POSITION OVERVIEW:Lead end-to-end Quality and Technical Applications for NESTLÉ USA, INC. and GLOBAL WATERS & PREMIUM BEVERAGES USA, LLC, providing governance and technical leadership for internally and externally manufactured water and beverage products, including cross-border supply. The role ensures suppliers, products, packaging, innovation, renovation, and launch activities meet U.S. Quality, Food Safety, and regulatory requirements while overseeing co-manufacturing, co-packing, Import/Export compliance, FSVP governance, state registrations and permitting, water analysis and reporting, complaint management, inspection readiness, timely issue resolution, and effective stakeholder engagement.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:- Lead, coach, and develop Quality and Technical Applications team members. This role provides direct leadership for Quality, Technical Applications/product development, and packaging resources within scope. Set priorities, clarify accountability, allocate resources, build capability, translate business strategy into risk-based plans, and promote a quality mindset through sound judgment, timely escalation, and clear decision support.
- Provide technical applications, product development, and packaging support for innovation and renovation through cross-functional collaboration and technical expertise in co-manufacturing, co-packing, and cross-border supply projects. Identify compliance requirements early, assess project risk, confirm launch readiness, ensure appropriate resourcing, and coach teams to embed prevention, risk assessment, and product compliance.
- Manage Quality, innovation, and packaging governance for co-manufacturers, co-packers, external suppliers, and affiliate manufacturing sites. Ensure partners maintain effective Food Safety and Quality Management Systems and partner with Procurement, Operations, Supply Chain, Regulatory, Legal, and Trade Compliance to mitigate supplier, material, and product risks.
- Serve as the Quality business partner for products imported into or exported from the United States. Oversee FSVP governance and documentation, maintain inspection-ready records, and support intermarket agreements, product briefs, market and site communications, product disputes, complaint investigations, and FDA inspection support.
- Oversee investigation and resolution of consumer, customer, and intermarket complaints with clear ownership, timely response, and appropriate escalation. Monitor complaint trends, engage producing sites on corrective action, and lead or support detentions, regulatory inquiries, product concerns, and complex Quality or Food Safety events.
- Serve as company representative for FDA and State agency registrations, inquiries, detentions, permits, inspections, and related compliance matters. Oversee FDA registrations, FCE/LACF permits, water registrations, licensing, testing, reporting, renewals, traceability enablers, and quality systems that support regulatory compliance and inspection readiness. Manage third-party compliance partnerships.
- Recommend approval, conditional approval, suspension, or escalation of suppliers, products, projects, or supply pathways based on Quality and Food Safety risk. Require corrective action when standards are not met, escalate significant risk through governance, and set operating priorities within scope.
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Engineering, Quality, or a related technical field required, experience would be considered in lieu of a degree; advanced degree preferred.
- In-depth understanding of Food Safety and Quality Management Systems, HACCP, prerequisite programs, validation and verification, allergens, contaminants, traceability, FSMA requirements, FDA Title 21 CFR Parts 129 and 165, FSVP management, and PCQI certification.
- Internal auditor training and experience with a GFSI-benchmarked scheme are highly preferred.
- At least 10 years of progressive Quality and Food Safety experience in food, beverage, CPG, or a similarly regulated U.S. environment is strongly preferred.
- Experience leading people or managing complex cross-functional programs involving external manufacturing, supplier quality, import/export, water and beverage compliance, analysis, licensing, permitting, regulatory reporting, corrective actions, stakeholder alignment, and traceability.
- Proficiency with SAP, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is expected.
SKILLS:- Strong leadership, coaching, influence, stakeholder alignment, and effective challenge.
- Demonstrated risk assessment, problem solving, analytical judgment, executive communication, and regulatory communication skills.
- Agility, digital literacy, data stewardship, quality mindset, and continuous improvement capability.
Salary: $124,962.79 to $179,257.40 per year
Bonus Eligibility: Yes
The pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Final compensation may vary based on factors including but not limited to knowledge, skills and abilities as well as geographic location. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at top of range.
Nestlé offers performance-based incentives and a competitive total rewards package, which includes a 401k with company match, healthcare coverage and a broad range of other benefits. Incentives and/or benefit packages may vary depending on the position. Learn more at https://www.nestlejobs.com/nestle-in-the-us-benefits
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