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.

 

Position Title:            Quality and Manufacturing Support Technician

Reports To:               Shift Manager

Segment:                   Petcare - BDB

Family:                       Supply

Function:                   Plant Operations

Location:                    ARK

Job Level:                  B3

 

Level of Role

(Individual Contributor)

 

Number of Reports

0

 

Purpose of Role

The primary purpose of this role is to ensure that the quality standards for raws and packs, the manufacturing process, finished goods and holds management are maintained on their respective shift by sampling, monitoring and auditing each of these areas.

 

The secondary purpose of this role is to support the shift manager with other duties as needed.

 

Principal Accountabilities

• Make on-line risk decisions regarding pre/post process assessments and responds to quality issues such as filing problems, commodity and packaging material problems.  Enters packaging/commodity complaints and holds into the vendor assurance database.
• Responds and makes Quality (non-food safety) decisions.
• Enters finished product holds into ARK Hold Management System
• Performs the product assessment panel on the weekends
• Designs and delivers training in all areas of quality to shift associates
• Performs in plant sampling, testing, and auditing on shift
• Provides troubleshooting expertise and support to shift managers across the site
• Collects samples for materials analysis and the evaluation of holds
• Steward of protecting the integrity of the PRIMP, CAPA and HACCP program
• Participates on LEAN and Continuous Improvement Teams
• This position and all site associates are responsible for quality and food safety
• This position monitors quality and food safety control points and make corrective actions to the process if needed.
• Know and understand the site’s CCP’s and report any findings of deficiencies to site’s quality manager or designee

 

Critical Functional Competencies

• Brings Our Culture to Life
• Develops a High Performing Organization
• Fosters Associate Engagement and Well-Being

 

Key Functional Skills/Knowledge

• Accurate and quick decision making skills
• Well-developed computer program skills:  Lotus Notes, Microsoft Office, SPEDE, Mars Supply Quality Management (MSQM), ARK Holds Data Base, Document Control Data Base, Continuous Improvement and Corrective Action Process
• In-depth knowledge of all areas of the factory
• In-depth knowledge of regulatory requirements for product sterilization and good manufacturing practices
• Interpersonal skills that influence and enlist the help of others in managing product quality
• Ability to respond/react in a fast paced, changing environment
• Know how to use all lab equipment to analyze product variables
• Well developed sense of smell and sight
• Subject matter expert for site on quality standards during off shifts
• Decision making
• Solid written and verbal communications skills to plant floor and the management team
• Food Manufacturing experience and knowledge of food safety
• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices

 

Minimum Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Obtain certification from the FDA Better Processing Control course
• Formal Quality/Food Science education or relevant experience
• Forklift certification
• Mars sterilization training
• Mars filling and sealing training
• Windows Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Lotus Notes training
• Mars Core Curriculum classes
• R&D College

 

Preferred Qualifications

• Food manufacturing experience and knowledge of food safety.
• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Statistical Process Control
• Forklift certified.
• A wide variety of plant experiences in multiple areas (Inventory, Processing, Filling, Retort and Packaging)
• A minimum of 6 months of Mars Factory Experience OR 2 years of Non-Mars Factory Experience OR 1 year of previous Quality Experience

 

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.