The Michigan Milk Producers Association is a dairy farmer owned cooperative and dairy processor. Founded in 1916, the MMPA serves dairy farmers in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin.
MMPA maintains a strong presence within the dairy industry with strategic business relationships through a variety of channels like processing shelf-stable, value-added dairy products. MMPA has four member owned processing plants in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, including Superior Dairy and the Middlebury Cheese Company. Products made at MMPA’s plants include fluid milk, sour cream, cheese, ultra-filtered milk, cottage cheese, ice cream, butter, nonfat dry milk, cream and condensed skim milk.
Why you’ll love working here:
- Competitive salary
- Health and wellness benefits with medical coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield, including mental health benefits
- Disability insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement including 401k with employer contributions
- Personal and professional growth opportunities
- Employee appreciation events and recognition awards
- Employee wellness initiatives
- Employee feedback and suggestion forums
- Other duties as assigned.
As the Quality Systems Lead, you will be responsible for maintaining and improving the effectiveness of all Quality and Food Safety programs within the Middlebury facility. This includes oversight of SQF, FSMA, and other regulatory programs, as well as supporting continuous improvement initiatives identified by MMPA. The role ensures compliance with internal policies, customer requirements, and government regulations while promoting a culture of quality and operational excellence.
Responsibilities/Duties:
Ensure compliance /audit readiness
- Work with the plant leadership team to ensure all quality programs and systems are implemented
- Manages the plant's internal auditing program by conducting GMP and sanitation audits of operations and warehouse areas. Ensure Food Safety and Quality Systems meet or exceed Internal, 2nd and 3rd party audit requirements
- Complete audit reports, track and trend data
- Leads the Internal Quality Management Review process with the plant's staff
- Monthly quality management system review with the plant leadership team
- Leads the plant's quality Continuous Improvement efforts for quality KPI's (e.g., consumer complaint reduction, hold reduction, etc.)
- Appropriate documentation to support compliance to policies and procedures
- Act as SQF Coordinator for the Ovid Plant
- Owns the plant's Corrective/Preventive Actions (CAPA) process and tracks all plant root cause failure analyses
Leadership of Plant Laboratory
- Defines best lab practices and provides guidance and adherence to quality policies
- Manage plant laboratory to include analysis and interpretation of results Documentation
- Developing Ovid Plant procedures to comply with MMPA’s Quality Management System and associated policies
- Develops, adapts, and improves quality programs and procedures for the overall production activities of the plant including application of Quality Procedures changes
- Manages Food Safety Documents, SSOPs, HACCP plans, and other regulatory related documentation
Training
- Manages quality training for all plant personnel
- Ensure standard work through development of work documentation and training to standards
- Participates in problem solving and serves as a technical resource for Quality initiatives.
Leadership Skills
- Direct management of Lab Staff
- Ability to connect/influence local plant management and plant workforce
- Communication of ideas/technical information in a easily understandable way
- Assessment of risk and appropriate/timely communication of risk
- Function as a change agent and champion of cultural change
- Performs other duties, as assigned.
Education and Work Experience Requirement:
- BS Degree in Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry or Food Science required.
- Previous work experience preferred.
- Understanding of manufacturing processes
- Food Safety and Regulatory requirements
- HACCP certified preferred
- SQF Practitioner preferred
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each responsibility satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the responsibilities.
This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive list of responsibilities that are required of the role. Responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.
MMPA provides the opportunity for meaningful work that makes a difference in the dairy industry and in our communities. The diverse talents and perspectives of our employees help us to meet the needs of our member farms and the customers we serve.
We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States.
MMPA is committed to maintaining a safe, healthy, and productive environment for all employees as one of our top priorities. As part of our commitment to your well-being and workplace safety, all applicants are required to undergo a drug screening and background check as part of the hiring process.
We are not accepting unsolicited candidate introductions, referrals, or résumés from third-party recruiters or staffing agencies for this position.
MMPA is an equal opportunity employer.
