Company: Wells Enterprises (a Ferrero Company)
Functional Area: Quality
The Role
The Quality Design Lead ensures FSQ is embedded across the entire product lifecycle — from early concept to industrialization and launch — by designing and continuously updating clear and actionable Product FSQ Specifications. This position supports innovation working closely with core functions such as R&D, Marketing, Legal, Packaging and all manufacturing sites. This role operates in a dynamic global environment, taking ownership of the FSQ perimeter for Ice Cream and contributing to Ferrero’s legacy portfolio as well as integration support for M&A’s.
What You’ll Do
Along the stage & gate process, this role plays a key role in ensuring that Food Safety & Quality (FSQ) requirements are fully embedded, supporting a First Time Right approach throughout the development journey.
Support all stages of the product innovation pipeline, working closely with Technical Category R&D (DTC) and other stakeholders to ensure that FSQ criteria are incorporated from the earliest phases of product design. Involvement in industrial trials and start of production will allow you to verify that safety and quality expectations are met under real world production conditions, ensuring alignment between design intent and industrial execution.
Responsible for creating and maintaining Product FSQ Specifications for the Ice Cream category, defining the rules that production plants and partners must follow to meet FSQ standards. These specifications cover the entire value chain, from raw materials and process parameters to shelf life, sensory characteristics, and finished product attributes. Drive the continuous improvement of these documents by integrating learnings from plant audits, field operations, and consumer feedback, while actively collaborating with the relevant cross functional teams.
Provide expertise when deviations from product specifications are requested and acts as a global point of contact in the event of nonconformities or incidents, supporting analysis and decision-making processes. Participates in governance discussions to ensure that FSQ perspectives are fully reflected in strategic choices.
Lead the development and management of FSQ KPIs related to innovation and the Product FSQ Innovation dashboard, ensuring clear visibility on progress and performance across projects.
#IND123
#LI-AR1
What You’ll Bring
Wells Enterprises is an EEO/AA employer M/F/Vet/Dis
Wells Enterprises, a Ferrero company, is one of the largest ice cream manufacturers in the United States and the maker of well-loved brands including Blue Bunny, Halo Top, Bomb Pop, and Blue Ribbon Classics and today Trolli, Butterfinger 100grand, Baby Ruth, Nutella and Kinder Bueno
Wells Enterprises is a 2 billion company employing 4,000 employees, across 4 production plants and 2 main hub locations, Chicago and Le Mars Guided by innovation, quality, and a people-first mindset, Wells is committed to delighting consumers and developing exceptional teams.
As part of the Ferrero Group, Wells combines its strong U.S. heritage with Ferrero’s global standards of excellence, offering a unique opportunity to grow within a dynamic, values-driven, and international environment.
At Wells, our people—and their experience—sit at the heart of our ambition. Learn more at www.wellsenterprisesinc.com
What We Offer
At Wells, we’re proud to support our employees with comprehensive benefits that enhance health, financial wellness, and include paid time off (PTO). Eligible employees may also receive an annual incentive bonus based on Company performance. Learn more about our benefits here
Headquartered in Le Mars, Iowa, Wells Enterprises, Inc. is the largest privately held ice cream manufacturer in the United States. Founded in 1913 by Fred H. Wells and run by the Wells family for generations, the company is an independent operating company of the Ferrero Group, one of the global leaders in sweet packaged foods. We produce more than 900 ice cream and frozen novelties treats. Wells produces Blue Bunny® ice cream, frozen novelties and specialty frozen desserts along with the iconic Bomb Pop® brand. So much ice cream is produced in Le Mars by Wells that the city was designated as the Ice Cream Capital of the World® by the Iowa legislature!
Blue Bunny branded items are distributed across the nation. Ice cream enthusiasts can find their favorite Blue Bunny products in grocery, convenience and club stores, on mobile vending trucks and in foodservice settings (such as educational institutions, hospitals and restaurants). The company’s corporate office and two ice cream plants are located in Le Mars. Our two other ice cream plants, one in Henderson, NV and the other in Dunkirk, NY help supply our frozen treats across the United States.
Over 4,000 production, sales, office, and support personnel make up the Wells family. With its state-of-the-art production facilities the company is cited by many industry experts as one of the most technically advanced in the industry.
