Bilingual Senior Food Technologist, Food Safety, Quality

Company Description

Since 1940, Dairy Queen has been one of the world's best known and loved brands. Based in Minneapolis, MN, International Dairy Queen Inc., (IDQ), is the parent company of American Dairy Queen Corporation. As a leading franchisor, there are more than 7,000 independently owned and operated restaurants in the U.S., Canada and more than 20 countries around the world. IDQ is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Berkshire) which is led by Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and CEO of Berkshire.

Here at IDQ, we create extraordinary Fan experiences every day and we do this through our commitment to hiring and retaining only the best in class talent. We firmly believe that our employees are the catalyst to the success of the company where their initiative, strategic thinking, and entrepreneurial spirit are recognized and rewarded. We're looking for motivated, passionate and dedicated individuals with an inherent need and ambition to go after bigger challenges.

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity available for a bilingual Senior Food Tech, FSQR located in Mexico City, Mexico. The Senior Food Technologist – FSQR is responsible for implementing and supporting food safety, quality, and regulatory programs to ensure the continuous supply of safe, consistent, and specification-compliant products for the Mexico market. This role evaluates systems and products, analyzes data, and establishes quality control procedures to maintain product integrity, value, and safety for both franchisees and consumers. The technologist manages vendor conformance, mitigates food safety risks, and supports both ongoing and new product initiatives, acting as a positive, solutions-oriented team member.

Key Accountabilities Include:

Product Quality Auditing

• Evaluates food, treat and packaging items as part of on-going scheduled product sampling and audit program.
• Reviews results and compares to product specification to ensure product wholesomeness, integrity and compliance to standards. Tests and evaluates current menu items to ensure the integrity, compliance to standards and products are to specification.
• Manages monthly QA sample requests and QA check in log.
• Support R&D Innovation Studio as needed

Supplier Onboarding and Management

• Oversees food safety, quality, and regulatory aspects of products, including vendor and product qualification, onboarding, compliance, plant inspections, and risk mitigation, with a focus on the Mexican market and regulatory environment.
• Specification creation and compliance – works with product development and vendor to establish appropriate quality and food safety specifications, reviews specification documents, creates and performs product evaluations and monitors QC data from supplier.
• Issue resolution: Monitors, manages and communicates quality and food safety issues with supervisor (complaint response, holds, withdrawals, recalls, guest incidents). Works with vendors on root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Works with trends and applies technical knowledge and skills to help solve problems, develop corrective actions for on-going supplier quality issues related to product manufacturing and quality control with supervisor.

Relationship Building and Communication

• Participates in positive cross functional (within IDQ) and external relationships (suppliers, government, industry associations, industry leaders) that maintain department strategies that align with the evolving business.
• Works effectively with franchisees by building relationships and communication.
• Identifies situations that warrant communication and promptly and effectively communicates to FSQR Director or other team members.

Programs (As assigned)

• Identifies, recommends and implements improvements to processes, including cross-functionally.
• Various projects, as assigned.

Qualifications

Education & Qualifications

• B.S. degree in Food Science or a closely related field required.
• 1-3 years of experience in food production, quality management, food safety, supply management, manufacturing, and quality systems/product audits, preferably within Mexico or Latin America.
• Demonstrated knowledge of planning, developing, monitoring, and verifying quality system programs and processes.
• Applied knowledge of safety, microbiology, HACCP/HARPC, NOM, COFEPRIS, FDA, USDA, GMP, and regulatory requirements relevant to Mexico.
• Ability to conduct quality assurance system audits and apply sound technical principles to problem-solving and project management.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and data management systems.
• Must have verbal and written proficiency in English and Spanish.

Competencies

• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to articulate technical information to diverse audiences.
• Relationship-building skills with both internal and external clients.
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple, complex projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Analytical skills for organizing, analyzing, and reporting data and conclusions.
• Initiative, accountability, and a positive, solutions-oriented approach.
• Ability to influence through logic, technical credibility, and clear communication.
• Excellent customer service orientation.

Working Conditions

• Medium work: Exerting 20–50 pounds of force occasionally, 10–25 pounds frequently, and up to 10 pounds constantly.
• Ability to taste and evaluate a broad range of food and treat items.
• Ability to work on a personal computer, in an Innovation Studio, QA/Product Development lab, and factory environments for extended periods.
• Occasional evening and weekend work as needed to meet project deadlines.
• Ability to travel up to 20%, primarily within Mexico but also within US.

Additional Information

Inclusion & Belonging

We are committed to creating a culture of inclusion and belonging for all who touch DQ. We believe in and commit to fostering a community where employees bring their authentic selves to work, and where we recruit, engage, and retain employees, franchise owners, and suppliers based on qualifications and merit. We strive to maintain an environment where everyone feels welcome.