Staff Specialist QRC

Job Location: Hershey, PA 


Role Summary:
Leads significant QA programs and undertakes assignments of very high complexity.  Serves as Quality Regulatory Compliance (QRC) representative for multiple Hershey Company facilities.  Technical resource for Manufacturing, Engineering and broader Hershey supply chain, providing leadership and guidance in the areas of Global Food Safety Standards, food safety regulations, weight control, sanitary design, allergens, cleaning, incident management and other related matters.  Staff Specialist must have a sound working knowledge of Hershey’s quality system requirements. 

Examples include auditing and assessing internal and external quality programs; interaction with regulatory officials on behalf of Hershey; leading cross functional teams (Marketing, Legal, etc.) on short or long-term assignments with respect to complex QRC situations (i.e. innovation, regulatory changes, quality incidents, etc.).  This position is in the Quality Regulatory Compliance Department for the US Region, and is Corporate based.   

Responsibilities:

Project Leadership / Plant and New Product Support: Acts as QA representative on cross functional project teams, complex assignments and engineering projects including new manufacturing lines.  May coordinate new product efforts from initial test runs to full-scale production to assure integrity of systems. Lead and implement food safety and quality systems for new products/new manufacturing lines at Hershey plants to meet company and regulatory requirements. 

Compliance: Implements quality systems and programs to ensure company quality, food safety and regulatory standards are consistently achieved.  Provides training programs, auditing of quality systems, complex troubleshooting and large-scale incident management. 

Training:  Develops and/or implements training programs to assure compliance and understanding of internal quality expectations and regulatory compliance. Mentor to quality team members in manufacturing. 

Auditing:  coaches manufacturing plants on audit needs, assists with quality systems audits across Supply Chain.  Provides recommendations and develops corrective and preventative action plans to ensure compliance standards are met.

Incident Management:  Directs troubleshooting incidents of high complexity with the potential large financial or regulatory impacts. Manage product holds and facilitate root cause analysis and develop corrective and preventive actions.  Partner with cross functional groups (Manufacturing, Marketing, Legal, etc.) and external business partners to ensure communications and action plans are established. Ensure timely and cost-effective resolutions are achieved. Liaison for domestic and international regulatory agencies in order to manage product recalls, withdrawals, and recovery.

Continuous Improvement: Facilitate process/procedure improvement related to product and overall quality.

Subject Matter Expert: FDA Regulations, Global Food Safety Initiative, Data Management/Trending, Processing, Packaging, Environmental, Net Weight, Recipe Management, etc.  Or a generalist with broad based knowledge in multiple areas including regulations, industry practices, corporate wide quality systems, development of policies and procedures, and ability to implement as required.  Expected to provide leadership for specific programs, project management, training, and coaching of other Specialists in the specified area of expertise.
 

Qualifications:
 

• Knowledge of federal and state food industry regulations including Food Safety Modernization Act
• Hires outside of the US must be fluent in English.  Cultural business knowledge / acumen required. Bi-lingual in Spanish, preferred. Knowledge of other languages a plus. 
• Travel: at least 25% travel expected with North American focus.  Higher travel on focused projects.                                   
• Ability to work flexible hours
• Superior communication skills in verbal and written form.  Advanced presentation skills.
• Ability to effectively interact with all levels of employees (from Production to VP level)
• Ability to explain complex concepts to non-technical audiences
• Ability to make business decisions considering strategic company objectives
• Ability to represent Hershey and establish relationships with outside agencies (regulatory, co-mfg, suppliers, trade groups, etc). Strong auditing / assessment skills
• Advanced problem solving/trouble shooting skills
• In depth understanding of a production / manufacturing environment
• Advanced proficiency in computer programs / software such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, Power Point, SAP, Net Weight, Trackwise and Power BI
• Detailed knowledge of regulatory and quality system requirements – Hershey’s Product Excellence Program, Food Safety (FSMA, HACCP), Good Manufacturing Process (GMP). 
• Advanced knowledge of sanitation, sanitary design of equipment and facilities, food microbiology

Experience & Education: 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Microbiology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Food Science or related field.
• Must have applicable work experience in the food industry implementing quality and food safety programs.  8 years preferred.  Consideration given to candidates with a minimum of 3 years experiences.
• HACCP, SQF and PCQI certification preferred.
• Experience in any of following products, manufacturing processes and environments is preferred:  food, chocolate, sugar confectionery, enrobing, moulding, panning, slab and slit, baking, nut roasting, milk processing, beverage, aseptic, retort, low water activity, intermediate water activity; soy/tofu, snacks.