Supplier Quality Specialist

Mizkan America•Schaumburg, IL

3d•$75,000 - $95,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Supplier Quality Specialist supports supplier quality, contract manufacturing, and compliance programs to help ensure ingredient suppliers, packaging suppliers, and contract manufacturing partners meet applicable food safety, quality, regulatory, customer, and Mizkan requirements. This role is responsible for supporting supplier qualification and approval activities, maintaining supplier quality documentation and records, monitoring supplier performance, coordinating corrective action follow-up, and supporting audit readiness efforts. The Specialist, Supplier Quality works closely with Procurement, Operations, R&D, Regulatory Affairs, Supply Chain, and Plant Quality teams to support supplier compliance, commercialization activities, and supplier-related quality initiatives. The position plays a key role in maintaining supplier quality systems, ensuring accurate and timely supplier documentation, supporting compliance programs, and helping resolve supplier-related quality issues while adhering to established food safety and quality standards.

Requirements

Knowledge of food safety, supplier quality, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance principles.
Strong organizational and documentation management skills with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
Ability to analyze information and identify potential quality or compliance concerns.
Effective verbal and written communication skills.
Strong collaboration skills and ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams.
Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Quality Assurance, or a related scientific field preferred.
3-5 years of experience in food quality assurance, supplier quality, food safety, regulatory compliance, or a related quality function.
Experience reviewing supplier documentation and supporting supplier qualification and approval processes.
Working knowledge of food safety regulations, supplier compliance programs, and quality management systems.
Experience supporting audits, corrective action programs, and document control processes preferred.
Knowledge of GFSI-recognized standards such as SQF, BRCGS, and FSSC 22000 preferred.
HACCP, PCQI, SQF Practitioner, ASQ, or related certifications are a plus.

Nice To Haves

Experience with TraceGains or similar supplier management software preferred.
Experience with supplier management systems, quality management systems, or databases preferred.
Knowledge of GFSI-recognized standards such as SQF, BRCGS, and FSSC 22000 preferred.
HACCP, PCQI, SQF Practitioner, ASQ, or related certifications are a plus.

Responsibilities

Support supplier qualification, approval, and monitoring activities for ingredient suppliers, packaging suppliers, and contract manufacturing partners in accordance with established company requirements.
Coordinate supplier onboarding activities, including collection, review, and maintenance of food safety, quality, regulatory, and technical documentation.
Maintain supplier records within TraceGains and ensure required documents remain current, complete, and compliant with company standards.
Monitor supplier compliance documentation and communicate document renewal requirements to suppliers and internal stakeholders.
Maintain supplier performance scorecards, KPI tracking, and reporting tools to support supplier performance evaluations.
Maintain Mizkan's Ingredient and Packaging Master Lists and ensure approved supplier information, specifications, and related records are accurate and up to date.
Support supplier risk assessment activities and maintain associated records and documentation.
Support the Supplier Document Review Form (SDRF) and Contract Manufacturing Document Review Form (CDRF) processes for supplier onboarding, new material approvals, packaging changes, and commercialization projects.
Coordinate and track supplier documentation requirements needed to support ingredient and packaging approvals, plant trials, and product commercialization activities.
Partner with Procurement, Operations, R&D, Regulatory Affairs, Supply Chain, and Plant Quality teams to support supplier-related quality and compliance activities.
Coordinate the Raw Material Defect Report (RMDR) process, including documentation, supplier follow-up, corrective action tracking, and reporting activities.
Support investigations related to supplier quality concerns, material defects, non-conformances, traceability requests, recalls, withdrawals, and customer complaints.
Monitor supplier corrective action requests (SCARs) and CAPA activities to ensure timely responses, implementation, and closure.
Escalate supplier quality or compliance concerns to Quality leadership as appropriate.
Assist in evaluating supplier performance trends and identifying opportunities for improvement.
Prepare, maintain, and organize supplier documentation, audit evidence, risk assessments, certifications, master data, and supplier quality records.
Support audit readiness activities by ensuring supplier records and documentation are complete, organized, and readily accessible.
Assist with internal, customer, regulatory, and certification audits, including SQF, BRCGS, FSSC 22000, and FDA audits.
Coordinate supplier and contract manufacturing audit schedules and track corrective action follow-up activities.
Maintain supplier quality files in accordance with company document retention and record management requirements.
Participate in supplier quality and continuous improvement initiatives designed to strengthen compliance, quality performance, and operational effectiveness.
Provide input on opportunities to improve supplier quality processes, documentation practices, and workflow efficiency.
Participate in cross-functional meetings and support assigned project activities within established timelines.
Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned.
Perform other duties assigned that support the overall success of the team, department, or organization. This may include participating in cross-functional initiatives, contributing to process improvements, or assisting with special projects as needed.
This list is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed. This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities required for this role.