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Mars UK • USA-Illinois-Burr Ridge | United States of America

Food Safety Systems Senior Specialist

Employment type:  Full time
Salary:  $79,280 – $109,010 per annum
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Job Description

Job Description:

The Food Safety Systems Sr Specialist provides deep technical leadership to develop, maintain and proactively improve Mars Wrigley Quality and Food Safety programs. Under the supervision of the Site Q&FS Manager, this role provides technical expertise, consultancy and a practical food safety approach to the site manufacturing operations. This role makes complex risk-based food safety decisions that enable the reliable delivery of products that meet all external legislative requirements and all internal Q&FS standards.

Key Responsibilities

  • Leads the effective development and implementation of standards, processes, new technology/methods and drives continuous improvement of food safety management at the manufacturing site

  • Acts as a technical resource for interpretation and ongoing application of food safety standards and regulations, as they relate to manufacturing operations, including but not limited to the Global Microbiological Verification, Allergen Management, Foreign Material Management, Mold and Mycotoxin, HACCP and Food Fraud Standards

  • Acts as Food Safety Coordinator, providing governance to HACCP Food Safety plans and managing validations of CCP and OPRP preventive controls.

  • Leads the Root Cause Analysis investigation of food safety incidents and drives effective implementation of corrective and preventative actions.

  • Interprets sensitive and technical data for potential impact on product safety and provides timely recommendations for the effective resolution of food safety issues.

  • Leads the development and deployment of Food Safety training across the manufacturing site

  • Provides technical guidance and consultancy to the Food Safety Team to assure that manufacturing processes and environments are microbiologically safe for producing both new and existing products.

  • Other tasks as assigned by Q&FS Manager

Context & Scope

  • This role partners with Supply Operations and the Q&FS team to drive continual improvement of food safety programs through robust risk assessments, clear procedures and work instructions, trending and reporting and the creation and delivery of food safety training.

  • The role facilitates effective implementation of Mars and regulatory requirements through coordinating “steering team” activities to enable timely implementation into the supply pipeline

  • Responsible for providing outlining Q&FS requirements on engineering projects, developing all the Q&FS documents, SOP’s, delivering training for associates as required for the start of new lines or processes at the site and creating QFS best practices

  • Lead continuous improvement of QFS system and product quality and conformance to specification through analysis of data and evaluation of trends through use of statistical analysis

  • Builds knowledge of the company, processes and customers. Understands key business drivers and uses this understanding to accomplish own work.

  • Builds a network of cross functional partners to accomplish business objectives

Minimum Qualifications

  • BS degree in Food Science, Food Safety, Engineering, Chemistry or related technical field and internship in quality and food safety in a manufacturing environment and/ or combination of education and 5+ years demonstrated success in relevant manufacturing/quality experience

  • 2-3 years of work experience in a food manufacturing environment

  • In depth knowledge of food microbiology, food safety, manufacturing processes and food laws

  • Demonstrated leadership capabilities in leading/influencing others

Preferred Qualifications

  • 3-5 years of experience in a manufacturing site managing quality and food safety management systems responsible position related to food safety or Quality and food safety management system

  • Experience with regulatory and 3rd party audit requirements

  • Experience with practical applied microbiology in factory environments

  • Capable leader of teams and individuals with ability to motivate and engage superiors, peers, indirect associates, and global Q&FS community

  • Advanced understanding of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP's), Good Laboratory Practices (GLP's), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Systems (HACCP)

  • Knowledge of and experience with ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems and ISO 17025 general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories

The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is between the range listed below, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position will include variable pay, medical and dental benefits, participation in 401k plan, and paid time off benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an applicant receives an offer of employment.

The pay range shown is applicable to all US locations listed within the job posting:USD 79,280.00 - USD 109,010.00

Company benefits

Open to part-time employees
Open to job sharing
Open to compressed hours
Sabbaticals
Enhanced maternity leave – 26 weeks at 90% pay
Enhanced paternity leave – 26 weeks at 90% pay
24 days annual leave + bank holidays
“Pawternity” leave
Pregnancy loss leave
Bank holiday swaps
Shared parental leave
Adoption leave
Family health insurance
Pregnancy support
Neo-natal leave
Faith rooms
Meditation space
Dog friendly office
Dog friendly co-working space
Annual bonus
Employee discounts
Cinema discounts
Referral bonus
Joining bonus
Cycle to work scheme
Electric Car Salary Sacrifice
Enhanced pension match/contribution
Theme park discounts
Lunch and learns
In house training
Learning license
Studying sabbaticals
Open to part time work for some roles

Working at Mars UK

Company employees:

4,000 In the UK

Gender diversity (m:f):

57:43

Hiring in countries

Argentina

Australia

Austria

Belgium

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Bulgaria

Canada

China

Czechia

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Estonia

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Office Locations

Awards & Accreditations

1st - Most Family Friendly Company

1st - Most Family Friendly Company

Flexa awards 2026
3rd - Best Workplace Benefits

3rd - Best Workplace Benefits

Flexa awards 2026
Most loved - Large companies

Top 5 - Most loved - Large companies

Flexa awards 2026
Best Work-Life Balance

Top 10 - Best Work-Life Balance

Flexa awards 2026
1st - Most Family Friendly Company

1st - Most Family Friendly Company

Flexa awards 2025
2nd – Pet Friendly

2nd – Pet Friendly

Flexa awards 2025
Most Flexible Company

Top 5 - Most Flexible Company

Flexa awards 2025
Most Inclusive Company

Top 5 - Most Inclusive Company

Flexa awards 2025
Best Work-Life Balance

Top 10 - Best Work-Life Balance

Flexa awards 2025
Best Career Progression

Top 10 - Best Career Progression

Flexa awards 2025
Best Workplace Culture

Best Workplace Culture

Flexa awards 2025
Best Workplace Benefits

Best Workplace Benefits

Flexa awards 2025
1st – Large companies

1st – Large companies

Flexa100 2024
Consumer Goods

Consumer Goods

Industry awards 2023
3rd – Large companies

3rd – Large companies

Flexa100 2023
Retail & Ecommerce

Retail & Ecommerce

Industry awards 2022

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