Senior Manager, Quality

Job Overview:

At Keurig Dr Pepper, the Regional Quality Manager is responsible for leading Quality, Food Safety, Regulatory Compliance, Commercialization, and Co-Manufacturing Quality programs across a network of KDP manufacturing facilities and contract manufacturing partners. This role serves as the primary corporate quality representative supporting manufacturing operations, supplier and co-manufacturer management, onboarding of new manufacturing partners, and continuous improvement initiatives.

The position works cross-functionally with Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, R&D, Regulatory Affairs, Engineering, Commercialization, and Manufacturing partners to ensure the delivery of safe, compliant, and high-quality products while supporting business growth and innovation. The Regional Quality Manager provides technical leadership, risk management expertise, and organizational capability development across multiple product categories and manufacturing technologies.

Quality, Food Safety & Regulatory Leadership

• Lead implementation and execution of Quality and Food Safety programs across assigned manufacturing and co-manufacturing locations.

• Ensure compliance with company policies, FDA regulations, FSMA requirements, GMPs, HACCP programs, GFSI standards, and customer requirements.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on defect and waste reduction, compliance, consumer satisfaction, and operational excellence.

• Lead quality incident management, root cause analysis, corrective actions, audits, regulatory inspections, and consumer complaint investigations.

• Conduct risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies to protect consumers, brands, and business performance.

Manufacturing

• Lead qualification, onboarding, commissioning, and ongoing management of assigned contract manufacturing partners.

• Conduct facility assessments, capability reviews, gap analyses, and readiness evaluations.

• Serve as the primary technical liaison for all facilities during onboarding, startup activities, and on-going steady state operaations

• Coordinate formula transfers, process validation, quality requirements, specifications, and documentation.

• Drive closure of identified technical, food safety, and compliance gaps before commercialization.

• Support supplier qualification, ingredient approval, packaging qualification, and quality system verification activities.

• Maintain comprehensive manufacturer profiles, risk assessments, and performance scorecards.

Commercialization & Technical Services

• Support new product launches, formula changes, packaging changes, supplier transitions, and business growth initiatives.

• Lead technical readiness reviews and commercialization risk assessments.

• Coordinate startup trials, commissioning activities, and first-production evaluations.

• Partner with R&D, Operations, Engineering, Procurement, and Regulatory Affairs to ensure successful execution of innovation projects.

• Provide technical expertise during troubleshooting, process optimization, and manufacturing improvement initiatives.

Quality Systems & Continuous Improvement

• Drive effective utilization of Quality Management Systems, data analytics, and digital quality tools.

• Monitor and analyze KPI performance, consumer complaints, audit results, and manufacturing trends.

• Support implementation of network quality strategies and digital transformation initiatives.

• Lead CAPA, RCCA, and continuous improvement programs across manufacturing and co-manufacturing locations.

• Promote standardization and simplification of quality processes across the network.

Organizational Leadership

• Coach, mentor, and develop site quality leaders and technical professionals.

• Build organizational capability through training, development planning, and succession management.

• Lead cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders without direct authority.

• Foster a culture of accountability, inclusion, continuous improvement, and consumer focus.

• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on quality, food safety, compliance, and business risk matters.

Total Rewards:

• Salary Range: $130,700 - $175,000

• 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

Requirements:

Required

• Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Engineering, Biology, Nutrition, or a related technical discipline.

• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in Quality, Food Safety, Manufacturing, Technical Services, Commercialization, or Supply Chain roles.

• Experience supporting multiple manufacturing facilities and/or contract manufacturing partners.

• Demonstrated knowledge of Quality Systems, Food Safety programs, regulatory compliance, risk management, and continuous improvement principles.

• Strong project management, problem-solving, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

• Experience leading cross-functional teams and influencing organizational change.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred

• Beverage manufacturing experience.

• Experience managing co-manufacturers, contract manufacturers, or supplier quality programs.

• Experience supporting commercialization and new product introductions.

• Lean Six Sigma certification.

• Experience utilizing enterprise quality management systems and digital quality tools.

• Experience supporting NSF-certified manufacturing operations and certification programs.

• Experience managing dietary supplements, vitamins, minerals, nutraceuticals, functional ingredients, and wellness products.

