Company Description: Instinct® is a rapidly growing, family-owned marketer and manufacturer of science-based 100% natural pet food for dogs and cats. Instinct® is the Raw Brand, with a mission to get more raw nutrition into every bowl of dogs and cats, for proven healthier and happier long lives. Our company mission is to Empower people to transform the lives of pets. We are committed to hiring and developing a team of passionate, performance-oriented professionals who live by our 4 values of championing raw, empowered to make a difference, collaborating as one team, and striving for excellence through continuous learning and improvement. Our home office is located in St. Louis, Missouri with our Center of Excellence Raw Food kitchens in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Instinct® is part of the family-owned group, Agrolimen, who owns leading pet food and human food businesses in the US, China, Europe, and Africa.
Position Summary:
This position will lead Instinct in applying total quality systems for manufacturing, achieving customer satisfaction, continuous process improvement, and cost optimization. This individual will oversee compliance with FDA, AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials), MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) and USDA-APHIS (Animal & Plant health Inspection Service) requirements and ensure all aspects of the Food Safety and Quality System are designed, implemented, and working effectively in strict compliance with SQF Pet Food Safety and Quality Standards. This position will also play a lead role in working with the Engineering, Manufacturing and Maintenance Teams to develop, implement and sustain efficiencies, capabilities and innovation. The Sanitation Manager, FS&Q Superintendent and FS&Q Lab/EMP Specialist report to the FS&Q Ops Manager.
This role is the primary back-up for the Food Safety & Quality Operations Superintendent and Sr Director; this includes 1st and 2nd shift flexibility coverage and possible weekend work.
Key Responsibilities:
Build an engaged team and trust with other department personnel
Performance Management: develop goals, development plans and drive results
Manage projects/change
Develop programs, procedures and deploy training
Inspection and escalation
Esystems: Microsoft Office Tools (Excel, Outlook), ERP (QAD), Electronic monitoring system (Redzone), Document Management (MasterControl), Incident Management (Dynamics)
Other duties as assigned
Personal Attributes:
High Values: integrity (do the right thing), encourager, courteous, respectful and trustworthy
Team player: work effectively across levels and departments, cover responsibilities of others, and work holidays/weekends as needed
Highly driven: self-motivated, work with urgency, assertive and drive action
Organized with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple things at once
Effective verbal and written communicator
Ability to deal with ambiguity and limited information
Ability to remain calm in stressful and conflict situations
Able to challenge the status quo, identify opportunities (process, data) and come up with creative solutions
Champion and embrace change
Skills and Technical Expertise:
Employee safety knowledge (Knowing what you can do to keep yourself and others free from work injuries)
Employee well-being knowledge (Recognizing signs for help)
Knowledge for operating a food safety and quality management system (i.e. SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000)
Knowledge of food regulations (FDA, USDA, Export)
Sanitation knowledge (methods, process, chemicals, safety)
Product, processing and controls knowledge
Continuous improvement champion (Lean Concepts, RCA)
Financial knowledge (production variances and cost of goods sold)
Required Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Meat Science or equivalent
7 years prior human/pet food safety & quality leadership with increasing responsibility
Travel Requirements:
Same day travel within the area
Compensation and Benefits
Highly competitive compensation package includes health and dental insurance, life and AD&D insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings account, short and long-term disability, paid time off, Purpose Days off for company partner volunteer opportunities, and 401k with company match.
Our Instinct is to CHAMPION Diversity
At Instinct, we are as passionate about our people as we are about the pets we call family. We are committed to inclusion, empowerment, and respect. We believe that just like our pets, what sets us apart unleashes our greatest strengths. We thrive on the ability to not only empower people to transform the lives of pets through raw nutrition, but also to empower each other to inspire a culture that celebrates our differences. Our unique approach to pet food is what makes us who we are as a company, and our individual identities are what makes us a successful, innovative, authentic team.