Associate Manager

Job Description

JOB OVERVIEW

Working under the guidance of the Director – FSQR, leads assigned FSQR programs to ensure overall product consistency and vendor conformance to ADQ Standards. Evaluates systems and products, analyzes data, and establishes quality control procedures to ensure ADQ products are made according to specifications and maintain their ongoing quality, consistency, value and safety for both franchisees and consumers. 

Product Category Lead - Food Safety and Quality, Key areas of responsibility include:

• Oversees the food safety, quality and regulatory aspects of DQ products ranging from, but not limited to, vendor and product qualification, onboarding, compliance, plant inspections, food safety and risk mitigation and relationship management for complex DQ products.
• Works with product development and vendor to establish appropriate quality and food safety specifications, reviews specification documents, creates and performs product evaluations and monitors QC data from vendor.  Systematically review and update legacy DQ specifications in a way that benefits both vendors and DQ operators.
• Completes shelf-life extensions.
• Creates and maintains HACCP flow charts and develops, alongside Operations, the appropriate restaurant food safety procedures. Provides critical input for HACCP process continuous improvement.
• Issue resolution: Proactively and reactively monitors, manages and communicates vendor quality and food safety issues with FSQR Director (complaint response, holds, withdrawals, recalls, guest incidents). Identifies areas of improvement and continuous improvement action plans and sees them through to closure.
• Identifies trends and applies technical knowledge and skills to solve problems and  develop corrective actions for on-going supplier quality issues related to product manufacturing and quality control. 
• Seeks to become a subject matter expert on assigned categories and understands how the product and its manufacture interact with other business functions including supply chain and operations. Uses knowledge to educate others and improve programs outside of just FSQR.  Applies strong technical intuition and business knowledge to identify gaps and recommend strategies that improve quality and mitigate food safety risk.
• Partners with and provides relevant input to Product Development during development and test phase. Takes a vested interest in the success of new and core products.    Identifies strategies and tools to build the effectiveness and outcomes of the FSQR/Product Development relationship.

Relationship Building and Communication:                                                                                                        

• Owns positive internal cross functional and external relationships (vendors, government, industry associations, industry leaders) that generate strategic direction, business solutions, create trust, and help develop future department strategies that align with the evolving business. 
• Works effectively with franchisees by building relationships and provides confidence in DQ support of franchisee efforts Identifies situations that warrant communication and promptly and effectively communicates to FSQR Director and other need-to-know teammates

Other Programs (as assigned):                                                                                     

• Independently identifies, recommends and implements improvements to processes and programs, including cross-functionally.
• With FSQR Director, develops new processes and programs to align with evolving business needs.
• Ability to present project updates and make recommendations to leaders.

The US national base salary range for this position is $80,088- $96,106. The base salary range displayed reflects the targeted hiring range for positions across all US locations. Individual pay is determined by job-related skills, work location and relevant education or experience.

Qualifications

• B.S. Degree in food science, animal science or closely related field.
• Must have 5 years of experience in quality management and food safety. 
• Experience working directly with beef, seafood, chicken, and/or pork products strongly preferred.
• Regulatory experience preferred.
• Ability to lead teams, to manage progress effectively in ambiguous and sometimes unstructured situations.
• Capable of delivering challenging/constructive feedback to vendors or internal personnel in a coaching manner and maintaining steady direction yielding right results quickly.
• Project management - demonstrated ability to develop efficient planning methodologies and effective utilization of resources to achieve high value results.  Can lead a small team from objective to solution.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple, complex projects and responsibilities in a fast-changing and deadline-driven environment.
• Ability to influence individuals across diverse functions to gain support and meet established objectives; able to articulate technical information to a variety of audiences.
• Relationship building skills with the ability to create mutually beneficial relationships with both internal and external clients.
• Creative thinker that can create and execute business-relevant strategies.
• Deep and applied knowledge of food manufacturing processes and packaging. Knowledge of food purchasing, distribution and logistics.
• Knowledge of current industry and technical issues associated with food safety, nutrition, public health, environment and animal rights.
• Thorough knowledge of safety, microbiology, HACCP/HARPC, FDA, USDA, GMP and regulatory requirements.

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.  

Benefits

Our benefit package supports the well-being of our employees and their families.  Our comprehensive benefit package includes, medical, dental, 401K match, paid time off (including volunteer time as well as parental leave) and so much more!  To learn more about our great benefit offerings, Click Here.

Work Environment

Most positions located out of our global headquarters in Bloomington, MN will work a hybrid work schedule where you will work 3 collaboration days a week.  Additional in office time may be required to support team/project needs.  

Inclusion & Belonging

We are committed to creating a culture of inclusion and belonging for all who touch DQ. We believe in and commit to fostering a community where employees bring their authentic selves to work, and where we recruit, engage, and retain employees, franchise owners, and suppliers based on qualifications and merit. We strive to maintain an environment where everyone feels welcome.

IDQ is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we use E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new team members. You must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship.