Laboratory Excellence Sr. Auditor

Description

Ready for more than just a job? Build a career with purpose. At Lactalis in the USA, we're committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive-whether you're just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed.

As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family-owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we're proud to produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together.

In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani Italian cheeses and ricotta, President specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone's cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond cheddar, and Parmalat milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi's, Stonyfield Organic, Brown Cow, Oui, Yoplait, Go-Gurt, :ratio, Green Mountain Creamery, and Mountain High, along with a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun, Gopi, and Arz.

At Lactalis, we live by our core values-Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone's unique background and ideas are valued.

Even if you don't meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy.

From your PASSION to ours

Lactalis American Group, part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Laboratory Excellence Sr. Auditor based in Buffalo, New York. As a Laboratory Excellence Sr. Auditor, the role will carry out responsibilities such as but not limited to satisfy the training needs of Lactalis USA Labs, as well as assuming responsibility for the auditing of all Lactalis USA Labs (12 relay labs + 8 auditing).

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

• Coordinate travel to all USA labs, report of their compliance against the Lactalis testing expectations (SOPs, reproducibility, etc.). Create a force of proposal for improvement and follow up.
• As a Lactalis laboratory accredited auditor, you will plan, organize and perform lab audits for all internal and external labs used by Lactalis in USA, follow up on all corrective actions noted during auditing, make proposals for acceptance (or not) of new external labs (chemistry and micro), based on audit results and compliance within Lactalis protocols.
• Responsibility of "Lab relay" for the USA (that includes plants laboratories, such as LAG, LUSY, Karoun, and LHD); travel to all laboratories in the US to bring testing methods according to the Lactalis standards. Will organize bi-weekly teams meetings with each lab, following on corrective actions and updates on progress
• Responsibility of the integration of any new labs, as Lactalis pursue new acquisitions, as they will need to be transitioned into Lactalis Lab procedures and protocols.
• Manage the Lactalis Cecalait verification system with all laboratories, helping to troubleshoot when out of compliance
• Contribute to ongoing meetings such as : Monthly Teams Meeting with Groupe Lactalis (France), Quarterly meetings with each division Quality leader about lab progress, Quarterly meetings with each division VP Quality.
• Provide recommendations for new alternative test methods, thus improving lab efficiencies
• Maintain communications with Groupe Lactalis: reports and KPIs to DQG in Laval, attend annual group Lactalis seminars for Laboratory and R&D updates and incorporate them into US Lab practices

Requirements

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

Work Conditions

• Travel is required up to 75% monthly.
• Extended hours may be necessary depending on the project needs.
• To fulfill these responsibilities, tools such as a computer, phone or, and / or allowance(s) may be provided.
• To fulfill these responsibilities, a cell phone is required.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential duties and responsibilities.
• This position requires physical presence in the office / plant environment, in accordance with the guidelines of the hybrid work policy.
• Demonstrate commitment to a safe working environment that promotes the health and well-being of all employees and that will further contribute to the Company's overall performance and success.

Education

• 5+ years Management experience required
• Lab auditing experience required
• Minimum of 10 years relevant previous analytical laboratory experience in a regulated industry required.

Certifications and Specific Knowledge

• Thorough knowledge of principles of Food analysis required.
• Strong laboratory skills (Chemistry and Microbiology)
• Strong Mathematics knowledge including stoichiometry and statistics.
• Strong communication skills to communicate direction and new methodology to lab personal
• Strong Computer skills with a working knowledge of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for report writing and presentations.
• Attend periodic training/ seminars pertaining to ISO methods, AOAC International methods, BAM methods

Competencies

• Mastery of the chemistry of dairy products
• Capacity to audit strategies in term of Hygiene, Safety, Risks and Environment or Laboratory and to analyze, elaborate and present the results and the associated action plans (teams of investigation)
• Master statistics logics necessary to manage metrology, the follow-up of the allegiances of the methods and the validation of the methods of routine versus references
• Ability to develop and implement policies and procedures to investigate and resolve non-compliant quality issues.

At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities. Further, any division of the Company that is an Affirmative Action Employer will comply with all related legal obligations