Supplier Quality Assurance Specialist

Supplier Quality Assurance Specialist

The Supplier Quality Assurance Specialist is a member of the Quality team providing in-depth (deepening) technical knowledge and experience in primary assigned ingredient categories.

This includes ensuring compliance toward food safety, regulatory and quality procedures and standards for ingredients & suppliers.

The work is completed through risk assessments, audits and corrective action follow-ups, review/monitoring of critical information and verifying supplier adherence to defined requirements.

This role will also serve as one of the primary faces of LOL Quality to the assigned ingredient suppliers.

This is necessary in order to protect our plants, our customers, our end users and ultimately our brands.

Risk Assessment, Approval and Maintenance of Ingredient Supplier.

In this role, you will:


* Support new product development teams.


* Provide input and approve ingredient specifications from food safety and quality perspective (e.g.

ingredient hazard categories).


* Partner with Sourcing to maintain approved supplier list.


* Leads (Provide input to) development of desk review/on-site audit plans and completes activities per the plan.


* Identify, Train, and Qualify (Assist in managing) 2nd party audit firms


* Manage supplier corrective action & preventive action


* Determine (Assigns) approval status of supplier facility locations


* Manages on-going supplier location and ingredient monitoring to ensure compliance for business continuity.


* Leads (Supports) integration of new acquisitions to ensure compliance to LOL supplier quality standards and requirements.


* Manage (Utilize) Supplier Issue Tracking (SIT) system and documentation, ensure timely close out of issues, and provide feedback and reports to users and stakeholders.

FSMA Compliance:
Leads (Provides input to) development and implementation of regulatory compliance programs (e.g.

Foreign Supplier Verification Program, Bulk Feed Transportation Program, Supply Chain Preventive Control Program, Economically Motivated Adulteration).

Data Analysis & Training:
Leads Maintaining/reporting on metrics
Leads maintenance of (Maintain) audit reports, supplier risk assessments, and update the approved supplier list in a timely manner
Assist plants, sourcing, and transportation in resolving supplier issues
Analyzes data for trends to turn it into actionable information
Provide training to both internal and external partners

System Improvement:
Identify and implement system improvements (Make suggestions to improving systems/processes and participate in the improvement activities.)

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required:


* Bachelors' in Food Science, Animal Science or equivalent


* Minimum five years' experience in Quality/Food Science background.


* Experience in Food/Feed/Dairy Manufacturing desired.


* Must have great collaboration skills, with the ability to effecti...