Director Quality & Food Safety-North America

Essential functions:

• Lead and mentor a team of professionals within Bunge NA Corporate QFS department to carry out the duties needed to ensure the production of safe products that meet regulatory and customer requirements.
• Communicate and model good business practices that support core values (Act As One Team; Drive for Excellence; Do What’s Right)
• Coordinate third-party/customer audits of our manufacturing plant units as needed to satisfy commercial needs.
• Support an internal audit program to provide assurance of the Bunge Production System (BPS), FSMA and SQF compliance.
• Model and cascade behaviors supporting Bunge NA capabilities (Operational Excellence, People Management, Business Intelligence, Customer Satisfaction, Value Chain Integration and Risk Management).
• Drive continuous improvement in the areas of Quality Assurance and Food Safety by setting goals and identifying key performance indicators in this area of the business
• Act as an independent voice to initiate, lead, and monitor operational excellence initiatives for Quality, Food and Feed Safety programs and coordinate relevant activities across Bunge’s business units.
• Communicate QFS efforts and activities throughout the organization to maintain awareness of the critical programs.
• Assist in mobilizing capital, people and other resources needed to efficiently implement objectives within the plant facilities and at the corporate level.
• Perform internal routine food/feed safety and quality system audits of Bunge North America manufacturing facilities. Identify product risk situations in manufacturing and direct efforts to reduce or remove the risk to mitigate risks to the business.
• Facilitate the development and improvement of our food safety plans to meet FSMA requirements.
• Review/approve contract manufacturing situations required. Included in this duty is approval of the outside services, the quality systems and quality reporting needs.
• Lead containment and corrective action efforts in the event of product safety occurrences to minimize company and customer exposure.
• Stay current on product regulatory changes that may affect the Bunge NA business and assure quality system compliance.
• Provide leadership and support to plant operations (crushing, oil refining, packaging, margarine operations and corn milling) and includes seed and tropical oils and fats as well as specialty products (includes soybean, palm, sunflower, shea, canola, coconut, etc.).
• Review product quality data feedback reports from manufacturing plants for trends or opportunities for improvements. Work with Manufacturing and Plant QFS to prioritize and complete these improvements.
• Develop, maintain and promote Quality Management System QMS (Policies, Standards and Procedures) for the manufacturing units to ensure that employees at all levels of the organization have the vital awareness and understanding of the company’s quality and food safety policies and processes to appropriately fulfill their job duties and responsibilities.
• Collaborate with customers as requested by the commercial teams.
• Capture improvement opportunities out of customer complaint data and promote Corrective and Preventive Actions.

Monitor and ensure compliance with programs including, but not limited to:

• Bunge Production System (BPS)
• Product recall and notification requirements
• Food Safety Plans/HACCP
• Customer requirements
• SOPs – Organize and maintain current documentation of processes and SOPs within the Quality Management System
• SQF or other third-party quality/food safety/sanitation audits

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE and SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Bachelor’s degree in sciences or relevant field required (Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering).
• Food industry and food manufacturing experience in Oilseed Processing, Milling or other related technical field, or an equivalent work history.
• Interpret quality and food safety audit and test results and define and communicate corrective actions as needed.
• Successful interaction working at all levels of the organization and to influence both corporate and plant level business leaders.
• Skills in building and motivating teams.
• FSMA PCQI certification preferred or must be obtained within 6 months of hire.
• Ability to travel 40%-50%, some possible international travel as well.
• Solid understanding of food regulations (FDA, CFIA, chemical contaminants)
• 15+ years quality assurance and food safety experience with at least 10 years of experience leading others required
• Interpret and apply regulatory requirements to Bunge operations
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Strong computer and Microsoft application skills.
• Strong work ethic with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to develop effective business relationships.
• Strong knowledge and experience performing audits of food safety and quality management systems, FSMA requirements, and GFSI and ISO standards.
• Exceptional verbal, written, listening and presentation communication skills required.

Required competencies:

• Openness and Communication: Connect with others in a warm and helpful manner while simultaneously building credibility and rapport.
• Organizational Capability: Demonstrate ability to organize and/or schedule people or tasks and to develop realistic action plans while being sensitive to time constraints and resource availability.
• Decision Making and Problem Solving: Take action in solving problems while showing good judgment and a realistic understanding of issues and constraints; able to use reason, even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Teamwork: Work with people in a manner that builds high morale and group commitment to shared goals and objectives.
• Leadership: Able to influence the actions and opinions of others in a desired direction; to show good judgment in leading others to worthwhile objectives.
• Coping: Maintain a mature problem-solving attitude while dealing with interpersonal differences of opinion and time demands.
• Operational/Personal Effectiveness: Effectively manage time and priorities.

Bunge (NYSE: BG) is a world leader in sourcing, processing and supplying oilseed and grain products and ingredients. Founded in 1818, Bunge’s expansive network feeds and fuels a growing world, creating sustainable products and opportunities for more than 70,000 farmers and the consumers they serve across the globe. The company is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri and has 25,000 employees worldwide who stand behind more than 350 port terminals, oilseed processing plants, grain facilities, and food and ingredient production and packaging facilities around the world.

Bunge is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or military or veteran status, or any other legally protected status. Bunge is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled