Director, Supplier Quality

Saputo Inc. • Milwaukee, WI

1d • $148,875 - $223,315

About The Position

At Saputo, we bring good to the table by making high-quality products, investing in our people, and supporting communities around the world. As a top 10 global dairy processor, we value contributions that matter and strive to foster an inclusive, growth-driven work environment. Ready to bring your best?
Saputo USA is seeking a Director of Supplier Quality to lead the strategic direction and execution of Supplier Quality programs for SUSA.
This role is responsible for ensuring that all suppliers of ingredients, packaging materials, and purchased finished goods meet Saputo’s high standards for quality, food safety, regulatory compliance, and customer expectations. The Position will initially lead efforts to drive a risk-based supplier quality framework, strengthen audit and approval programs for Saputo USA, and will then enable digital transformation to modernize supplier quality management for Saputo USA and Canada.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in food science, Microbiology, Engineering, Quality Management, or a related discipline; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive leadership experience in Supplier Quality, Food Safety, Quality Systems, Procurement Quality, or related disciplines within a complex, multi-site food manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated success leading enterprise supplier quality transformations and implementing risk-based supplier management programs.
• Extensive knowledge of FDA, USDA, CFIA, FSMA, GFSI-recognized standards, labeling requirements, and specialty certification programs.
• Proven experience leading digital quality system implementations and leveraging technology to improve quality, compliance, visibility, and decision-making.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to influence senior leadership, customers, suppliers, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead geographically dispersed teams and drive results through collaboration, accountability, and strategic alignment.
• Exceptional communication, change leadership, and stakeholder management skills with experience operating in highly regulated environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the North American Supplier Quality vision, strategy, and multi-year roadmap, ensuring alignment with Saputo's corporate objectives, growth priorities, and food safety commitments.
• Provide executive leadership for supplier quality programs across the United States and Canada, establishing consistent standards, governance, policies, and performance expectations throughout the supply network.
• Drive a risk-based supplier quality management framework that proactively identifies, assesses, mitigates, and monitors supplier-related quality, food safety, regulatory, business continuity, and reputational risks.
• Partner with senior leaders across Procurement, Supply Chain, Operations, Research & Development, Commercialization, Regulatory Affairs, and Quality Assurance to ensure supplier quality requirements are fully integrated across the product life cycle.
• Lead the transformation and modernization of supplier quality capabilities through the implementation of digital solutions, automation, advanced analytics, and integrated quality management technologies.
• Establish and oversee enterprise-wide supplier qualification, approval, monitoring, and performance management programs for ingredients, packaging materials, co-manufactured products, and purchased finished goods.
• Provide strategic oversight of supplier audits, assessments, certifications, and surveillance activities to ensure compliance with internal standards, customer requirements, and applicable regulatory expectations.
• Drive accountability for corrective and preventive action programs, ensuring timely resolution of supplier non-conformances and sustainable improvements in supplier performance.
• Build strategic partnerships with key suppliers to strengthen quality performance, support innovation initiatives, improve operational reliability, and create long-term value for Saputo.
• Define and monitor key supplier quality metrics, dashboards, and performance indicators, leveraging data-driven insights to influence business decisions and drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure audit readiness and regulatory compliance across the supplier network, including adherence to applicable FDA, USDA, CFIA, GFSI-recognized standards, customer requirements, and specialty certification programs.
• Serve as the executive sponsor for supplier quality management systems, ensuring effective governance of supplier documentation, specifications, certificates, compliance records, and digital quality workflows.
• Lead cross-functional efforts to support new product launches, acquisitions, network optimization initiatives, and business growth strategies by ensuring supplier capability and readiness.
• Establish best-in-class supplier quality processes, standards, and operating procedures that promote consistency, scalability, and operational excellence across North America.
• Represent supplier quality within executive leadership forums, providing strategic insights on emerging risks, industry trends, regulatory developments, and opportunities for competitive advantage.
• Influence customer confidence and business growth by ensuring supplier quality programs meet or exceed customer expectations and support Saputo's reputation for quality and food safety.
• Develop organizational capability by building, coaching, and leading high-performing supplier quality teams while fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, collaboration, and innovation.
• Lead organizational change initiatives that advance supplier quality maturity, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and support Saputo's broader transformation agenda.
• Manage supplier quality investments, priorities, and resources to maximize business value while balancing risk management, operational effectiveness, and long-term strategic objectives.

Benefits

• Development opportunities that enhance their career fulfillment
• Meaningful compensation & benefits that help them care for their families
• Opportunities to contribute to your community and enhance the lives of others through Saputo products
• Work in a smoke free environment that promotes a healthy and wellness focused lifestyle

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director