• Experience supporting product claims review, claims substantiation, and label compliance programs.

• Experience with ingredient qualification, supplier verification, and regulatory compliance for nutritional products.

• Experience supporting dairy, protein, sports nutrition, meal replacement, and functional beverage categories.

• Experience managing quality systems for powder manufacturing, dry blending, and nutritional powder operations.

Technical Expertise

Experience in one or more of the following manufacturing technologies is preferred:

Beverage Technologies

• Hot Fill

• Aseptic Processing

• Tunnel Pasteurization

• Retort Processing

• Carbonated Beverages

• Juice and Functional Beverages

Nutritional & Supplement Technologies

• Powder Blending

• Dry Ingredient Handling

• Protein Powders

• Meal Replacement Products

• Dietary Supplements

• Vitamin and Mineral Fortification

• Functional Ingredients

• Sports Nutrition Products

Quality & Compliance Systems

• FSMA

• HACCP

• GMP

• GFSI Programs

• NSF Certification Programs

• Supplier Quality Systems

• CAPA/RCCA Programs

• Quality Management Systems (QMS)

Travel Requirements

• Ability to travel approximately 50%-70% within the US

• Travel includes manufacturing facilities, co-manufacturing partners, supplier sites, audits, assessments, onboarding activities, commercialization projects, commissioning support, and business meetings.

• Must be available to support urgent business needs including quality incidents, investigations, startup activities, and regulatory events when necessary.

Leadership Expectations

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• Strong people leadership and talent development capabilities.

• Strategic thinking and business acumen.

• Excellent communication and executive presence.

• Ability to influence through collaboration and partnership.

• Strong risk assessment and decision-making skills.

• Consumer-first and quality-first mindset.

• Ability to lead organizational change and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Technical credibility across food, beverage, nutritional, supplement, dairy, protein, and co-manufacturing environments.

• Proven capability to build teams, develop talent, and drive a culture of accountability and operational excellence

Company Overview:

Keurig Dr Pepper (Nasdaq: KDP) is a leading beverage company with more than 150 owned, licensed and partner brands that meet a wide range of needs and occasions. Our North American refreshment beverage business holds leadership positions across carbonated soft drinks, water, juice and mixers with a portfolio of iconic brands such as Dr Pepper®, Canada Dry®, Mott's®, A&W®, Peñafiel®, GHOST®, 7UP®, Snapple®, Clamato® and Core Hydration®. Our global coffee business spans more than 100 markets and includes the leading Keurig® single-serve brewing system in the U.S. and Canada, along with powerhouse brands such as Peet's, L'OR and Jacobs, and other regional coffee leaders. Our more than 50,000 employees aim to enhance the experience of every beverage and coffee occasion while making a positive impact for people, communities and the planet. ?

We strive to be an?employer of choice, providing a culture and opportunities that empower our team to grow and develop. We offer robust benefits to support your health and wellness as well as your personal and financial well-being. We also provide employee programs designed to enhance your professional growth and development, while ensuring you feel valued, inspired and appreciated at work.?

Whatever your area of expertise, at KDP you can be a part of a team that's proud of its brands, partnerships, innovation and growth. Will you join us??

Keurig Dr Pepper is an equal opportunity employer and recruits qualified applicants and advances in employment its employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability or association with a person with a disability, medical condition, genetic information, ethnic or national origin, marital status, veteran status, or any other status protected by law

A.I. Disclosure:

KDP uses artificial intelligence to assist with initial resume screening and candidate matching. This technology helps us efficiently identify candidates whose qualifications align with our open roles. AI does not make hiring decisions; all decisions throughout the hiring process are made by talent acquisition team members. If you prefer not to have your application processed using artificial intelligence, you may opt out by emailing your resume and qualifications directly to View email address on click.appcast.io in lieu of clicking Apply. Please include the job title and location or Job ID # in the email subject line in order for your email application to be considered.

Keurig Dr Pepper is an equal opportunity employer and affirmatively seeks diversity in its workforce. Keurig Dr Pepper recruits qualified applicants and advances in employment its employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability or association with a person with a disability, medical condition, genetic information, ethnic or national origin, marital status, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.