Supplier Quality & Regulatory Specialist

WATERSHED FOODS LLC•Gridley, IL

4d•$70,000 - $80,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Supplier Quality & Regulatory Specialist ensures all ingredients, packaging, and contact materials meet strict regulatory and quality standards. This role directly manages the vendor compliance program to satisfy quality and regulatory requirements through GFSI schemes, customer, and other regulatory agencies (like FDA). This position will review ingredient documentation, be able to perform risk assessments on ingredients and approve items based upon food safety and food quality requirements.

Requirements

BS degree (Food Science/Food Technology/Nutrition preferred) or related technical field, or 5+ years food manufacturing regulatory affairs experience in a GFSI certified facility working with suppliers and raw ingredients.
FSP, HACCP, SQF, and Internal Auditor certifications, training, or willing to be certified within 6 months of hire
Direct experience managing supplier quality management software, ERP systems, Trace Gains, etc. or developing platforms to ensure compliance with ingredients and vendor food safety.
Strong knowledge of and experience with quality management systems and FDA/GFSI requirements for food manufactures
Knowledge of quality tools, quality trend reporting, regulatory and compliance guidelines and ability to build dashboards and management systems
Skilled at building and continuously improving quality compliance programs particularly for suppliers and raw ingredients
Adept at working in a fast-paced organization that is growing and changing
Organized and able to advance multiple projects at one time
Strong in written communication and reporting with high attention to technical detail when reviewing complex laboratory and regulatory documents.
Attentive to details and committed to accuracy
Highly proficient using MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and ERP systems
Experience with good manufacturing principles (GMP)
Committed to modeling and preserving the key components of Watershed Foods culture (Humility, Trust, Service, Five-Way Win, Strategy, Stewardship, Teamwork, Innovation, Development, Excellence)

Responsibilities

Evaluate vendor documentation, by requesting and reviewing a variety of documentation (including but not limited to risk assessments, third party audits, certificates of analysis, allergen statements, etc.) to determine food safety and quality
Maintain approved supplier register, by keeping an accurate, updated database of all certified raw materials and suppliers/vendors
Assess materials risks by conducting supporting vulnerability assessments for food fraud, intentional adulteration, and foreign material contamination
Assist in managing non-conformance by documenting vendor deviations, providing information on corrective actions/preventive actions, track resolutions and develop/build scorecards for vendors
Work cross-functionally with other departments to enforce food safety principles and practices for the manufacturing facility for incoming ingredients and suppliers as well as providing knowledge and insight into the risk of utilizing new or existing ingredients
Maintain current knowledge of existing and emerging quality regulations, international standards, consensus standards, and guidance documents. Interpret rules or rule changes and recommend or initiate changes to existing company procedures and policies in response to changes in industry regulations or standards
Maintain centralized document management for ingredients and suppliers
Enforce FSMA compliance by verifying supplier verification activities align with Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (as needed) and Supply Chain applied controls
Ensure the supplier approval program aligns with current food safety and quality codes practices and principles
As needed, support external audits and serve as the primary subject matter expert for supplier compliance during regulatory or third-party audits
Partner with Procurement, Supply Chain, and RD to review and clear ingredients and vendors prior to commercial purchasing
Assist Quality teams with incoming inspection protocols or additional testing requirements passed upon supplier risk levels
Lead and participate in external audits as needed for new, existing, and at-risk suppliers
In the absence of this position, the VP of Quality or designated personnel serves as back-up