Food Safety Team Leader

Food Safety Team LeaderA part of Colgate-Palmolive since 1976, Hill's Pet Nutrition offers the highest-quality pet nutrition available through product lines Prescription Diet® and Science Diet®. Veterinarians worldwide recommend and feed their own pets Hill's products more than any other brand of pet food. Available in approximately 80 countries around the world, our extensive line of products includes more than 60 Prescription Diet brand pet foods and more than 50 Science Diet brand pet foods. We believe all animals should be loved and cared for during their lifetimes. That is why we are proud our pet foods can make a difference in your pet's life. A career at Hill's Pet Nutrition or Colgate-Palmolive is an excellent opportunity if you seek a global experience, constant challenge, and development opportunities in an environment that respects work/life effectiveness.Role Summary: As the Quality Food Safety Team Leader at our Clinton facility, you will lead the Food Safety team to ensure our stringent company quality standards are consistently met. You will drive the execution of the Plant Food Safety Program, oversee continuous improvement initiatives, and champion our cleaning and sanitation processes. By ensuring rigorous compliance with food safety regulations and leading critical audits, you will directly safeguard our product integrity and our mission to provide the best nutrition for pets everywhere.Responsibilities:Drive the execution, continuous improvement, and documentation of the Plant Food Safety Program, including HACCP, FSMA, CCP, FDA, and Product Release requirements.Conduct thorough investigations of Food Safety, Environmental, and Microbiology non-conformance issues utilizing the CAPA process to implement effective solutions.Oversee plant cleaning, sanitation programs, pest control, and environmental microbial sampling plans to ensure compliance with Corporate Quality SOPs.Lead internal GMP and quality system audits, while successfully assisting with and managing regulatory and external inspections (e.g., FDA, USDA, SQF, State).Develop and deliver engaging food safety training to plant operations teams and collaborate with Plant Engineers to ensure proper Sanitary Equipment Food Design for new capital projectsRequired Qualifications:Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, Microbiology, Biochemistry, or a closely related scientific field.3+ years of progressive manufacturing experience, with 1+year(s) in a food safety, compliance, or quality role within the food or pet nutrition industry.Proven experience managing cleaning and sanitation programs, HACCP, FSMA, CAPA processes, and applying knowledge of FDA/USDA regulations.Direct experience leading internal and external audits, along with prior supervisory experience demonstrating the ability to guide and mentor teams.Ability to meet physical demands, including working in extreme temperatures, bending, climbing, lifting up to 55 lbs, and wearing proper personal protective equipment.Compensation and Benefits:Salary Range $86,000.00 - $121,000.00 USD Pay is determined based on experience, qualifications, and location. Salaried employees may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, profit-sharing, and long-term incentives for Executive-level roles. Benefits: Salaried employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, paid parental leave, disability coverage, and participation in the 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions subject to eligibility requirements. Additional benefits include a minimum of 15 vacation/PTO days (hourly employees receive a minimum of 120 hours) and 13 paid holidays (vacation days are prorated based on the employee's hire date within the calendar year). Paid sick leave is adjusted based on role and location in accordance with local laws. Detailed information regarding paid sick leave entitlements will be provided to employees upon hiring and may be subject to adjustments based on changes in legislation or company policies.Our Commitment to Inclusion:Our journey begins with our people—developing strong talent with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to best serve our consumers around the world and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels a true sense of belonging. We are dedicated to ensuring that each individual can be their authentic self, is treated with respect, and is empowered by leadership to contribute meaningfully to our business. Equal Opportunity Employer Colgate is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status (United States positions), or any other characteristic protected by law. Reasonable accommodation during the application process is available for persons with disabilities. Please complete this request form should you require accommodation.