Quality Food Safety Team Leader

Overview

A part of Colgate-Palmolive since 1976, Hill's Pet Nutrition offers the highest-quality pet nutrition through Prescription Diet and Science Diet. Our products are widely recommended by veterinarians, available in approximately 80 countries, with a line of more than 60 Prescription Diet and 50 Science Diet pet foods. We are committed to caring for animals and enabling global opportunities, growth, and work/life balance.

Job Title:

Quality Food Safety Team Leader

Travel Required:

Travel up to 10% of time. On-site role in Richmond, Indiana, United States. Posting

Start Date:

2/13/26. No relocation assistance offered. Job Number #171012.

Colgate-Palmolive is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries, specializing in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. We foster a culture guided by our core values—Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous—to help our people achieve common goals and build a brighter, healthier future for all.

As our Quality Food Safety Leader in Richmond, you will lead a dedicated team to ensure our facility exceeds quality standards and delivers safe, high-quality products. You will develop and implement critical food safety initiatives and promote a culture of continuous improvement. You will own the compliance programs and sanitation strategies to protect our brand and drive operational excellence.

• Execute and document the Plant Food Safety Program, including CCP/HACCP/FDA/Product Release requirements, and lead the Pest Control program.
• Investigate Food Safety, Environmental, Micro non-conformances and foreign material control using CAPA processes.
• Manage microbial sampling plan; ensure environmental swabbing and testing are compliant with Corporate Quality SOPs.
• Lead internal GMP, quality standards and system audits for the facility.
• Identify and initiate quality improvements; advise on process, product, quality systems, and work instructions.
• Supervise compliance with Corporate & Plant quality SOPs and conduct internal audits.
• Assist with execution and follow-up of regulatory, internal and external audits (e.g., FDA, USDA, AIB, State).
• Provide Food Safety Training to Plant Operations based on compliance needs.
• Measure and report plant Quality KPIs.

• BS degree in Engineering, Biology, Food Science, or related field (or Bachelor’s degree with 3+ years of Food Safety experience).
• Minimum of 3 years of food safety and manufacturing experience.
• Proven experience in managing cleaning and sanitation programs.

• Minimum of 3 years of supervisory experience with a focus on leading and developing teams.
• Certification in PCQI, HACCP, and SQF.
• Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills (examples: Domo, Smartsheet, Minitab).
• Intermediate experience with SAP or similar ERP for quality and database management.
• Prior experience as a Microbiologist or in a CPG manufacturing environment.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate across organizational levels.

Salary Range: $83,200.00 – $ USD. Pay is based on experience, qualifications, and location. Salaried employees may be eligible for discretionary bonuses, profit-sharing, and long-term incentives for executive-level roles. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, paid parental leave, disability coverage, and participation in the 401(k) with company matching contributions (eligibility applies). Vacation/PTO: a minimum of 15 vacation/PTO days (hourly employees receive a minimum of 120 hours) and 13 paid holidays, with prorated vacation based on hire date.

Paid sick leave varies by role and location per local laws.

Our commitment to inclusion: developing talent with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to serve our consumers worldwide, in an environment where everyone can belong and contribute meaningfully. Colgate-Palmolive is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status (US positions), or any other protected characteristic.

Reasonable accommodation during the application process is available on request. For additional Colgate terms and conditions, please refer to our site.

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