Supplier Quality Specialist

About the role

Mizkan America, headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois, is a subsidiary of the Mizkan Group, a global, family-owned company. The Supplier Quality Specialist supports supplier quality, contract manufacturing, and compliance programs to ensure ingredient suppliers, packaging suppliers, and contract manufacturing partners meet applicable food safety, quality, regulatory, customer, and Mizkan requirements.

Responsibilities

• Support supplier qualification, approval, and monitoring activities for ingredient suppliers, packaging suppliers, and contract manufacturing partners in accordance with established company requirements.
• Carefully coordinate supplier onboarding activities, including collection, review, and maintenance of food safety, quality, regulatory, and technical documentation.
• Maintain supplier records within TraceGains and ensure required documents remain current, complete, and compliant with company standards.
• Monitor supplier compliance documentation and communicate document renewal requirements to suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Maintain Mizkan's Ingredient and Packaging Master Lists and ensure approved supplier information, specifications, and related records are accurate and up to date.
• Support supplier risk assessment activities and maintain associated records and documentation.
• Support the Supplier Document Review Form (SDRF) and Contract Manufacturing Document Review Form (CDRF) processes for supplier onboarding, new material approvals, packaging changes, and commercialization projects.
• Coordinate and track supplier documentation requirements needed to support ingredient and packaging approvals, plant trials, and product commercialization activities.
• Partner with Procurement, Operations, R&D, Regulatory Affairs, Supply Chain, and Plant Quality teams to support supplier-related quality and compliance activities.
• Coordinate the Raw Material Defect Report (RMDR) process, including documentation, supplier follow-up, corrective action tracking, and reporting activities.
• Support investigations related to supplier quality concerns, material defects, non-conformances, traceability requests, recalls, withdrawals, and customer complaints.
• Monitor supplier corrective action requests (SCARs) and CAPA activities to ensure timely responses, implementation, and closure.
• Escalate supplier quality or compliance concerns to Quality leadership as appropriate.
• Prepare, maintain, and organize supplier documentation, audit evidence, risk assessments, certifications, master data, and supplier quality records.
• Support audit readiness activities by ensuring supplier records and documentation are complete, organized, and readily accessible.
• Assist with internal, customer, regulatory, and certification audits, including SQF, BRCGS, FSSC 22000, and FDA audits.
• Coordinate supplier and contract manufacturing audit schedules and track corrective action follow-up activities.
• Maintain supplier quality files in accordance with company document retention and record management requirements.
• Participate in supplier quality and continuous improvement initiatives designed to strengthen compliance, quality performance, and operational effectiveness.
• Provide input on opportunities to improve supplier quality processes, documentation practices, and workflow efficiency.
• Participate in cross-functional meetings and support assigned project activities within established timelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Quality Assurance, or a related scientific field preferred.
• 3-5 years of experience in food quality assurance, supplier quality, food safety, regulatory compliance, or a related quality function.
• Experience reviewing supplier documentation and supporting supplier qualification and approval processes.
• Working knowledge of food safety regulations, supplier compliance programs, and quality management systems.
• Experience supporting audits, corrective action programs, and document control processes preferred.
• Knowledge of GFSI-recognized standards such as SQF, BRCGS, and FSSC 22000 preferred.
• HACCP, PCQI, SQF Practitioner, ASQ, or related certifications are a plus.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401k Plan with Company Match of up to 4%
• Profit Sharing Program
• Wellness Program
• Education Assistance
• Paid Parental Leave
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Coverage
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Critical Illness and Accident Insurance
• Paid Time Off and Company Holidays