Vice President of Food Safety & Quality chez Organic Valley

Location – This is a hybrid role, which means that you will have the flexibility to work both onsite and at a distance. You will collaborate onsite at our Cashton, WI office for 4-8 days per month, and the rest of the time you can choose to work remotely or onsite. This position also requires travel up to 25% of time.
Employee Type – Salaried  
Bonus Eligibility – Yes
Safety Sensitive – No

If a company is going to make a difference in today’s world, it’s going to have to think differently. At Organic Valley, our philosophy and decisions are based on the health and welfare of people, animals and the earth.  We’re a mission-driven cooperative, owned by family farmers, and we’ve been leaders in organic agriculture from the very beginning.  Once pioneers of organic agriculture, we’re now an established leader.  Organic is all we do.  We are driven by our mission to promote regional farm diversity and economic stability by the means of organic agricultural methods and the sale of certified organic products.

Summary of Role

This position is responsible for directing the development and implementation of sound food safety and quality policy and strategic planning that ensures the company standards and regulatory requirements for product safety, regulatory compliance, and quality expectations are met for all food products distributed and sold by Croop Cooperative.  This position will provide technical guidance on quality programs to all levels of leadership.

The scope of this role includes quality functions through the full supply chain.  This includes on-farm raw milk quality, organic certification of farms and manufacturing facilities, and quality of raw ingredients and finished goods. This role leads internal and external collaboration to ensure products meet the cooperative’s high-quality standards.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides strategic leadership and direction to ensure product integrity by establishing quality vision, structure, management systems and processes.
• Reviews and evaluates cost effectiveness, consistency, quality, accuracy, and performance to quality standards across 1400 SKUs and 70+ co-manufacturers. Acts as necessary to correct gaps.
• Active participation in negotiating contracts with all current and potential customers and partners.
• Build and maintain a culture where the quality and food safety team are viewed as a business partner and promote collaboration with internal and external customers to maintain quality and food safety standards across the supply chain.
• Communicates performance expectations, evaluates employee performance, provides timely feedback, trains, and coach employees, and recommends personnel actions for assigned staff.
• Ensures compliance with policies, safety procedures and fair employment practices.
• Handles confidential information with discretion.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

• Remain current on latest trends and best practices in the industry.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in dairy industry required.Experience in quality assurance and certification programs is highly preferred.
• Master’s degree in food science or related field required. PHD preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in leadership and people management required.
• Knowledge of Food Safety & Regulatory laws required.
• Strong interpersonal skills, communication skills and organizational skills required.
• Excellent strategic planning, decision making and trouble shooting skills are essential.
• Critical thinking and decision-making skills required; able to make effective decisions among broadly variable conditions.
• Ability to collaborate with various levels of the organization required.
• Ability to work effectively under tight deadlines and changing demands required.
• Demonstrated analytical and conceptual problem-solving ability required.
• Effective negotiation skills required.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite required.
• Able to travel up to 25% of the time.
  

Base salary range: $180,981.00 - $241,644.00 per year
This salary range is exclusive of fringe benefits. The compensation package may also include incentive compensation opportunities in the form of discretionary bonuses. If you are hired at CROPP, your final base salary compensation will be determined based on factors such as skills, education, and/or experience. Additionally, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider the internal equity of our current team members as a part of any final offer. Please keep in mind that entry-level candidates to this role should expect to be at the lower end of the salary range and hiring at the maximum of the salary range is not typical.

Benefits
We believe when our people are strong, our mission is strong. Therefore, we offer a comprehensive and holistic Total Rewards package meant to strengthen employees’ and their family's total wellbeing. Here are some of the great benefits offered: 

• Comprehensive Health Insurance - Choice of plans for you and your family, including some that can be paired with an HSA (which CROPP contributes to on your behalf)
• Supplemental insurances: we offer accidental insurance, critical illness insurance, and hospital indemnity insurance.
• Time Off – 136 hours in the 1st year of employment prorated by start date. Plus 9 paid holidays, plus one floating holiday to use at will. 
• 6 Weeks Paid Parental Leave – For all gendered partners in childbirth or adoption.
• Vision & Dental Insurance – Free annual eye exam, discounts on glasses/contacts, flexible dental network, adult ortho.
• 401k – We match 100% up to the first 3% of an employee’s contribution, and then 50% for 3.1%-5.0% of employee contributions.
• Free services at five local Neighborhood Family Clinics.
• Tuition Reimbursement – Up to $1,500 per year to support continuing higher education.
• Life Insurance - $50,000 policy funded by CROPP for each employee. Supplemental voluntary coverage available for employees, spouses, and children.
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability/AD&D Insurance - $50,000 of life insurance coverage of $50,000 of AD&D coverage funded by CROPP for each employee.
• Employee Assistance Program - Free and Confidential for employees, spouses, and dependents.
• Free onsite fitness centers available 24/7
• Free biometric screenings (cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure) and health coaching.
• Financial advisors and seminars
• Annual $360 Lifestyle Spending Account 
• Flexible Scheduling
• On-site all-organic cafeterias