Quality Excellence Manager

Job Description

# Purpose of the role:
Drive and coordinate continuous improvement across the Quality and Food Safety function, working across Quality Operations (QC), Quality Systems, Laboratories, and Cleaning & Sanitation to improve functional effectiveness, food safety performance, quality standards, capability, and ways of working.   The role provides cross-functional expertise and project leadership on priorities that span multiple areas of the Quality and Food Safety organization and the wider manufacturing site. It supports the Food Safety & Quality Manager in translating functional priorities into sustainable improvements and strategy and provides a broad development platform across the Quality and Food Safety discipline.   The role is jointly responsible for the success of the department and must be able to operate at a higher level of abstraction. The role operates with a high degree of cross-functional interaction and influence while functional accountability for the individual disciplines remains with the respective managers.  
# Responsibilities:
Functional Improvement:
- Identify and evaluate opportunities to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, consistency, and maturity of the Quality and Food Safety function.
- Lead or coordinate improvement initiatives that cross functional boundaries and require collaboration between multiple Quality and Food Safety disciplines.
- Use performance information, trends, incidents, audit findings, complaints, process data, and other relevant information to identify systemic opportunities and risks.
- Support the establishment and adoption of improved standards, processes, tools, and ways of working across the function and wider site KHMS structure.
- Promote the systematic application of root-cause analysis, risk management, problem solving, and continuous improvement.
  Cross-Functional Leadership:
- Work closely with the Quality Operations, Quality Systems, Laboratory, and Cleaning & Sanitation managers to understand functional priorities, dependencies, opportunities, and risks.
- Facilitate alignment and collaboration where improvement opportunities extend across multiple areas.
- Lead cross-functional projects and working groups, bringing together relevant technical and operational expertise.
- Influence stakeholders toward common solutions and sustainable implementation without relying solely on formal authority.
- Support integration of Quality and Food Safety priorities with wider site and business objectives.
- Challenge and collaborate with the Production, Engineering and Maintenance departments.
- Provide coaching/support where needed on the FSQ way of working in the business.
- Coach KHMS accountable stakeholders on key quality priorities and risks in their standards.
  Quality & Food Safety:
- Maintain a broad understanding of the site’s Quality and Food Safety risks, standards, systems, processes, and performance.
- Contribute to the identification, assessment, and mitigation of significant quality and food safety risks.
- Support the function in responding to significant issues, audits, incidents, customer requirements, and regulatory expectations where appropriate.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen preventive approaches and improve the overall maturity of the Quality and Food Safety organization.
- Provide trainings or sessions to business stakeholders and/or employees to upskill FSQ knowledge.
- Promote a culture in which quality and food safety are embedded within operational decision-making.
  Functional Capability:
- Contribute to the development of technical and organizational capability within the Quality and Food Safety function.
- Facilitate knowledge sharing and the adoption of best practices between the different disciplines.
- Support development of common approaches, competencies, and standards where appropriate.
- Act as a role model for collaborative leadership, continuous improvement, and fact-based decision making.
- Strengthen the department by providing individual coaching when the situation requires it.
  Strategic and Leadership Support:
- Provide the Food Safety & Quality Manager with analysis, recommendations, and insight on cross-functional opportunities and risks.
- Support the development and implementation of the Quality and Food Safety functional strategy and improvement agenda.
- Contribute to a positive employee experience by identifying people-related needs within the department and driving optimizations.
- Lead selected strategic or high-priority initiatives on behalf of the Food Safety & Quality Manager.
- Provide functional leadership or representation on selected topics when required by serving as the deputy for the FSQ Manager.
- Take on broader responsibilities as required by organizational priorities and individual development.
 
# Required competencies:

- Knowledge of food safety regulations and standards (e.g., HACCP, BRC (GFSI)).
- Understanding of quality assurance principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Good communication and leadership skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
- Experience in quality management is desirable.
- Understanding of manufacturing processes and the interaction between operational performance, food safety, and product quality.
- Ability to analyse complex information and translate it into practical recommendations and actions.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office.
- Good verbal and written English/Dutch
 
# Required education:

- Education in Food Science/Technology, Quality Management, or a related field. Master's degree is a plus
- Lead Auditor training
- Advanced HACCP certification

Required work experience:

- Relevant experience in Quality, Food Safety, Manufacturing, Technical, Engineering, or another related discipline.
- Experience working across functional boundaries and leading improvement initiatives.
- Experience in structured problem solving, continuous improvement, project management, or quality improvement is desirable.
- Experience working within a GFSI accredited food manufacturing environment is expected.

## Location(s)
Elst
 
Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes.