Regional Quality Manager – External Manufacturing

The Manager, Regional Technical Services, will use field-based skills to support our non-KDP owned production partners, helping them effectively manufacture and deliver the highest quality KDP product to our customers. This role will be remote and cover the Western USA. This position, through customer-focused activities related to quality and manufacturing, is an integral player in the protection of our brands.  They will have a thorough understanding of formulation, specifications, manufacturing processes and quality assurance and will partner with key internal teams in the areas of Customer Service, R&D, Licensing, Consumer Affairs, and Field Sales. 

Responsibilities

• Enforcing and maintaining standards and guidelines with KDP manufacturing partners.
  
• Working side by side with KDP manufacturers, training them on proper quality expectations, production guidelines and standard operating procedures.
  
• Maintaining complete manufacturer profiles critical to KDP.
  
• Analyzing available data on quality, consumer complaints, and product trade age to identify potential issues.
  
• Investigate all out-of-standard issues. Work with manufacturers to validate results, determine the scope of the issue, identify the cause of the problem, and propose and implement corrective actions.
  
• Working with other KDP functions (Marketing, Graphics, Packaging and Product Development) to facilitate and support new product/package launches and marketing initiatives.
  
• Responsible at the Regional level for all new product and package starts to ensure that they are brought to the market in a timely manner and within quality guidelines.
  
• Providing value-added services to bottlers. Examples: in-plant laboratory training, sanitation/microbiological training, manufacturing support, trade age management training, continuous improvement programs.
  
• Taking responsibility for special projects as assigned. Leading cross-functional technical teams for onboarding of copackers and bottlers.
  
• Delivering needed information and subject matter expertise when called upon to enhance quality product delivered to customer.

Major Expectations of Role

Quality Improvement Implement for each bottler within region an action strategy for achieving continuous improvement of KDP product quality as delivered to the consumer.

Bottler Data Information Systems Responsible for the shared maintenance of all bottler information management systems for region. Complete on a timely basis all requested written and verbal communication.

Activities Manage all technical activities within region. These activities are determined in cooperation with the Quality Director and Senior Manager and are to be based on a sound business and customer-focused strategy and risk. Always strive for simplification and improvement of all activities.

Issues Focus on resolving issues promptly, diplomatically and effectively by utilizing all internal and external company resources. Those issues and solutions are to be communicated to the entire group.

Communications Communicate in various forms (emails, meetings, presentations) in a professional manner. Hold plants and teams accountable by clear documentation of plant work, visits, and action plans and other FTO information

Competitive Activities Monitor region for competitive activities, i.e., new products, reformulations of old products, technical activities, marketing strategies, etc. that will help KDP become more effective in the marketplace.

Trade Management Practice a trade age management philosophy and implement monitoring within region of the performance of our products in the marketplace. Utilize actionable strategies to facilitate better distribution practices and product selection to accomplish better product quality in the marketplace.

Budget Manage the region within the financial constraints established by the company. Constantly probe technical activities for potential cost savings to the department and/or to the company. Utilize good time management practices to maximize effectiveness at minimum cost.

• Salary Range: $98,600-145,000
• 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

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Microbiology, Engineering, or related field from accredited university
• Five years of experience in the carbonated beverage manufacturing industry, preferably in quality, production or process engineering. Preference is to have experience working directly within a beverage facility. Experience with powder production/blending and/or water treatment systems will be a nice to have.
• 5 years of intermediate level experience using MS Office products (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.).
• 50-75% Travel is expected with this position.