Senior Program Leader for Dairy

Land O' Lakes Inc. is one of America's premiere member-owned cooperatives. They offer local cooperatives and agricultural producers across the nation an extensive line of agricultural supplies, as well as state-of-the-art production and business services. They also are a leading marketer of dairy-based food products for consumers, foodservice professionals and food manufacturers.

The Position Reporting to the Sr. Director, Quality—Internal Supply Chain, the Senior National Quality Program Leader is a pivotal management position with three direct reports and 12 indirect professionals in support of manufacturing operations across the United States. In partnership with Operations, the primary objective of this role is to provide ongoing Quality System leadership and continuous improvement of the Dairy operations-- thereby ensuring safe, quality, and regulatory compliant products across four distinct Dairy platforms. The role provides vision, leadership, and direction with a strategic view of product and process quality across the enterprise. This position is also accountable for collaborative support of cross-functional peers, effective new product interaction, existing/new process capability and direct input into the Quality Senior Leadership Team.

* Development and implementation of comprehensive, long range quality strategies, complimenting business and operations direction. * Continuous improvement of existing product safety programs in light of leading edge industry practices to identify gaps, risks, and opportunities. * Provides counsel and direction with respect to critical process, product, and packaging design that could impact product safety and quality. * Provides insight, influence and technical support for risk assessment, problem solving, cost reduction, and product/process improvement trends to protect and enhance brand equity. * Leads the development, execution, and evolution of process capability as a core team competency. * Partners with manufacturing, engineering, business teams, and R&D in new products and capital execution. * Maintains effective relationships with regulatory agencies and key industry organizations. * Other important parameters for this position include: * The role will require approximately 20% travel * The position is located at the corporate headquarters in Arden Hills, Minnesota, a suburb of the Twin Cities. This thriving, progressive metropolitan area boasts diverse recreational activities, world-class amenities, outstanding educational opportunities, and reasonable commutes to great housing options.

**Required Experience:** * Bachelor’s degree or higher * Fifteen or more year’s progressive Quality Assurance experience within Dairy/Food; including manufacturing with a strong background in process improvement as it relates to Quality * Management and Food Safety Systems Experience in a related field is critical * A minimum of five years in a leadership position * Demonstrated ability with concepts of hazard analysis and risk assessments * Comprehensive knowledge in quality management techniques of process capability, root cause, and prevention * Strong grasp of FSMA as it relates to food * Change management leadership skills are essential **Required Competencies:** * Ability to recognize trends, problems or issues and proactively develop action-based solutions * Proven ability to put strategy into practice in plants in a practical way * Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of internal and external contacts and customers * Possesses the ability to effectively communicate the impact of food safety to the bottom line. Personal characteristics * Sets direction: develops and sets strategy, encourages innovation, understands the business and communicates effectively * Drives results: achieves goals, displays drive, is decisive, and inspires commitment * Liberates potential: develops self, others, and promotes teamwork and partnering within the business **Preferred Experience:** * Multi-plant ownership * Master’s degree