KAYLA NELSON
Festus,MO
Summary
To utilize my strong background in food safety regulations to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Versatile manager with background in coordinating diverse teams and managing complex projects. Skilled in strategic planning, operational improvement, and fostering collaborative environments. Demonstrated ability to enhance efficiency and productivity while maintaining high standards of quality. Successfully implemented innovative solutions that resulted in positive organizational changes.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Quality Manager
dsm-firmenich Inc
St. Louis, MO
06.2024 - Current
- Manage Quality Control and Quality Assurance teams with eight direct reports.
- Manage the department's budget and CAPEX plans.
- Take part in regional and global reviews, and provide data.
- Managed projects with key stakeholders to improve design, flow, and reduce first-time rejections and customer non-conformances.
- Analyzed and presented site quality trends and metrics to top management monthly, and drove focus in areas that lacked quality, focusing on improved trends for fiscal years.
- Lead auditor and main contact for external, internal, customer, and certification audits.
- Managed FDA and USDA requirements for the site.
- Provided technical guidance on quality control activities to support efficient operations.
- Remained calm and professional in stressful circumstances and effectively diffused tense situations.
- Investigated customer complaints regarding product quality issues and developed strategies for resolution.
- Managed internal audit program, identifying non-conformances and leading corrective action plans.
- Assigned work and monitored performance of project personnel.
Quality Assurance Lead
dsm-firmenich Inc
St. Louis, MO
01.2022 - 06.2024
- Investigate customer non-conformances to find root cause and determine corrective and preventive actions quickly to reach regional and site target metrics
- Food Safety Team lead- schedule yearly reviews with stakeholders, approved any changes that affected food safety and quality risks, and challenged areas that needed improvement
- Completed yearly risk assessments for GMPs, Allergens, Storage, and Labeling to ensure no gaps within procedure and allow audits to be scheduled on a frequency based off of risk level to allow monitoring and measuring for improvements
- Managed regional projects and taskforce on food safety and quality to align all NAM sites on cleaning procedures and validations
- Create, review, and update documents according to ISO standards, FSSC 22000 and ISO 9001
- Collect and report quality metrics for the region and create presentations to visually show trends and issues found
- Developed a complete quality training system for operations and warehouse team to provide all necessary tools and skills needed to perform to quality standards and assessment competency of employee
- Managed product specifications changes and new product introduction for the plant with industrial to ensure smooth transition of product and flavor to limit any down time
- Create and update quality, health, safety, and environmental SOPs and training for document control
Quality Assurance Coordinator
Firmenich Inc
St. Louis, MO
12.2018 - 01.2022
- Maintained and assisted QA specialist with QA programs
- Trained individuals on GMP and Quality best Practices
- Lead engagement and continuous learning activities within the site
- Pest Control and good sanitation practices
- Environmental monitoring and trends
- Works closely with regulatory and purchasing team to determine supplier specifications and non-conformances
- Run site level Organic Program to ensure products meet NOP and LPO standards
Education
Bachelor Of Human Biology -
Logan University
Chesterfield, MO01.2018
Skills
- Mass Balance
- Audits and risk assessments
- Quality processes
- Quality training
- Document control
- Quality metrics
- Corrective actions
- Customer satisfaction
- Quality management systems
- Food Protection
- Quality Management/Improvement
- Root Cause Analysis, Analytical Thinking
- Project management
- FDA and GSFI requirements
- FSSC 22000 and ISO 9001, 14001, 45001
- Organic and religious requirements
- Vendor Relations
- KPI performance
- Food manufacturing
- Communication Proficiency
- Internal audits
- Organizational and Time Management
- Post-Resolution Follow-Ups
- SAP Superuser
Certification
- PCQI- Preventive Controls Qualified Individual, Certified for GMP, HACCP and risk based preventive controls for human food regulation., 09/01/19 - Current
- Lead Auditor, SAI Global, 06/01/20
- ABS Root Cause Analysis certification, 09/01/24
- FSPCA Food Defense Awareness, 04/01/21
- LEAD Now Training, 03/01/23
Timeline
Quality Manager
dsm-firmenich Inc
06.2024 - Current
Quality Assurance Lead
dsm-firmenich Inc
01.2022 - 06.2024
Quality Assurance Coordinator
Firmenich Inc
12.2018 - 01.2022
- PCQI- Preventive Controls Qualified Individual, Certified for GMP, HACCP and risk based preventive controls for human food regulation., 09/01/19 - Current
- Lead Auditor, SAI Global, 06/01/20
- ABS Root Cause Analysis certification, 09/01/24
- FSPCA Food Defense Awareness, 04/01/21
- LEAD Now Training, 03/01/23
Bachelor Of Human Biology -
Logan University
Similar Profiles
Paula HoutenvillePaula Houtenville
Fragrance Development Director at dsm-firmenich-firmenichFragrance Development Director at dsm-firmenich-firmenich
William WildWilliam Wild
Public Affairs Lead at Royal DSM/dsm-firmenichPublic Affairs Lead at Royal DSM/dsm-firmenich
Sarah HeyburnSarah Heyburn
Pricing & Commercial Operations Manager at Dsm-firmenichPricing & Commercial Operations Manager at Dsm-firmenich