What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Manager, Total Quality position at Darden?
Job Overview
The individual in this role is responsible for developing pro-active strategies based on risk, to ensure and validate compliance to the highest standards in food safety and quality for food purchased by Darden Restaurants. This role evaluates compliance trends to establish continuous improvement plans. Provides consultation in food safety and food quality for food items at all levels of the organization to support consistent execution of culinary and beverage excellence.
Roles And Responsibilities
The individual in this role is responsible for developing pro-active strategies based on risk, to ensure and validate compliance to the highest standards in food safety and quality for food purchased by Darden Restaurants. This role evaluates compliance trends to establish continuous improvement plans. Provides consultation in food safety and food quality for food items at all levels of the organization to support consistent execution of culinary and beverage excellence.
Roles And Responsibilities
- Works with Culinary, Purchasing, and Suppliers to ensure food safety and quality considerations are integral to the supplier approval and product development process.
- Develop meaningful relationships with Suppliers focusing on continuous improvement by influencing through good communication and documenting end-result as required.
- Conducts quality checks on critical products to assess Product Specification compliance and provides immediate feedback and problem resolution based upon the findings.
- Assesses third party supplier audits in a timely manner to identify trends and determine root cause and provides immediate feedback and problem resolution based upon the findings.
- Works with Culinary, Purchasing, and Suppliers to explore product/process innovations, investigate new products, and develop process improvements that will create a strategic point of difference for Darden Restaurants.
- Lead multiple projects in a timely manner, assess and flex projects based on criticality levels.
- Be the subject matter expert for on all new or revised products/procedures, i.e., ingredients, processes and performance.
- Maintain expertise in HACCP, Food Safety, product withdrawals/recalls, and food service manufacturing/technology.
- Works with Suppliers and Operations to ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state regulations.
- Assumes a leadership role and participate in professional associations to have influence on public health issues that affect our restaurants.
- 3 years of experience in food science, food manufacturing, or food quality assurance experience.
- TRAVEL: 25%
- Bachelor’s Degree, in Food Science, or other closely related science discipline.
- Strong leadership skills.
- Ability to coach and provide direction to suppliers, operations including recommendations to internal teams.
- Capable of thinking analytically, planning strategically and setting priorities while communicating to all levels of the organization.
- Possess above average written and oral communications, facilitation and presentation skills.
- Demonstrated ability to be timely, accurate and professional in all communications.
- Display superior organization and time management skills.
- Excellent analytical and decision-making ability.
- Excellent working knowledge of computers.
- Solid knowledge of culinary and restaurant operations.
- Strong interpersonal skills, ability to listen and understand, and act as a change agent without compromising the standards.
- Proficient computer skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook)
- Master’s Degree in Meat Science, Food Science, or other closely related science discipline is preferred.
