Senior Quality & Food Safety Site Program Leader

Are you ready fora new beginning?

We need your talent, knowledge and dedication to better our world with biology.

Our purpose points the way

In Novonesis, we know that solutions rooted in biology can help solve humanity's biggest challenges. Since we began more than a century ago, this has been our guide. It's how we've gotten so far. And it's how we'll impact the future. Now, more than ever, the world needs change. And with biosolutions, the possibilities for transformation are endless.

We're here to better our world with biology.

Join us as our new Senior Quality & Food Safety Program Leader

We are seeking a Senior Quality & Food Safety Program Leader with expertise in dairy manufacturing (or similar) to support food safety and quality oversight within a complex industrial biotechnology production environment. This role is critical to ensuring safe, compliant, and high-quality ingredient release to our dairy customers while serving as a hands-on partner to production. The ideal candidate combines strong FDA food regulatory knowledge, practical manufacturing experience, and the ability to translate food safety requirements into operational excellence on the plant floor.

In this role you'll make an impact by:

• Support PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) decision making for Human Food, maintaining and continuously improving the Food Safety Plan in accordance with FSMA requirements.

• Provide oversight and governance for FSSC 22000 (or other GFSI-recognized scheme) and Quality Management Systems.

• Support product release problem solving and day to day improvements for dietary ingredients and food ingredients, ensuring compliance with customer specifications, regulatory standards, and internal quality criteria.

• Partner directly with production teams to ensure GMP adherence, hygienic design, sanitation effectiveness, allergen control, and environmental monitoring.

• Provide regulatory guidance related to FDA food regulations, dairy-specific compliance, labeling, and ingredient requirements.

• Lead and support internal audits, third-party audits, and customer inspections.

• Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions for deviations, complaints, and non-conformances.

• Support risk assessments, change management, and validation/verification activities within a biotechnology manufacturing setting.

• Coach and mentor operations personnel to strengthen food safety culture and quality ownership.

To succeed you must hold:

• Minimum 10 years of relevant manufacturing experience in the dairy industry (ingredients, cultures, enzymes, powders, or related processing).

• Certified PCQI for Human Food.

• Working knowledge and audit experience with: FSSC 22000 or other GFSI-recognized scheme (e.g., SQF, BRC)

• Strong understanding of: FSMA Preventive Controls, GMPs and hygienic zoning in food facilities, Environmental monitoring and sanitation programs, Product release and specification management

• Experience operating within an industrial food production biotechnology environment.

• Demonstrated ability to work hands-on with production teams while maintaining regulatory and quality rigor.

• Strong problem-solving skills with proven experience in root cause analysis and CAPA management.

• Bachelor's degree in food science, Microbiology, Dairy Science, Biotechnology, Engineering or related field required.

Leadership Profile:

• Confident presence on the manufacturing floor - comfortable in PPE and close to the process.

• Able to translate regulatory requirements into practical, sustainable production controls.

• Balanced mindset: risk-based, business-aware, and quality-driven.

• Strong communicator who can engage operators, engineers, regulatory stakeholders, and customers alike.

Location: Madison, WI (On-site)

Application deadline: March 17, 2026

Expected salary range: $100,296 - $137,907

Could our purpose be yours? Then apply today!

At Novonesis we commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants. We recommend you not to attach a cover letter to your application. Instead, please include a few sentences in your resume/CV about why you are applying. To ensure a fair recruitment process, please refrain from adding a photo in your resume/CV.

Novonesis is dedicated to fostering a unique community by embracing and respecting differences. We make all employment decisions based on business needs, ensuring that every individual can thrive, regardless of identity or background such as ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status.

Want to learn more?
Learn more about Novonesis, our purpose, and your career opportunities at novonesis.com

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