**Company:** Mizkan America
**Location:** Mount Prospect, IL
**Summary of Role:**
The Associate Director will work with plant Quality Managers and staff to ensure implementation of food safety and quality programs at Mizkan facilities. This role involves oversight of food safety and quality at plants, ensuring transparent communication on quality issues with key stakeholders.
**Essential Duties And Responsibilities:**
– Bring consumer-packaged food quality, safety, and regulatory compliance experience to enhance Brand, Operational Excellence, and Technology.
– Develop plant Quality Managers and staff, ensuring prioritization of activities for flawless outcomes.
– Ensure employee safety, product quality, and regulatory compliance at plant level.
– Manage product releases and non-conforming goods control.
– Drive resolution of non-conforming incidents and verify effectiveness of corrective actions.
– Implement plant food safety and quality management system consistent with HQ requirements.
– Manage quality department infrastructure and budget.
– Coordinate training on Food Safety, Quality, and Regulatory Compliance.
– Interact with MPO QA team for quality issue resolution and improvements.
**Education, Experience, and Qualifications:**
– BS in Food Science, Food Engineering or related fields, MS preferred.
– 10+ years food industry experience, with 5 years in factory quality management role and 5 years in corporate technical management role.
– Experience in food ingredient and retail industries preferred.
– Strong computer literacy, statistics/lean six sigma skills.
– Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
– Ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced, cross-functional team environment.
– Desire for continuous improvement and challenging the status quo.
– Strong communication skills, proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel.
– Travel up to 35%.
**Compensation:**
– Annual base salary ranges from $142,000 to $195,000.
– Short-Term Incentive and other forms of compensation provided.
– Benefits include medical, dental, vision, 401K, profit sharing, wellness program, parental leave, insurance, and education assistance.
**Note:** Mizkan America is an equal opportunity employer.
