Ben Wagner

Sr Vendor Risk Manager

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

About

Experience

  • Sr Vendor Risk Manager at Target
    Sep 2014 - Present · 11 yrs 10 mos

    - Conduct a documented food safety risk assessment on all prospective Owned Brand vendor facilities manufacturing products for Target. - Evaluate and approve product specifications for non-perishable/perishable food items - Ensure accuracy and maintain current status of all vendor manufacturing facility information in the database - Advise Test Kitchen and Owned Brand and Category Buying Teams on approval status of vendor facilities and communicate clearly any potential impact to pending projects. - Maintain monthly metrics and provide status reports on product and vendor projects. - Identify and develop a plan in partnership with vendors to reduce guest complaints. - Support food safety and quality assurance key initiatives and activities.

  • QA Manager at Kemps LLC
    Mar 2008 - Sep 2014 · 6 yrs 7 mos

    - Establish, maintain and improve Quality Compliance programs. Lead on gaining Minneapolis plant SQF certification by year end 2008. SQF Practitioner. - Develop and oversee plant quality programs assuring product quality and safety. Lead Minneapolis plant management by providing guidance for quality management system, corrective actions, trouble-shooting and preventative measures. - Lean Sigma project lead since 2009. Completed plant changeovers and sanitation project; completed project to improve new product implementation at all Kemps facilities; completed product data management project. Completed project to implement new consumer/customer contact software. - Ongoing coaching and development of quality and sanitation team. - Serve as key Customer Quality/Regulatory contact for Minneapolis facility.

  • Micro Lab Coordinator at Kerry Ingredients
    Jan 2005 - Feb 2008 · 3 yrs 2 mos

    Coordinate duties between lab personnel for timely completion. Prepare for and participate in customer audits. Complete customer supplier and quality questionnaires. Design and implement experimental work to improve cultures products. Provide training for laboratory personnel. Continue with previous duties as Quality Control Microbiologist.

  • QC Microbiologist at Quest International /Kerry Bioscience
    Dec 2001 - Jan 2005 · 3 yrs 2 mos

    Created and updated laboratory procedures. Troubleshot process anomalies. Determined QC specifications for new products. Scheduled, initiated and troubleshot culture inoculums for production. Lead ISO 9001:2000 Internal Auditor. Performed microbiological testing of live cultures, food ingredients, and environmental samples. Worked in interdepartmental teams on HACCP, ISO and other projects.

  • CSR at Community First National Bank
    Jun 1998 - Oct 2001 · 3 yrs 5 mos

    Telephone Banking Representative