Quality Manager Europe

The Quality Manager will be responsible for quality assurance and product excellence in the International VBU. The scope of the role will be to assure and improve Food Safety, Product Quality and Process capabilities to ensure customer quality expectations are always met. He/she will deploy Quality and food Safety programs and methodologies across the VBU whilst also being a key member of the business Operational team.

Main tasks and responsibilities

• Leading the complete Quality activities of the GPC Int’l Bottles plants and Danone Global Quality
• Drive the Quality strategy, delivering positive improvement and change as part of OPEX
• Drive Quality projects and initiatives to improve the capabilities of our processes, practices and people
• Ensure Quality excellence across multiple plant locations
• Monitor internal and external quality performance, identify opportunities for improvements and develop business unit and/or Corporate improvement plans
• Management, development and training of all the sub-category plants by providing high quality and technical support/resources to plants and to external customers
• Defines and adapts internal performance indicators, in relation to the clients or manufactured products and process status, to continuously improve the Quality procedures & product Quality and Food safety
• Adapts or creates programs and procedures for the European units regarding Quality, and Food Safety, and implements them
• Identify and implement preventive and corrective measures through monitoring the QFS indicators
• Provides crisis management in his area of activity
• Is the prime customer contact for any problems related to Quality, particularly Danone on an international level
• Involved in suppliers’ programs management and suppliers’ assessment aligned with the Purchasing department
• Involved in project development by defining product risk assessment and quality controls needed for future production
• Propose any technological upgrades in relation to Quality, Food safety & food defense or regulatory watch, and develop capex budget accordingly with the respective plants
• Train, coach and motivate employees by his/her personal involvement and sense of efficiency
• Ensure the adequate staffing, drive for high performance results, ensure all HR systems are implemented
• Effectively communicate and lead people for change
• Ensures all matters relating to Human Resources are dealt with equitably and in accordance with Corporate procedures.

Technical contributions

• Monitor internal and external quality performance, identify opportunities for improvements and develop production sites, business unit and/or Corporate improvement plans
• Improve overall work processes to increase product quality and overall business productivity through metrics analysis, communication on performance and improvement activities (including new possibilities of product control existing on the changed market)
• Steward and drive corporate wide quality initiatives that impact business success: Quality pillar implementation, Food contact program linked with products HACCP…
• Plan and conduct supplier and plant audit programs (QSM, GMP, 25BB, Packed ware, FSSC 22000,…). Then track indicators of results, follow up actions plans for corrective actions and set targets for following years
• Ensure standards are met in regulatory affairs and especially assure implementation of customer requirements & product compliance with regulation (Danone, Nestlé, Nutricia, etc.). Ensure new materials are answering those needs (especially potential recycled ones)
• Trainings: Analyze needs and organize sessions in specific fields to standardize knowledge of plant Quality Managers
• Ensure right problem solving is performed and helps with standardization of events analysis
• Set high standards for safety and housekeeping in Quality area to build a safety culture in the plants
• Monitor the product (based on actual process performances) compliance with specification & ensure LINKS is used for the Quality parts related to projects including risk assessment & lines or products homologation
• Manage internal international communication to provide aligned feedback on General customers’ specifications and make sure the compliance with requirements is maintained over time in the production sites
• Ensure constant communication, especially with the customers with whom KPI’s, & improvements plans are shared regularly
• All these activities require a strong collaboration/relationship with plants/business leaders and external customers

Minimum job specifications and requirements

• Education: University degree in Engineering, Science, Quality or Food Safety
• Trainings:
  • Quality & Food Safety Certifications (ISO)
  • Knowledge of HACCP/FSSC/ISO 22000
  • Microsoft Office; SAP
• Experience: Minimum 10 years’ experience in Quality within an industrial environment, preferable in the food/packaging industry
• Language: Fluent in English Language, other language will be a plus
• Main skills: See Skills Matrix

Working conditions

The incumbent will be required to travel: on a regular basis, mostly in European plants and headquarter.

Contact with internal Graham colleagues on Product Compliance, Quality, Development and Purchasing.