Purpose of the Position

Manage the quality assurance, government affairs, and food safety for Simmons.

Essential Position Responsibilities - This is a Salary Exempt Position.

Manage Department/Staffing. Set clear personal and department objectives for the quality assurance and food safety groups and review performance against them. Mutually set growth and improvement plans including training needs. Review department requirements versus staffing levels and make recommendations to the supervisor relative to future needs. Develop and implement succession planning and career pathing, including identification of key consultants, to maintain continuity of output over the long term.

Set strategic goals for the business then implement these sustainable improvements through systems based organization.

Specifications/Suppliers. Ensure that effective specifications are developed and maintained for raw materials (BOM components), processes and finished products and that their development process is subject to continuous improvement. Additionally ensure that the complete chain of custody for raw materials is captured and audits are completed. With respect to finished product specifications, ensure alignment of customer and production facilities as well as pet parent expectations (consumer complaints. Ensure effective operation of the Raw Material and Supplier Steering Committee with respect to supplier approvals and compliance to established specifications.

Compliance. Ensure compliance of raw material suppliers and production facilities to established quality and regulatory requirements. Perform a series of self audits and external audits including those accepted as part of the Global Food Safety Initiative to ensure compliance to license/permit requirements as well as those identified in documentation. Ensure all production facilities are in a state of readiness for regulatory and customer GMP/Food Safety audits and facilitate such audits. Additionally evaluate performance relative to quality KPIs and ensure that effective containment, root cause analysis and countermeasures are conducted when non-conformances are identified. Ensure that responses to audit non-conformances by suppliers or production facilities are in conformance with auditor requirements. With respect to the former, recommend changes to approval status relative to responses. Ensures that product registrations are completed as per state requirements and that label violations identified by the states are resolved in a prompt and satisfactory manner either by direct involvement with the state or through the customer.

Government Relations. Actively participates in the development of new food regulations and attempts to ensure they are harmonized between the US and Canada. Remain abreast of regulatory changes with respect to import export, organic certification, marine stewardship council approval, non-GMO Project participation, etc and train internal and external customers as required on changes. Facilitate plant efforts to maintain existing permits/certifications and obtain new ones. Develop and maintain good working relationships with various regulatory bodies and customers to ensure markets are open and product claims available to make our customers successful in markets they wish to participate in.

Manages employees. Directs and supervises employees' work activities and monitors work performance. Collaborates with Human Resources to screen, interview and hire candidates. Administers disciplinary actions and recommends performance improvement actions in collaboration with the HR Manager. Monitors work performance and recommends compensation decisions based on guidelines. Follows Simmons values to develop and maintain a favorable working relationship with all employees. Promotes a cooperative and harmonious environment in order to facilitate positive employee morale, productivity, and continued improvement.

Participates as a member of the Team. Participates in the ongoing development, communication and implementation of team concepts, programs and policies; coordinates work to ensure best practices with all team members. Attends appropriate team meetings. As a member of the Team, fosters strong cohesiveness regarding all major issues; e.g., direction, annual plan, budget, policy changes, etc. Accepts responsibility to quickly identify any areas that lack cohesiveness, bringing them to the attention of the team leader and working with the team in a supportive manner to resolve issues and actively look for ways, and reinforce actions needed, to achieve synergy possible within the larger organization.

Simmons Operating systems principles and objectives: Is familiar with Simmons' established operating systems (e.g. quality, security, office environment, company policies, LEAN); understands the responsibility to maintain familiarity with the systems and this position's role in support of these systems - including a consideration of the impact of individual actions on the systems and the responsibility to communicate concerns and improvement ideas.

Performs other duties as necessary in support of business objectives: This position description is intended to guide the activities of the person in this position and is not intended to limit the thinking and creativity of the person as to the work of this function nor is it intended that this describe all the work that may be required of the person in this position.

Physical Activities: Enters and locates information on a computer. Visually verifies information, often in small print. Presents information to small or large groups. Communicates with Customers, Vendors, or Employees via telephone, in person, and/or electronic mail.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): As needed in required environment.

Travel: Travels internationally to and from multiple facilities or work-sites as well as to customers, likely requiring overnight stays. May require as much as 25% travel with decentralized staff. A valid passport is required.

Technical Experience: 15 years industry experience in Quality and/or R&D management (may include time as a graduate student in Ph.D. program).

Industry Experience: Preference for human and pet food experience as well as experience in transitioning consumer insights to marketable product attributes.

Minimum Education: B.S. in meat science, animal nutrition, food science animal science or chemical engineering

Preferred Education: Related M.S or higher. Additional business management or related degrees.