Job Overview:At Keurig Dr Pepper, the Regional Quality Manager is responsible for leading Quality, Food Safety, Regulatory Compliance, Commercialization, and Co-Manufacturing Quality programs across a network of KDP manufacturing facilities and contract manufacturing partners. This role serves as the primary corporate quality representative supporting manufacturing operations, supplier and co-manufacturer management, onboarding of new manufacturing partners, and continuous improvement initiatives.
The position works cross-functionally with Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, R&D, Regulatory Affairs, Engineering, Commercialization, and Manufacturing partners to ensure the delivery of safe, compliant, and high-quality products while supporting business growth and innovation. The Regional Quality Manager provides technical leadership, risk management expertise, and organizational capability development across multiple product categories and manufacturing technologies.
Quality, Food Safety & Regulatory Leadership- Lead implementation and execution of Quality and Food Safety programs across assigned manufacturing and co-manufacturing locations.
- Ensure compliance with company policies, FDA regulations, FSMA requirements, GMPs, HACCP programs, GFSI standards, and customer requirements.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on defect and waste reduction, compliance, consumer satisfaction, and operational excellence.
- Lead quality incident management, root cause analysis, corrective actions, audits, regulatory inspections, and consumer complaint investigations.
- Conduct risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies to protect consumers, brands, and business performance.
Manufacturing- Lead qualification, onboarding, commissioning, and ongoing management of assigned contract manufacturing partners.
- Conduct facility assessments, capability reviews, gap analyses, and readiness evaluations.
- Serve as the primary technical liaison for all facilities during onboarding, startup activities, and on-going steady state operaations
- Coordinate formula transfers, process validation, quality requirements, specifications, and documentation.
- Drive closure of identified technical, food safety, and compliance gaps before commercialization.
- Support supplier qualification, ingredient approval, packaging qualification, and quality system verification activities.
- Maintain comprehensive manufacturer profiles, risk assessments, and performance scorecards.
Commercialization & Technical Services- Support new product launches, formula changes, packaging changes, supplier transitions, and business growth initiatives.
- Lead technical readiness reviews and commercialization risk assessments.
- Coordinate startup trials, commissioning activities, and first-production evaluations.
- Partner with R&D, Operations, Engineering, Procurement, and Regulatory Affairs to ensure successful execution of innovation projects.
- Provide technical expertise during troubleshooting, process optimization, and manufacturing improvement initiatives.
Quality Systems & Continuous Improvement- Drive effective utilization of Quality Management Systems, data analytics, and digital quality tools.
- Monitor and analyze KPI performance, consumer complaints, audit results, and manufacturing trends.
- Support implementation of network quality strategies and digital transformation initiatives.
- Lead CAPA, RCCA, and continuous improvement programs across manufacturing and co-manufacturing locations.
- Promote standardization and simplification of quality processes across the network.
Organizational Leadership- Coach, mentor, and develop site quality leaders and technical professionals.
- Build organizational capability through training, development planning, and succession management.
- Lead cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders without direct authority.
- Foster a culture of accountability, inclusion, continuous improvement, and consumer focus.
- Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on quality, food safety, compliance, and business risk matters.
Total Rewards:- Salary Range: $130,700 - $175,000
- Actual placement within the compensation range may vary depending on experience, skills, and other factors
- Benefits, subject to election and eligibility: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Paid Time Off (including paid parental leave, vacation, and sick time), 401k with company match, Tuition Reimbursement, and Mileage Reimbursement
- Annual bonus based on performance and eligibility
Requirements:Required- Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Engineering, Biology, Nutrition, or a related technical discipline.
- Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in Quality, Food Safety, Manufacturing, Technical Services, Commercialization, or Supply Chain roles.
- Experience supporting multiple manufacturing facilities and/or contract manufacturing partners.
- Demonstrated knowledge of Quality Systems, Food Safety programs, regulatory compliance, risk management, and continuous improvement principles.
- Strong project management, problem-solving, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience leading cross-functional teams and influencing organizational change.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Preferred- Beverage manufacturing experience.
- Experience managing co-manufacturers, contract manufacturers, or supplier quality programs.
- Experience supporting commercialization and new product introductions.
- Lean Six Sigma certification.
- Experience utilizing enterprise quality management systems and digital quality tools.
- Experience supporting NSF-certified manufacturing operations and certification programs.
- Experience managing dietary supplements, vitamins, minerals, nutraceuticals, functional ingredients, and wellness products.
- Experience supporting product claims review, claims substantiation, and label compliance programs.
- Experience with ingredient qualification, supplier verification, and regulatory compliance for nutritional products.
- Experience supporting dairy, protein, sports nutrition, meal replacement, and functional beverage categories.
- Experience managing quality systems for powder manufacturing, dry blending, and nutritional powder operations.
Technical ExpertiseExperience in one or more of the following manufacturing technologies is preferred:
Beverage Technologies- Hot Fill
- Aseptic Processing
- Tunnel Pasteurization
- Retort Processing
- Carbonated Beverages
- Juice and Functional Beverages
Nutritional & Supplement Technologies- Powder Blending
- Dry Ingredient Handling
- Protein Powders
- Meal Replacement Products
- Dietary Supplements
- Vitamin and Mineral Fortification
- Functional Ingredients
- Sports Nutrition Products
Quality & Compliance Systems- FSMA
- HACCP
- GMP
- GFSI Programs
- NSF Certification Programs
- Supplier Quality Systems
- CAPA/RCCA Programs
- Quality Management Systems (QMS)
Travel Requirements- Ability to travel approximately 50%-70% within the US
- Travel includes manufacturing facilities, co-manufacturing partners, supplier sites, audits, assessments, onboarding activities, commercialization projects, commissioning support, and business meetings.
- Must be available to support urgent business needs including quality incidents, investigations, startup activities, and regulatory events when necessary.
Leadership ExpectationsSuccessful candidates will demonstrate:
- Strong people leadership and talent development capabilities.
- Strategic thinking and business acumen.
- Excellent communication and executive presence.
- Ability to influence through collaboration and partnership.
- Strong risk assessment and decision-making skills.
- Consumer-first and quality-first mindset.
- Ability to lead organizational change and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Technical credibility across food, beverage, nutritional, supplement, dairy, protein, and co-manufacturing environments.
- Proven capability to build teams, develop talent, and drive a culture of accountability and operational excellence
