incoming ingredient and in-process product assessment and documentation (as outlined in the relevant QMS).
• Manage (and develop where necessary) quality activities within the manufacturing processes using established manufacturing control programs (e.g., QMS) as well as company policies (QFSEs), food manufacturing GMPs, and relevant food safety regulations.
• Communicate openly and effectively with all entities on a regular, frequent basis to ensure awareness and understanding of important information impacting the individual, team or operation.
• Follow and enforce required SQF and safety policies, promote and acknowledge safe behavior and appropriately address safety-related concerns.
• Develop and build capability of people as individuals and teams through a variety of techniques and tools focused on motivation, teamwork, mentoring and coaching. Drive individual accountability and ownership of results. Foster peer-to-peer accountability in the areas of safety, quality, delivery and cost.
• Serves as a driver of the plant SQF plan and SQF compliance activities. Drives corrective actions and sustainability considering SQF and other regulatory / compliance programs and initiatives. Serves in a similar capacity for other food safety or food quality audits, such as customer audits, including preparation before and action planning after the audit activities.

Wells Enterprises, a Ferrero company, is one of the largest ice cream manufacturers in the United States and the maker of well-loved brands including Blue Bunny, Halo Top, Bomb Pop, and Blue Ribbon Classics and today Trolli, Butterfinger 100grand, Baby Ruth, Nutella and Kinder Bueno. 

Wells Enterprises is a 2 billion company employing 4,000 employees, across 4 production plants and 2 main hub locations, Chicago and Le Mars. Guided by innovation, quality, and a people-first mindset, Wells is committed to delighting consumers and developing exceptional teams.

As part of the Ferrero Group, Wells combines its strong U.S. heritage with Ferrero's global standards of excellence, offering a unique opportunity to grow within a dynamic, values-driven, and international environment.

At Wells, our people-and their experience-sit at the heart of our ambition.  Learn more at www.wellsenterprisesinc.com.

What We Offer

At Wells, we're proud to support our employees with comprehensive benefits that enhance health, financial wellness, and include paid time off (PTO). Eligible employees may also receive an annual incentive bonus based on Company performance.  Learn more about our benefits here. 

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Business Administration, Education, Technology, or Communications. 
• Equivalent (year for year) experience with food or nutritional products manufacturing / retail firms in manufacturing or quality programs may be substituted for degree level. 
• Minimum of 5 years demonstrated experience, preferably within a quality assurance/control role, in a medical product, food or nutritional product manufacturing or retail setting. 
• Previous experience in an FDA / USDA regulated industry. 
• Process Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HCCCP) and Safe Quality Foods (SQF) certification required. If not acquired prior to accepting the position, must attain PCQI, HACCP and SQF certification within one year in role. 
• Familiarity with food / nutritional product legislation Manufacturing Equipment Qualification, Project Management, and (FDA & USDA 21CFR & 7 CFR or even 9 CFR) - a plus. 
• Demonstrated knowledge of manufacturing equipment, systems and tools, as well as productivity principles and practices. 
• Familiarity with food hygiene, basic food microbiology, food organoleptic assessment, production processes, batch process documentation, quality tools, material flow and management.
• Knowledgeable in the areas of safe work practices and GMPs Previous experience with effective labor planning and scheduling and procedure writing. 
• Demonstrated leadership skills (creating effective teams, driving change, managing accountability).
• Strong problem solving and decision-making skills, good attention to detail, and ability to prepare and give written and oral instructions. 
• Multi-project/multi-tasking capability. 
• Proficient skill in using Microsoft Office software (Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Demonstrated ability in Fundamental mathematical skills.
• Ability to establish strong relationships at all levels of the organization as well as understand the overall business operation and the impact of decisions, performance and behavior. 
• Ability to effectively listen, offer solutions and resolve concerns/issues, work in a collaborative environment, and establish and shift priorities as needed. 
• Ability to organize and coordinate multiple tasks and to work under time constraints to meet deadlines and translate theory into practical applications. 
• Reports to Quality Assurance Manager.
• Direct Reports - Yes.
• Indirect Reports - Manages by influence in all areas of in regard to issues related to food safety and quality. 
• Responsible for performing within budgeted costs and obtaining specific continuous improvement savings. 
• Execution of job tasks is essential for helping to assure food safety and food quality and prevent the manufacture of adulterated or misbranded products as a result of the availability in the plant(s) of incorrect manufacturing and control information and potentially causing a re-call. 

Wells Enterprises is an EEO/AA employer M/F/Vet/Dis