Job Description

Provide DAIRY SCIENCE technical and scientific leadership for product development and quality support functions to assure safety and quality of Kroger Corporate Brand products for Kroger Dairy Business Unit. Monitor the quality of Corporate Brand products and ensure Kroger Dairy manufacturing plants and outside suppliers develop and commercialize products according to the company's food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance requirements. Demonstrate the company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety.

• Lead technical aspects of DAIRY product development, product approval, and quality improvement processes
• Partner to select raw material, finished product, and packaging suppliers that best achieve quality and cost requirements for Dairy New Product Development
• Knowledge of standard Dairy Processing for key Dairy Categories: fluid milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream, cheese, etc.
• Knowledge of standard Dairy Processing unit operation(s) for pasteurization, homogenization, aseptic, hot fill, ESL, etc.
• Work with Corporate Brands to approve procured products and the plants that make Kroger labeled products (KLP)
• Maintain proficiency in all aspects of food labeling to ensure all packaging meets legal requirements
• Monitor quality of procured products, address quality issues and work with recall coordinator to initiate product recalls if necessary
• Work with the Corporate Food Technology (CFT) sensory group to organize panels
• Lead technicians in properly planning and executing cuttings, audits, and lab development trial work
• Prepare and maintain all necessary materials, formulas, and product specification documents
• Analyze customer comments and resolve issues with manufacturing plants and outside suppliers
• Lead the response to customer comment trends and prioritize product quality opportunities
• Partner with Corporate Brands and Retail teams to lead product quality issues to resolution
• Partner with vendors and Corporate Brands to monitor changes in targets
• Travel to plants, vendors, and industry locations for execution of essential job duties
• Follow established programs, policies and practices to produce safe, quality foods that meet regulatory and company requirements
• Support the development, implementation, maintenance, and ongoing improvement of the SQF 2000 Systems
• Supervise and coach direct reports in the performance of their duties; complete performance reviews and provide feedback to direct reports
• Accountable to the Kroger Manufacturing Food Safety and Quality Principles
• Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation

Minimum

• Bachelor's degree in food science technology, dairy or bakery science, food microbiology or a bachelor’s degree with adequate industry experience
• 5+ years of experience in DAIRY product development
• Strong critical thinking skills
• Strong attention to detail, with a high degree of accuracy and precision
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Proven excellence in problem solving and cross-functional project planning/execution
• Ability to support successful new or innovative product launches in a rapidly changing environment
• Strong knowledge of key regulations associated with product development and quality assurance

Desired

• 6+ years of experience in quality assurance or product development
• Plant experience in quality assurance, technical service and/or production
• Advanced knowledge in a specialized area such as food microbiology, refrigerated foods, USDA regulations, specialty ingredients, or supplement regulations