Food Safety and Quality Lab Manager

Manufacturing the best products and supplying them to meet demand is a key driver for our plant teams. We are currently looking to hire a Food Safety and Quality Lab Manager internally called QFS Plant Laboratory Manager (PQLab) based in our Dallas, Texas beverage manufacturing facility.

This role is responsible for the management of the quality lab department, ultimately ensuring the production of safe food that is in compliance with Danone standards and legal requirements, prioritizing the safety of both the product and the general work environment in their daily duties. The Laboratory Manager drives all the lab activities for the site, managing the budget and resources to ensure delivery of reliable and timely results for the purpose of process control and product release.

Will ensure that any non-conformances related to quality and food safety are immediately reported and managed according to PNC program. Reporting structure Reports into the Director, Quality & Food Safety and leads a team of approximately 22 full time employees.

• Quality Assurance in lab
• Manage the implementation of testing methods according to Global AE requirements (KARMA digital).
• Implement and monitor quality system according to ISO 17025 and Global AE requirements (QMS, standards, methods, KPIs).
• Achieve and maintain ISO 17025 accreditation status of laboratory and methods as and if required for your laboratory (SN specific).
• Maintain and update laboratory documents.

• Oversee daily lab activities, ensure compliance with control plan, testing protocols, and manage equipment calibration and maintenance.
• Manage finished product release according to predefined requirements.
• Ensure raw materials, materials, and semi-finished products and packaging are analyzed according to current control plans and released for production if they meet quality requirements.
• Interpret test results and signaling quality non-conformities related to raw materials, semi-finished products, and finished products.
• Ensure analytical performance of the laboratory
• Define and manage KPIs for laboratory performance management in line with customer (factory, …) requirements.
• Ensure proper layout and workflow to avoid risks of cross-contamination.
• Lead lab continuous improvement (non-conformities management, internal audits).
• Analyze, review and approve lab results, and communicate reports to internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide data/calculate KPIs defined for Quality Control.
• Ensure the laboratory is developing and implementing digitalization and automation solutions
• Ensure proper capability in the laboratory.
• Supervise and develop lab teams, manage schedules, conduct performance reviews, and ensure training and competencies development.
• Ensure each Danoner within the laboratory can fulfil their responsibilities.
• Ensure QFS Laboratory/Testing competencies development based on status assessment vs needs. Ensure all personnel performing any form of analytical testing within lab/QFS and outside of lab/QFS, e.g. in production) have an up-to-date training record.

• Ensure effective financial budgeting related to lab activities.
• Ensure budget adherence for operational costs such as labor and consumables.

• Support to manufacturing in case of incidents/accidents
• Participate in Crisis Team activities as defined by the QFS Plant Quality Leader.
• Manage and coordinate with internal stakeholders such as Operations, QFS, Analytical Excellence, …
• Coordinate with external stakeholders such as suppliers and regulatory bodies. Manage external laboratories performing testing for the Factory.

In plants implementing IWS, the PQLab is member of a Pillar team and owns at least one system.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or…