Specialist Quality, Supplier Management

Colgate•Topeka, KS

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Specialist Quality, Supplier Management establishes, maintains, and continuously improves quality assurance and food safety standards across Hill’s global direct materials supply network. The role ensures raw material, ingredient, and packaging suppliers comply with Hill’s and Colgate-Palmolive Quality & Food Safety Standards, FDA/FSMA regulations, and GFSI benchmarks. As a cross-functional technical member, the Specialist facilitates supplier qualification, audits, technical risk assessments, corrective action programs, and supplier performance scorecards. The role partners with Procurement on direct-material sourcing and supplier quality risks, and works with Plant Quality, Operations, Corporate Analytical, Science & Technology, Food Safety, Regulatory Affairs, and Global Packaging to address quality issues. The Specialist also uses tools such as Google Suite, artificial intelligence, Sigma Computing, and SmartSheets to support analysis, workflow integration, and visualization. Travel of up to 25% may be required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Animal Nutrition, Quality Assurance, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
At least 2 years of progressive experience including Supplier Quality Assurance, Quality Engineering, or Food Safety Management in food, pet food, beverage, or pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Working knowledge of FDA regulations, including FSMA Preventive Controls for Human/Animal Food, GFSI schemes (SQF, BRCGS, FSSC 22000), HACCP principles, and GMPs.
Willingness to travel up to 25% as needed.

Nice To Haves

Hands-on experience conducting second-party supplier quality audits; formal auditor training or certification such as ASQ CQA or GFSI Lead Auditor.
Proficiency with ERP and Quality Management Systems, such as SAP and ETQ Reliance, and analytical tools such as Snowflake, Sigma Computing, Google Suite, and Excel.
Demonstrated skills and experience in AI tool development and use.
PCQI, ASQ Certified Quality Auditor, or Six Sigma Green Belt/Black Belt certification.
Experience in pet food processing (dry extrusion, wet/canned, freeze-dried, or fresh) or specialized animal health and nutrition ingredients.
Customer focus, ability to pivot between tasks, cross-functional influence, assertive stakeholder management, constructive conflict resolution, and data-driven decision-making under pressure.

Responsibilities

Perform and facilitate quality assessments for new supplier qualification.
Maintain the approved supplier database, SAP, and Quality Management Systems for direct materials.
Co-lead the annual risk assessment process for direct materials suppliers.
Partner with Procurement during strategic sourcing to evaluate suppliers’ technical capabilities and manage quality risks.
Design and execute annual risk-based supplier audit plans, including desktop and on-site audits against GFSI standards, FSMA, HACCP, and Hill’s specifications.
Lead post-audit follow-up, including action-plan completion and audit closure.
Establish and track supplier performance KPIs, including non-conformance and defect rates, Right-First-Time delivery, and SCAR closure times.
Coordinate quarterly quality reviews and contribute performance metrics to global supplier scorecards with Procurement.
Lead monthly ESM program status updates.
Coordinate cross-functional teams during potential material quality holds and supplier-driven rejections.
Serve as the primary escalation point for manufacturing plants experiencing raw material or packaging quality disruptions, and lead real-time risk assessments to support material disposition decisions.
Coordinate the SCAR program and lifecycle, gather information with plant Operations and Quality, partner with Procurement on SCAR initiation, and ensure rigorous root cause analysis and verification of corrective and preventive actions.
Review and approve Supplier Change Notifications involving process changes, manufacturing-site relocations, raw material substitutions, or equipment updates.
Identify systemic quality trends and drive continuous improvement programs, including Lean/Six Sigma, to improve process capability and reduce variability.
Revise audit protocols and questionnaires to assess suppliers against GFSI, FSMA, HACCP, and Hill’s Quality Standards.
Develop or update SOPs, technical guidelines, and supplier quality manuals.
Provide technical coaching and quality training to Hill’s auditors, Procurement teams, and plant receiving departments.

Benefits

Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Basic life insurance
Paid parental leave
Disability coverage
401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions, subject to eligibility requirements
Minimum of 15 vacation/PTO days for salaried employees
13 paid holidays
Paid sick leave, adjusted by role and location in accordance with local laws
Eligible salaried employees may receive discretionary bonuses, profit-sharing, and long-term incentives for executive-level roles