Quality Specialist, Vendor Compliance

Olipop•Burlingame, CA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Supplier Quality Specialist at OLIPOP is responsible for managing and executing supplier-level food safety, traceability, and quality programs, ensuring compliance with OLIPOP quality standards. This role involves collaboration with cross-functional partners to assist with supplier onboarding, compliance management, and documentation accuracy. This role is location-based in: Burlingame, California. This role requires onsite presence 4 days per week.

Requirements

3 - 5 years of quality assurance, supplier quality, quality systems, food safety and/or related experience within the food and beverage industry.
Supplier quality experience preferred.
Experience in reviewing technical documentation, including ingredient specifications, COAs, supplier documentation and other quality systems records.
High level of proficiency in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets are required, and prior experience with Google Workspace preferred.
Good organizational skills and ability to handle managing multiple priorities and projects in a fast paced environment.
Transparent, open/honest communicator - a great listener who can work independently while keeping other team members informed.
Strong written communication and ability to provide clear status updates and recommendations.
Strong attention to detail and deadline oriented with the ability to organize assignments, set priorities, and carry out plans.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing and implementing document control processes.
Experience in using supplier compliance software, such as FoodLogiQ.

Responsibilities

Maintain supplier approval records, ingredient documentation, and compliance records to support supplier qualification, ongoing compliance, and supplier quality programs.
Partner cross-functionally with Procurement, R&D and Regulatory teams to support supplier onboarding, vendor approvals, ingredient changes and supplier quality initiatives.
Evaluate current suppliers and ingredients using risk-based assessments and implement controls, monitoring activities, and preventative measures to ensure ingredient quality, consistency, and compliance.
Monitor supplier performance and compliance metrics, including supplier documentation, service, and supply chain KPIs. Identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
Support corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives as needed.
Prepare and maintain supplier performance scorecards and support supplier performance review activities.
Conduct supplier quality investigations, including root cause analysis, corrective actions, documentation review, and follow-up activities are completed in compliance with OLIPOP quality standards.
Build and maintain effective supplier relationships through timely communication, issue resolution, and ongoing support of supplier quality programs.
Visit supplier facilities as necessary to review and verify systems and facilities meet OLIPOP quality standards.
Review ingredient specifications, Certificate of Analysis (COAs), and supporting documentation to support ingredient releases and ensure compliance with established requirements.
Maintain ingredient related documentation, such as handling matrix, hazard analysis, internal specifications.
Support ingredient shelf-life extension evaluations through documentation review, data analysis and testing.
Maintain a library of ingredient retains to support traceability, quality investigations, and compliance requirements.
Perform regular ingredient testing and evaluation activities to support supplier approvals, shelf-life evaluations, ingredient investigation and other continuous improvement initiatives.
Develop, update, and maintain SOPs, job aids, work instructions, forms, and other controlled documentation related to supplier and ingredient quality programs.
Organize and archive documents as necessary.
Review all relevant SOPs for completeness and accuracy with stakeholders on a regular basis.