Supplier Quality Assurance Manager

BJ's Restaurants•Huntington Beach, CA

7d•$115,000 - $125,000

About The Position

At BJ’s Restaurants, we serve our award-winning craft beer, a Southern California twist on deep dish pizza, the world-renowned dessert – the Pizookie, and much more. BJ’s is a $1 billion public restaurant company and a growth concept with a winning track record of introducing new on-trend menu offerings and opening new restaurants. We offer guests a high-energy, contemporary setting to enjoy special moments with gold standard service. Now is your chance to join our talented team that delivers a differentiated menu and experience to guests across the U.S. We are looking for a Supplier Quality Assurance Manager to lead the management of our Supplier Quality Assurance program. You will ensure all purchasing categories meet quality and food safety standards and develop strong, collaborative relationships with all key suppliers. Our ideal candidate is energetic, communicative, well organized, detail-oriented, and has a sincere passion for food safety and continuous improvement.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in food science, food safety, food technology, microbiology, engineering, chemistry, or related field required. Advanced degree or certifications preferred.
5+ years of experience in supplier quality assurance, food safety, or quality management within the food industry.
5+ years of experience conducting audits, writing detailed audit reports, and interpreting and verifying corrective action responses.
Experience auditing a wide range of facilities including Meats, Dairy, Produce, Grocery, Packaging, Paper, Chemicals.
Comprehensive understanding of quality systems, food safety programs, Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), GMPs, HACCP, SQF, and BRC.
Strong knowledge of food microbiology, chemistry, and common food hazards (biological, chemical, physical, allergen).
Deep understanding of food safety regulations, laws, and best practices, including those from FDA, USDA and other state and local agencies.
Strong leadership, organizational, and planning skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present technical information to non-technical audiences.
Exceptional follow-up skills and attention to detail.
Ability to work independently with minimal oversight and make sound, risk-based judgments.
Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, with a focus on root cause analysis and continuous improvement.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and experience with quality management software or databases.
Ability to build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Comfortable working in fast-paced, dynamic environments and adapting to changing priorities.
High level of integrity, professionalism, and commitment to food safety and quality.
Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, as needed.
Ability to travel up to 50% (domestic and occasional international).
Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
Ability to stand/walk for extended periods, lift and carry up to 50 lbs., push and pull carts or equipment, grasp with fingers, reach with hands and arms, stoop, crouch, kneel, and climb stairs. Must be able to work in a variety of environments, including refrigerated and freezer spaces, production floors, and warehouse settings. Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as hairnets, beard nets, safety shoes, gloves, and lab coats may be required in certain facilities.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree or certifications preferred.
Experience with Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) audit schemes (SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000, IFS, etc.) is strongly preferred.
PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) certification preferred.
HACCP certification preferred.
Prior recall experience and knowledge of traceability systems (one-up, one-back) preferred.
Familiarity with allergen management programs and cross-contact prevention.
Experience with supplier scorecards, risk-based supplier categorization, and vendor management systems.

Responsibilities

Supplier Quality Program Management
Develop, implement, and manage all Supplier Quality Assurance programs and policies related to the purchase of raw materials (Meats, Dairy, Produce, Grocery, Packaging, and Chemicals).
Establish and maintain a supplier approval and onboarding process, including initial assessments, documentation review, and approval criteria.
Assess the risk of suppliers and ingredients and categorize the level of scrutiny for each based on hazard analysis and historical performance.
Maintain an index for every supplier, including documentation of supplier visits, third-party audits, certificates of insurance (COI), certificates of analysis (COA), allergen statements, and mandatory supplier-provided QA and food safety documentation.
Manage supplier expectations manual and ensure all suppliers are aware of and compliant with company standards.
Auditing and Compliance
Audit distributors and suppliers, including food processors, co-packers, packaging facilities, and storage/distribution facilities, using GFSI-recognized standards or company-specific audit protocols.
Review and approve supplier and distributor food safety programs, third-party audits (SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000, etc.), and related documentation.
Ensure vendor regulatory compliance with USDA, FDA, FSMA, State, and local authorities.
Stay current on new food safety regulations, industry standards, and emerging risks, and communicate changes to internal stakeholders and suppliers.
Specifications and Product Development Support
Assist in the development and maintenance of specifications for identified products, including raw materials, packaging, and finished goods.
Ensure labeling compliance for inbound ingredients by reviewing ingredient declarations, allergen statements, weight statements, and nutrition facts panels for accuracy and compliance with all labeling regulations (FDA, USDA, state-specific).
Support new product development and menu innovation by evaluating supplier capabilities and ingredient safety.
Testing, Shelf-Life, and Quality Control
Design and oversee shelf-life testing protocols for new and existing products to validate expiration dates and storage conditions.
Coordinate microbiological and chemical testing (e.g., plate counts, pathogen screening, allergen testing, nutritional analysis) with third-party labs and interpret results.
Establish hold-and-release protocols for high-risk ingredients and finished products pending lab clearance.
Incident Management and Problem Solving
Assist with recalls and traceability exercises, including mock recalls, supplier notifications, and regulatory reporting.
Oversee root cause analysis for supplier-related quality or safety incidents, including foreign objects, allergen cross-contact, microbial contamination, and specification deviations.
Provide technical support and expertise in quality-related problem solving, risk analysis, and crisis management.
Partner with the supply chain team and vendors on compliance issues to find workable, cost-effective solutions.
Documentation and Continuous Improvement
Draft, implement, and enforce department SOPs as needed to ensure consistency and compliance.
Track and trend supplier performance metrics (e.g., non-conformance rates, audit scores, corrective action closure rates) and present findings to leadership.
Lead supplier corrective action and preventive action (CAPA) processes, ensuring timely and effective resolution of issues.
Conduct supplier performance reviews and recommend changes to approved supplier lists based on performance data.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Partner with Procurement, Operations, R&D, and Risk Management to align supplier quality expectations with business goals.
Serve as the primary technical liaison between suppliers and internal teams for quality and food safety matters.
Other Duties
Perform other related duties, tasks, and projects as assigned.
Ability to travel as much as 50% (domestic and occasional international travel to supplier facilities).