Director, Supplier Quality

SCN BestCo•Santa Cruz, CA

2d•$168,920 - $253,380•Onsite

About The Position

The Director, Supplier Quality is responsible for the strategic leadership, governance, and performance of the global Supplier Quality function at SCN BestCo. This role establishes the vision, standards, and operating model for supplier quality across all sites, ensuring compliance, risk management, and supply chain robustness. This includes managing the supplier qualification program, supplier audit planning, supplier compliance initiatives, supplier performance metrics, and regulatory readiness.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, chemistry, food science, engineering, or related field.
12 years’ professional quality or regulatory experience within the food & beverage, dietary supplement, medical device, or pharmaceutical industry.
10 years’ progressive leadership and management experience.
7 years’ professional supplier quality experience.
Prior auditing experience.
Understanding and experience with FDA regulations (e.g., CFR, cGMP, GDP), certification requirements (e.g., NSF), and risk assessment tools (e.g., FMEA).
Proficient in Microsoft Office applications and Adobe Acrobat.
Proficient in data analytics and quality systems software.
Strong leadership, communication, reporting, organization, teamwork, conflict resolution, and time-management skills.
Ability to make strategic decisions, manage risk, and influence at all levels.
Ability to adapt to changes in the work environment and manage competing demands.
Must have the ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, with internal staff and management.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers.
Must be able to analyze data, identify trends, and demonstrate practical problem solving and troubleshooting skills.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
Fluent in English.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or advanced training in regulatory, food safety, or quality management.
Quality Auditor (CQA) or Food Safety and Quality Auditor (CFSQA) certification or coursework completion.
Experience developing, optimizing and/or harmonizing a Supplier Quality Program (processes and associated electronic systems/tools), including HACCP, Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI), Preventive Controls for Human Food, and/or Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP).
Experience managing third-party labs, global suppliers, or service providers.
Bilingual in Spanish or French.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and oversee the harmonized SCN BestCo Supplier Quality Program including related processes, supplier electronic quality management system activities, and qualifying site suppliers, third party labs, and service providers across the organization as part of a cross-functional, global team.
Lead and manage quality-related supplier activities including selection, qualification, re-qualification, disqualification, risk assessment (utilizing FMEA and HACCP methods), supplier corrective action requests (SCARs), performance scorecards, supplier criticality, issue resolution, and continuous improvement.
Lead, maintain and oversee the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP), Food Safety Plan, and Food Defense Plan across sites as part of daily activities.
Lead and manage the supplier audit program, including oversight of schedules, audits, and third-party contracts/agreements.
Lead and manage supplier re-qualifications on a routine basis. Disqualify suppliers as needed.
Establish, develop, and maintain a professional quality-focused partnership with SCN BestCo suppliers including escalation of issues and quality-to-quality interactions.
Manage, review, and approve documents and changes to create and update supplier-related documentation, procedures, and records from selection through disqualification. Ensure compliance with current internal practices and regulatory changes and incorporate industry best practices.
Analyze supplier metrics and performance data for executive reporting, improvement initiatives, and strategic planning. Drive supplier performance reviews and cross-functional collaboration to meet supplier quality key performance indicators (KPIs) and improve supply chain robustness.
Lead resolution of complex supplier quality issues and high-risk SCARs, ensuring timely resolution, systemic improvement, and prevention of recurrence.
Finalize, review, and approve supplier quality agreements.
Drive the selection, implementation, and optimization of supplier quality systems and tools to ensure data integrity, visibility and scalability.
Mentor and lead peers, staff, and cross-functional team members on utilizing the Supplier Quality Program to maintain compliance, including training and competency.
Own and drive supplier quality readiness and performance during regulatory inspections, certification audits, and customer audits.
Travel (up to 50%) to perform supplier audits, qualification, re-qualification, certification, collaboration and maintain onsite presence.
Build and develop a Supplier Quality organization.
Recommend personnel actions (pay adjustments, promotions, transfers, terminations, etc.).
Conduct performance reviews and manage individual performance.
Communicate personnel actions following Human Resources (HR) and department head approval.
Ensure safety and quality standards are enforced and met.
Partner with HR to interview/screen potential new hires.
Organize training and development opportunities for direct reports.
Update processes and procedures.
Oversee team and individual employee professional development.
Manage team budget.