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At Ferrara, Ferrero, Fox’s Burton’s, and The Fine Biscuits Company, we’re loved by people of all generations for the joy we bring—and that joy is crafted by our people. Join us and explore a whole world to discover, where your passion will find its place.

Today, Ferrara is the #1 sugar confectioner in the U.S, with global sales in more than 40 countries. Ferrara boasts a passionate team of over 9,000 employees around the world who deliver and create hundreds of iconic and beloved products.

In the U.S., more than 67 million households annually enjoy our popular brands like NERDS®, Brach’s®, Jelly Belly®, SweeTARTS®, Laffy Taffy®, and Trolli®. In Brazil, Dori has become a household name with snacking products that include brands such as Dori, Gomets, Pettiz, and Yogurte 100. And, in France, Carambar & Co have earned generations of loyal customers through the timeless appeal of iconic candy and chocolate brands such as Carambar, Lutti, Krema, Poulain, Vichy and Terry’s. A privately held company, Ferrara Group is headquartered in Chicago. Ferrara boasts a network of over 30 locations in North America, South America, Europe and Asia Pacific that includes manufacturing, distribution, sales, and R&D facilities.

Learn more at www.ferrara.com or www.linkedin.com/company/ferrara-/

Sr. Director, Manufacturing Quality

Work Location: Chicago

Due to the highly interactive and team-based nature of this role, in-person attendance is essential for: effective communication including during in-person meetings, strong supervision, real-time problem-solving, and participation in cross-functional initiatives. This role is required to be on-site at our different facilities.

Want to make an impact?

The Sr. Director of Manufacturing Quality- North America is responsible for leading manufacturing quality execution across the production network to ensure the delivery of safe, compliant, defect-free products that protect and delight consumers. This role serves as the operational quality leader responsible for translating enterprise Food Safety, Quality, and Regulatory systems into practical, sustainable factory execution.

This leader will play a critical role in building world-class quality systems that embeds quality by design, protects consumers, enables defect-free high-quality products, strengthens brand trust, eliminates cost of poor quality, and embeds prevention, discipline, data, and accountability across the manufacturing network.

The Sr. Director of Manufacturing Quality must be visible at the factories, pragmatic, and operationally grounded, with expertise in TPM and Quality Pillar systems, manufacturing operations, process controls, sanitation, and continuous improvement. This role requires the ability to partner with Sr. Site directors on coach, challenge, and elevate teams while driving measurable improvements in quality performance, operational discipline, and site culture.

This leader will partner closely with plant leadership, Sr Site Directors, to build environments centered on ownership, accountability, prevention, operational excellence, and consumer protection. The role is critical in creating manufacturing cultures that support the goal of producing products that consistently delight consumers.

Travel Requirement

50-70% travel to facilities within the network (mostly in the Chicagoland area)
Must have valid passport
Must have a vehicle

Ways you will make a difference

Manufacturing Quality Leadership

Lead manufacturing quality strategy and execution across all manufacturing facilities
Ensure safe, compliant, defect-free products through strong operational execution and process discipline
Drive standardization and sustainability of manufacturing quality programs across the network
Establish clear quality expectations, accountability, and execution standards at all sites
Maintain a strong factory presence and actively engage with site quality manager and site leadership to drive quality by design
Translate enterprise quality strategy into practical and sustainable manufacturing execution

Innovation Quality Leadership

Direct end-to-end innovation quality strategy across multiple business verticals, ensuring flawless product launches through robust governance, risk mitigation, validation, and cross-functional execution from concept to commercialization.
Establish and lead enterprise launch-readiness frameworks, aligning Intech, operations, supply chain, regulatory, and commercial teams to proactively identify risks, eliminate quality gaps, and deliver on-time, right-first time launches.
Drive a culture of launch excellence and accountability, leveraging quality metrics, stage-gate reviews, and continuous improvement practices to achieve consistent performance.

TPM & Quality Pillar Leadership

Drive loss elimination, defect reduction, center lining, root cause analysis, and process capability improvements
Partner with Factory Sites directors, and Continuous Improvement teams to strengthen operator ownership and autonomous quality systems
Coach plant quality leadership teams on TPM behaviors, quality culture, and sustainable execution practices
Ensure Quality Pillar activities are directly connected to measurable operational, quality, and consumer outcomes
Drive disciplined problem-solving methodologies and sustainable corrective action execution

Culture, Coaching & Leadership Development

Partner closely with Sr. Site Directors and plant leadership teams to elevate site food safety culture, accountability, and execution discipline
Coach and develop plant quality teams and operational leaders to strengthen technical capability, ownership, and decision-making
Drive a culture focused on prevention, urgency, transparency, operational discipline, and continuous improvement
Build environments where quality and food safety are fully integrated into daily operational behaviors and plant culture
Challenge complacency and normalize proactive identification and correction of issues

Consumer Protection & Product Excellence

Support the organization’s commitment to producing products that do not harm and consistently delight consumers
Drive reduction of consumer complaints, internal defects, rework, waste, and quality losses
Ensure operational decisions prioritize consumer safety, product integrity, and brand protection
Strengthen factory understanding of the direct connection between manufacturing execution and consumer experience
Promote quality by design principles throughout manufacturing and operational processes

Skills that will make you successful

Data, Metrics & Performance Management

Utilize data, analytics, KPIs, and trend analysis to drive decision-making and operational improvements
Develop manufacturing quality scorecards and performance visibility systems
Monitor leading and lagging indicators to proactively identify risks and performance gaps
Ensure disciplined escalation, reporting, and accountability processes across the manufacturing network
Drive data-based problem solving and continuous improvement initiatives

Food Safety, Process Controls & Operational Excellence

Ensure compliance with GMPs, HACCP, sanitation, environmental monitoring, allergen controls, preventive controls, and regulatory requirements
Drive proactive risk identification and mitigation across manufacturing operations
Ensure effective in-process monitoring, escalation, verification, and corrective action systems
Strengthen process control execution discipline across the network
Lead root cause analysis and CAPA effectiveness programs for manufacturing deviations and quality losses
Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on reducing defects, waste, rework, and cost of poor quality

Cross-Functional Partnership

Partner closely with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Procurement, Regulatory, InTech, Continuous Improvement, and Quality Systems teams
Support commercialization, network optimization, acquisitions, and operational transformation initiatives
Drive alignment between enterprise quality systems and manufacturing execution realities
Collaborate with site leadership to remove barriers and accelerate sustainable operational improvements
Support enterprise initiatives focused on operational excellence, productivity, compliance, and building capability

Experiences that will support your success

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Engineering, Microbiology, or related field required; advanced degree preferred
15+ years of progressive manufacturing quality leadership experience within food or consumer packaged goods manufacturing

Minimum 5 years in plant quality management

Strong expertise in GMPs, HACCP, sanitation, environmental monitoring, SPC, and process controls
Proven leadership experience across multi-site manufacturing networks
Strong operational acumen and ability to influence cross-functional teams
Experience driving cultural and operational transformation initiatives
Bilingual capabilities preferred (English and Spanish)

What We Offer

At Ferrara, we're proud to support our employees with comprehensive benefits that enhance health, financial wellness, and include paid time off (PTO). Eligible employees may also receive an annual bonus based on company performance. Learn more about our benefits at https://flimp.live/Ferrara-Benefits-Resource-Center

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $162,975 - $228,165 annually.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, employment decisions and opportunities at Ferrara will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital or civil union status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, military or veteran status, disability, handicap, genetic information, pregnancy (childbirth or related medical condition), or on any other basis prohibited by law. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including selection, job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training.

Nearest Major Market: Chicago