Employee Recognition Program Specialist

Founded over 35 years ago, First Quality is a family-owned company that has grown from a small business in McElhattan, Pennsylvania into a group of companies, employing over 5,000 team members, while maintaining our family values and entrepreneurial spirit. With corporate offices in New York and Pennsylvania and 8 manufacturing campuses across the U.S. and Canada, the companies within the First Quality group produce high-quality personal care and household products for large retailers and healthcare organizations. Our personal care and household product portfolio includes baby diapers, wipes, feminine pads, paper towels, bath tissue, adult incontinence products, laundry detergents, fabric finishers, and dishwash solutions. In addition, we manufacture certain raw materials and components used in the manufacturing of these products, including flexible print and packaging solutions. Guided by our values of humility, unity, and integrity, we leverage advanced technology and innovation to drive growth and create new opportunities. At First Quality, you’ll find a collaborative environment focused on continuous learning, professional development, and our mission to Make Things Better®. We are seeking an Employee Recognition Program Specialist and the role will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies and programs designed to recognize the milestones, contributions, and achievements of First Quality’s Team Members. The role is also responsible for building a culture of appreciation at First Quality, ensuring team members feel genuinely valued while extending that same spirit of care into the communities the company serves. This role partners cross-functionally to design impactful tools and initiatives that resonate across the organization. This individual will be responsible for the end-to-end management of branded merchandise — from vendor relationships and contract negotiation to budget oversight and brand integrity — so that every touchpoint reflects First Quality's identity. Additionally, this role leads First Quality's charitable giving strategy, coordinating large-scale product donations and employee fundraising initiatives so the organization's community impact is as intentional and well-organized as its internal recognition efforts. This is a high-impact role that requires a self-motivated professional who can hit the ground running and deliver results quickly. Principal Accountabilities/ Responsibilities:Design and implement a technology platform to streamline and automate recognition, tracking milestones, anniversaries, and recognition historyPartner with leaders across the organization to build recognition programs and events that are meaningful, inclusive, and aligned with company cultureCollaborate with senior leadership, HR, and Communications to ensure engagement messaging resonates across operations and non-operations audiences, facilitating cross-functional committees to standardize best practicesDevelop recognition program policies and procedures with HR that balance consistency and flexibility across the organizationOwn the full lifecycle of branded merchandise, including vendor selection, inventory management, curation, pricing, and purchase ordersBuild and negotiate key vendor relationships and contracts to secure competitive pricing through volume discounts and long-term partnershipsProvide creative direction on merchandise design and trend-spotting to ensure all branded items reflect company visual identityLead Human Resource’s charitable giving strategy, serving as the primary point of contact for large-scale donation requests and enterprise-wide community partnershipsCoordinate large-scale, cross-divisional product donations, ensuring proper approvals and alignment with brand and philanthropic goalsPlan and execute employee fundraising campaigns, managing logistics, budgets, and vendor relationshipsAnalyze recognition, merchandise, and giving program data to identify trends and opportunities, developing reports and dashboards to track impactConduct ongoing benchmarking across all program areas to ensure they remain competitive, cost-efficient, and best in class Qualifications/education and experience requirements:Bachelor's degree preferred, or equivalent work experience4+ years of experience in rewards and recognition program management, employee engagement, or a related HR/communications functionDemonstrated experience building or significantly contributing to recognition programs from the ground upProven vendor management experience, including contract negotiation, pricing discussions, and relationship building — with a track record of securing favorable termsExperience managing branded merchandise programs, including knowledge of swag ordering processes and brand complianceFamiliarity with recognition platforms or digital tools used to manage and automate employee programsProficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, with strong Excel and PowerPoint skills; ability to analyze data and translate insights into clear presentationsStrong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities independentlyExcellent communication skills with the ability to present program updates and insights to a variety of audiences Skills/Competencies:Exceptional writing, editing, proofreading, and research skills.Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and business stakeholders.Self-motivated and able to work with short deadlines and competing demands.Strong accountability and completion of tasks without close supervision.Embraces an entrepreneurial mindset with a willingness to explore new ideas, the tenacity to drive to execution, and flexibility to take on different roles and duties as required.Open to candid feedback and brings initiative, humility and a strong desire to learn and grow in a fast-paced environment. What We Offer YouWe believe that by continuously improving the quality of our benefits, we can help to raise the quality of life for our team members and their families. At First Quality you will receive:Competitive base salary and bonus opportunitiesPaid time off (three-week minimum)Medical, dental and vision starting day one401(k) with employer matchPaid parental leaveChild and family care assistance (dependent care FSA with employer match up to $3750)Bundle of joy benefit (years’ worth of free diapers to all team members with a new baby)Tuition assistanceWellness program with savings of up to $4,000 per year on insurance premiums...and more!