Technical Quality Specialist - Effingham, IL

Job Summary

The Technical Quality Specialist is responsible for being the plant's main point of contact directly with the key account customer. This position serves as the plant's direct line between sales, operations, purchasing, the key account, and others as needed. This role reports to the Location Quality Manager.

About the Role

• Main point of contact for key account customers directly overseeing product management
• Communicate with customers under a quality agreement any deviations as defined in the agreement
• Responsible for leading key account quality investigations and providing timely feedback
• Write or approve validation procedures, route for approval to meet customer expectations before implementation
• Develop an understanding of allowable tolerances and establish written procedures to ensure these are met based on facility validation information
• Oversee management of change approval with customers on changes that directly impact their products from start to finish
• Understand customer specifications and ensure they can be met per facility capabilities
• Communicate product withdrawals and recalls to key accounts
• Participate in meetings with customers and lead the technical and quality related presentations and discussions
• Communicate with commercial on customer needs
• Oversight of plant process issues that lead to deviations during key account product manufacturing
• Develop a plan to eliminate the root cause
• Follow up with implementation and ongoing verification to ensure corrective actions are being followed and effective
• Drive improvement into the process by utilizing continuous improvement tools
• Work with engineers on equipment deviations issues to enhance manufacturing design
• Lead customer visits and audits through direct oversight
• Develop a process to present facility overview to explain the production of their product
• Understand customer audit expectations and ensure facility meets all requirements
• Be an active participant in Food Safety Plan team meetings
• Work with the Location Quality Manager to ensure updated procedures align with current key account SOP changes
• Assist operations with rework or product destruction
• Provide key account customers with production summaries, annual product quality reports, and inventory reports of finished goods, raw materials, and packaging
• Maintain required key account production data in a shareable format/summary, compare analytical results to specifications, create COAs as necessary, and identify trends and improvement opportunities
• Verify the “Formal Release” requirements
• Develop an understanding of the Quality Manager's role and fill in when needed
• Participate in PE methodology
• Perform other duties as assigned

Minimum Requirements

• BS degree in Feed Science or related experience AND/OR 5+ years in quality experience in feed/food
• Knowledge of FDA and State Regulatory Requirements
• Trained in Preventive Controls for Animal Food (PCQI)
• Team Player
• Decisive and results oriented
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to lead, coach, build consensus and lead change among a team of production/sales/quality colleagues
• Strong analytical problem solving/root cause analysis skills
• Highly organized
• Effective use of Microsoft office applications

Qualifications

If hired, employees will be in an "at-will position" and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

Pay Range

The pay range for this position is expected to be between: $52,800.00 - $99,400.00

Benefits and Perks

• Physical wellness – medical/Rx, dental, vision and on-site wellness center access or gym reimbursement (as applicable)
• Financial wellness – flexible spending accounts, health savings account, 401(k) with matching contributions and cash balance plan, discounted employee stock purchasing program, life insurance, disability, workers’ compensation, legal assistance, identity theft protection
• Mental and social wellness – Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Colleague Giving Programs (ADM Cares)
• Additional Benefits Include Paid time off including paid holidays
• Adoption assistance and paid maternity and parental leave
• Tuition assistance
• Company-sponsored training and development resources, such as LinkedIn Learning, language training and mentoring programs

About ADM

At ADM, we unlock the power of nature to provide access to nutrition worldwide. With industry-advancing innovations, a complete portfolio of ingredients and solutions to meet any taste, and a commitment to sustainability, we give customers an edge in solving the nutritional challenges of today and tomorrow. We're a global leader in human and animal nutrition and the world's premier agricultural origination and processing company. Our breadth, depth, insights, facilities and logistical expertise give us unparalleled capabilities to meet needs for food, beverages, health and wellness, and more. From the seed of the idea to the outcome of the solution, we enrich the quality of life the world over.