Innovation Director Job Listing at PSSI in North Little Rock, AR (Job ID 10341480)

Description

WHO WE ARE:

• The Leader in food-industry-related contract sanitation and food safety
• Over $1 Billion in sales with an excellent history of organic and acquisition growth
• Over 16,500 team members throughout North America
• Corporate headquarters in Kieler, Wisconsin with team members working in over 400 customer plants throughout North America

OUR VISION:

To be the leading food safety solutions company that owns the standard of health and safety for our PSSI family and brand protection for our partners

• Safety: We are committed to the health and safety of our team members and set the standard of food safety for the protection of our customers' products and brands.
• Integrity: We speak with candor, act with transparency, follow through on our commitments and abide by our principles and values.
• Team: We respect and value our team members, embrace diversity, and invest in their development through coaching and training.
• Customer Focus: We strive to exceed our internal and external customers' expectations through open communication, relationships, and continuous improvement.
• Achievement: We manage our business to provide opportunities and stability for our team members, and bring value to our customers, owners and the communities we serve.

WHO YOU ARE:

Join our dynamic team as an Innovation Director and lead the way in shaping the future of innovation! We are seeking a visionary leader to drive our research and development efforts, bringing cutting-edge solutions to the forefront of our industry. As the Innovation Director, you will lead strategic initiatives to enhance food safety standards, mitigate contamination risks, and implement innovative solutions for pathogen detection and control by spearheading cross-functional projects, leverage emerging technologies, and establish best practices to safeguard all stages of the food production and distribution process from pathogen contamination.If you are eager to push the boundaries of what is possible and ready to make a significant impact, apply now and be at the helm of innovation with us!

WHO WE ARE:

• The Leader in food-industry-related contract sanitation and food safety
• Over $1 Billion in sales with an excellent history of organic and acquisition growth
• Over 16,500 team members throughout North America
• Corporate headquarters in Atlanta, GA with SFCI business centered in North Little Rock, AR

OUR VISION:

To be the leading food safety solutions company that owns the standard of health and safety for our PSSI family and brand protection for our partners

• Safety: We are committed to the health and safety of our team members and set the standard of food safety for the protection of our customers' products and brands.
• Integrity: We speak with candor, act with transparency, follow through on our commitments and abide by our principles and values.
• Team: We respect and value our team members, embrace diversity, and invest in their development through coaching and training.
• Customer Focus: We strive to exceed our internal and external customers' expectations through open communication, relationships, and continuous improvement.
• Achievement: We manage our business to provide opportunities and stability for our team members, and bring value to our customers, owners, and the communities we serve.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

·Develop and implement a comprehensive innovation strategy to improve food safety and pathogen control across the organization. Identify opportunities for innovation and work closely with R&D, Engineering, Sales, Marketing, Customer Technical Service, and Operations teams to enhance food safety protocols.Your team is approximately 15 people and growing.A field service and support team of nearly 90 exists to drive commercialization and customer technical support.

·Technology and Process Innovation: Research and implement advanced technologies for pathogen detection, risk assessment, and contamination prevention.Build a sound intellectual property strategy that adds value to Safe Foods Chemical Innovations (“SFCI”) in all 3 phases of our innovation focus – chemistry, equipment/application, and advanced process control.Stay updated on cutting-edge advancements in food safety technologies, such as rapid microbial testing, blockchain traceability, and AI-powered quality control.

·Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local food safety regulations and industry standards (e.g., FDA, USDA, HACCP). Oversee audits, inspections, and risk assessments to identify gaps and maintain compliance.

·Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner with cross-functional teams, including Product Development, Supply Chain, Operations, and Quality Assurance, to develop and implement initiatives for pathogen control and food safety improvements.

·Continuous Improvement: Establish a culture of continuous improvement by identifying and implementing best practices for food safety management. Lead initiatives for root-cause analysis, corrective actions, and preventive measures.

·Training and Development: Drive and support training programs focused on food safety and pathogen control for team members at all levels. Foster a culture of accountability and awareness around food safety.

·Data and Reporting: Develop and maintain metrics and KPIs to track the effectiveness of food safety initiatives. Present insights and actionable recommendations to senior leadership.

·Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, research institutions, and industry partners, to stay informed on industry trends and best practices.

·Commercialization: Develop and implement an innovation program that is customer-centric.This requires close collaboration with sales and technical service teams to identify customer issues, develop executable solutions, and monetize the solutions in the marketplace.Collaboration ensures that new products are not just innovative but relevant with benefits that resonate with the targeted customers.

·Marketing: Work with marketing to help identify and communicate technical features or unique formulations that distinguish our products, creating a compelling story for marketing to share with consumers.Collaborate to translate technical information into consumer-friendly language, making it easier for marketing to communicate complex science in an engaging way.

·Testing: Advance our applications lab to assist our customers in making informed decisions to enhance their food safety programs.Perform needed validations of new food safety interventions, including evaluations of the efficacy and efficiency of existing systems and those in our innovation pipeline.Provide, as part of commercialization, customer-site evaluations / analyses of existing and new technologies.

YOUR MUST HAVES:

·Must be 18 years of age or older.

·Bachelor's degree or higher in related fields -- engineering, chemistry, biology, microbiology, etc…

·Understanding of how automation, AI, and machine learning can enhance pathogen detection, tracking, and process efficiency.

·Proficiency with statistical and analytical tools (e.g., R, Python, JMP) to support data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement.

·Ability to develop and drive long-term innovation strategies that align with the company's goals and anticipate future challenges in food safety.

·Demonstrated experience collaborating effectively with departments like Product Development, Operations, Quality, and Marketing to ensure cohesive, market-ready solutions.

·Strong people management skills, with experience building and leading high-performance, cross-functional teams focused on innovation and continuous improvement.

·Proven ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, ensuring timely completion within budget.

·Ability to translate complex scientific information into accessible, actionable insights for non-technical audiences, including customers, marketing, and regulatory bodies.

·Ability to cultivate relationships with regulatory agencies, industry experts, research institutions, and technology vendors to stay informed about new developments and best practices.

·Curiosity and drive to identify, evaluate, and implement novel solutions in food safety and pathogen control.

·Meticulous approach to safety standards, compliance, and quality, ensuring that all solutions meet the highest safety requirements.

·Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, staying responsive to evolving challenges in food safety.

WHAT WE PREFER YOU HAVE:

·A Ph.D. in Microbiology, Engineering, Chemistry or Food Science.

·Experience in chemical and/or equipment manufacturing.

·Experience in product formulation, registration of products, and patent filings

·Expertise in microbial detection methods, pathogen identification, contamination control, and emerging technologies (e.g., rapid microbial testing, PCR, NGS).

·Strong presentation and public-speaking skills, with experience in representing the company at industry conferences, seminars, and customer-facing events.

·Familiarity with emerging pathogens, contaminants, and risk factors in the food industry.

·Experience with advanced tools and methodologies, including machine learning, IoT, blockchain for traceability, and data analysis techniques for pathogen tracking.

OUR ENVIRONMENT:

This position involves work in an office and laboratory setting with travel to other SFCI and customer locations.Periodically exposed to such elements as noise, intermittent standing, walking, pushing, carrying, or lifting.

WHAT WE OFFER:

• Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance
• Basic Life Insurance
• 401k Retirement Plan
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Vacation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Training & Development Opportunities

Packers Sanitation Services, Inc. (PSSI) is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, creed, sex, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, uniform service member status, veteran status, age, genetic information, disability, or any other protected status, in accordance with all applicable federal state, and local laws. PSSI is committed to complying with the laws protecting qualified individuals with disabilities. PSSI will provide a reasonable accommodation for any known physical or mental disability of a qualified individual with a disability to the extent required by law, provided the requested accommodation does not create an undue hardship for the Company and/or does not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others in the workplace and/or to the individual.If a team member requires an accommodation, they must notify the site manager or the Corporate Human Resources Department. If an applicant requires an accommodation, they must notify the hiring manager and/or the Recruiter hiring for the position.

YOUR NEXT STEPS:

APPLY! All applications will be reviewed, and qualified candidates will be contacted to continue into the interview process.If you feel like you are a good fit for this position, APPLY! If you want to be a part of a large organization that treats you like family, APPLY NOW!