Customer Quality Service Specialist

Steuben Foods•Elma, NY

7d•$62,500 - $68,000

About The Position

Steuben Foods is seeking a Customer Quality Service Specialist to support customer quality requirements, product commercialization, and ongoing product changes within its food manufacturing operation. The position connects customers with internal teams to help establish and maintain accurate product formulations, specifications, documentation, and quality requirements. The role requires organization, attention to detail, effective communication, and the ability to manage multiple projects. The schedule is Monday through Friday, with weekends as needed. The position supports commercialization from pilot production through production trials and commercial production, while helping ensure customer and company food safety, quality, sanitation, and workplace safety requirements are followed.

Requirements

At least 5 years of experience in project management, quality assurance, customer quality, product commercialization, or a related field.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with customers and internal teams.
Excellent organizational and project-management skills.
Ability to manage multiple projects, changing priorities, and deadlines.
Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and use findings to support continuous improvement.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and reporting or presentation software.
Experience with ERP or manufacturing systems.
Ability to identify and use appropriate resources to resolve problems and keep projects moving forward.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree in Business, Science, Food Science, Quality, or a related field.
Food or beverage manufacturing experience.
Protean experience.
SAP experience.
Understanding of food manufacturing regulations, ingredients, formulations, specifications, and quality requirements.

Responsibilities

Support food safety and quality activities related to new customers, new products, and product commercialization.
Coordinate and execute customer quality requirements and support audit requirements, including SQF.
Communicate with customers by email, phone, and meetings about product formulations, specifications, commercialization projects, and requested changes.
Review and approve specification packets and coordinate approved changes with the appropriate internal departments.
Collaborate with Quality, Manufacturing, Business Development, Procurement, and other departments to prepare new products and product changes for production.
Coordinate commercialization processes and maintain clear project stages, timelines, responsibilities, and deliverables.
Identify potential roadblocks affecting customer projects and work with internal and external teams to resolve them.
Gather and analyze laboratory and product data to establish or update product specification ranges.
Prepare data summaries, trending information, and statistical analyses for internal teams and customers.
Ensure customer formulations and finished-product specifications are accurately converted and communicated for production.
Create and maintain product models, resource codes, bills of material (BOMs), quality specifications, and other product information in company ERP systems.
Support product setup and maintenance within Protean and SAP.
Create and maintain Product Engineering Records (PERs) and related commercialization documentation.
Use project management systems to track projects, tasks, deadlines, and accountability.
Maintain controlled documents and assist with updates to manufacturing and operational documentation.
Support traceability and Mock Recall exercises as required.
Assist with commercialization stage-gate activities from successful pilot production through production trials and commercial production.
Participate in customer meetings and new customer introductions as needed.
Prepare and maintain commercialization status reports, project management reports, KPI reporting, and other quality documentation.
Follow company food safety, quality, sanitation, and workplace safety requirements.
Maintain a clean and sanitary work area.
Perform other duties as assigned.