SQA Manager (Direct Material & Release), North America

About Us

We’re the original oatmilk company, founded in Sweden over 25 years ago and now growing rapidly in the U.S. Our mission is to drive change in the food system by promoting health, sustainability, and transparency—helping people live healthier lives while reducing the planet’s resource strain through oats and a significant reduction in cow’s milk consumption.

Responsibilities

• Supplier Quality Management – Direct Materials (raw material and packaging material)
  • Approve and manage direct material suppliers from a quality and food safety perspective in line with applicable regulatory and Oatly requirements
  • Ensure supplier compliance with Oatly standards, GFSI schemes, and regulatory requirements
  • Conduct supplier risk assessments, including HACCP and food safety plan reviews
  • Own supplier audits, deviation management, and CAPA follow-up
  • Drive supplier performance through KPIs and supplier development plans, in line with global strategy
• Release & Positive Release Management
  • Act as SQA release authority for externally produced products
  • Review and approve analytical results and certificates of analysis (CoAs)
  • Decide on block, release, or rejection of materials in ERP systems
  • Ensure accurate track & trace and material status in warehouses
  • Support scrapping, rework, and disposition activities
• Incident Management & Issue Resolution
  • Lead food safety and quality investigations related to direct materials
  • Coordinate root cause analysis and corrective actions with direct material suppliers handled by Oatly
  • Support deviations, complaints, and regulatory investigations
  • Provide risk-based recommendations during supply disruptions
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Work closely with Q&RA team, Procurement, Operations, Logistics, Innovation, and Site QA teams
  • Support product development and specification changes with material risk input
  • Partner with co-manufacturers and warehouses on quality and release topics
• Authority & Decision Rights
  • Authority to block or release products produced by external co-manufacturers
  • Authorized to approve and recommend the disqualification of suppliers based on quality or food safety risks, in consultation with the Global Director SQA
  • Escalate and halt material use and product release when a food safety risk is identified

Requirements

• 5+ years in food safety and quality roles within the food industry
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a food-related discipline such as Food Science, Microbiology, Biological Science, Chemistry, or Food Safety Management
• HACCP certification and FSMA PCQI certification required
• GFSI auditor training (BRCGS, SQF, or FSSC 22000) is preferred
• Continuous improvement or project management training is a plus
• Supplier quality management and audit experience
• Experience with ERP systems and material release/block processes
• Cross-functional experience within manufacturing or supply chain environments
• Strong knowledge of food safety, quality systems, and regulations
• Analytical, structured, and risk-based decision-making
• Clear communication and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Familiarity with ERP systems (preferably D365)
• Knowledge of product lifecycle management, document and deviation management systems
• Fluent in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams)
• Computer skills consistent with job functions

Ideal Qualities

We’re looking for someone who:

• Feels connected to our mission of encouraging health, sustainability, and transparency
• Is a self-starter who thrives in a culture of individual accountability and ownership
• Is ready to make an impact in a growing brand, leveraging experience to deliver results and build an outstanding company
• Has an entrepreneurial spirit, comfortable with ambiguity and energized by building something lasting
• Enjoys sharing their quirkiness and talents with coworkers

Benefits

We offer:

• Flexible vacation (take it when you need it)
• Comprehensive benefits, including pet insurance
• Paid volunteer days off throughout the year
• Free oatmilk (six packs!)
• Supportive coworkers who are rooting for each other and the company’s success

Pay

Our good faith estimate for base salary is $115,000. Compensation may include bonus, commission, or equity as applicable and will be based on factors such as geographic location, internal equity, experience, education, specialty, and training.