A mutually rewarding experience.

Work. Realize your ambitions. And realize there’s more to being in business than just making a profit. That’s the Mars philosophy. And the opportunity we offer every one of our Associates. An opportunity to take what you do and make it mean more for you, for those around you and for the planet.  What you get here is challenging, interesting work. You get the tools you need to do a great job and you get to have the best possible people on your side to help you do it. And at the same time as getting to find ways to do business better today than we did it yesterday and driving a great career, you also get to build a more enlightened business and drive sustainability.

Because it’s never just about a single person, a single project or a single brand. It’s about how you can grab everything that’s within your reach here and use it to pursue mutual, long-term gain. It’s about having ideas. And ideals. Being prepared to risk failure because the promise of success means we’ll all be a little better off. It’s that mix of integrity and ambition that makes Mars such a special place to work. And why working here is always about more than just a job.

About Mars, Incorporated 

Mars is a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love. With almost $35 billion in sales, the company is a global business that produces some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5™, SKITTLES®, UNCLE BEN’S®, MARS DRINKS and COCOAVIA®. Mars also provides veterinary health services that include BANFIELD® Pet Hospitals, Blue Pearl®, VCA® and Pet Partners™. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire its more than 100,000 Associates to create value for all its partners and deliver growth they are proud of every day.

Mars is Looking for an Associate Director of Q&FS Operations in Franklin, TN
 

Job Purpose:
The purpose of this role is to lead the deployment of the QFS agenda across the NA supply network, ensuring ongoing compliance to Q&FS standards and regulations through relevant 3rd party audits.  With a small dedicated technical team you will drive continuous improvement in quality performance though execution of technical auditing programs and six sigma projects at select sites. Working closely with the Regional Quality Managers you will be the single point of contact for business continuity issues related to quality and the key representative in all crisis management issues related to supply Q&FS.
 
What we are looking for:
Minimum Requirements:
• A BS degree in Chemistry, Food Science, Engineering or related technical field
• 8-10 years of experience in QFS
• Advanced understanding of quality systems and food safety programs
• 5+ years demonstrated experience in people leadership/management
• HACCP and food safety management
• GFSi quality management systems
• Quality systems standards, including GMPs
• Problem solving
• Food microbiology, analytical chemistry, and sensory methods
 
Preferred Qualifications:
• Advanced Degree in Chemistry, Food Science, Engineering or related technical field
 
Key Responsibilities:
• Lead and engage the Site QFS teams in the Mars Petcare NA OGSM
• Champion Q&FS and ensure QMP implementation across all manufacturing sites
• Drive compliance for the relevant standards and regulatory accreditation needed to operate each site/s.
• Reduction in Consumer complaints at each site. Drive shared learning on issues across the sites. Drive an overall understanding for the site teams of impact to brand and business, not just factory
• Accountable for Governance of Q&FS performance across supply sites, identify gaps and drive CI.  Discuss with key partners in other functions issues and resolve together
• Working with the Senior R&D Director to ensure the development of a healthy leadership talent pipeline for the function
• PRIMP Management – lead primp when more than one site impacted. Primary accountability in incidents is to drive root cause for the site providing independence to the site team.  Share learnings across factories and with other RQM’s. Ensure learnings are embedded into a CI program for network by working with Technical team to ensure standards are updated, procedures are corrected, and associates are trained.
• Ensure all factory labs are participating in the lab proficiency programs
• Develop and coordinate (with engineering) the activation of the site QFS CAB plan
• Develop a skills and competency plan for site QFS teams working with the business unit training manager
• Manage resource planning for site-based projects
• Senior representative on the Pet NA Quality Leadership Team
• Feeder role for the QFS Director for NA Pet
• Backup for Director – decision making for in absence
 
What can you expect from Mars?
·       The opportunity to learn, develop and take charge of your own career
·       An industry competitive salary and benefits package
·       To be respected and valued
·       The Five Principles at the center of every decision we make
·       The opportunity to work cross functionally, add value and impact a better world for generations to come
 

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.