Quality Assurance Lead

Key Responsibilities

• Own the Supplier Approval Program, guiding suppliers to meet GFSI, USDA, and FDA compliance documentation.
• Audit raw material, ingredient, and packaging risks using Codex HACCP and FDA HARPC principles.
• Evaluate supplier performance, history, and food safety and quality programs.
• Promote quality awareness and ownership across the supply chain.
• Owes the Allergen Management Program, maintaining allergen matrices in the PLM system.
• Verify and validate specifications in the PLM system.
• Approve supplier documentation, including HACCP/HARPC plans, Process Authority filings, GFSI certifications, allergen control, and packaging specifications.
• Maintain supplier quality records and systems.
• Conduct quality and food safety audits of plants, suppliers, contract manufacturers, and third-party warehouses.
• Resolve food safety and quality issues at corporate, plant, and contract manufacturing levels using root cause analysis.
• Monitor emerging food safety concerns, scientific developments, industry codes, and legislation.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Plant Quality, Regulatory, R&D, Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain, Finance, and Operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, biology, chemistry, or engineering.
• 4+ years of experience in Quality, Food Safety, and/or Regulatory Compliance.
• PCQI certification and required food safety experience in GFSI and Codex HACCP methodology.
• Strong understanding of food hazards.
• Ability to travel up to 30% of the time.
• Working knowledge of FDA and USDA regulations, including cGMPs, FSMA, FSVP, etc.
• Experience with GFSI schemes (SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000) and audit procedures.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.