Quality Assurance Lead

Corporate Quality Lead ensures suppliers and contract manufacturers meet rigorous food safety and quality standards. The role oversees supplier approval, allergen management, and audit processes to support safe, high‑quality raw materials, ingredients, and packaging for the organization. Key Responsibilities: Own the Supplier Approval Program, guiding suppliers to meet GFSI, USDA, and FDA compliance documentation. Assess raw material, ingredient, and packaging risks using Codex HACCP and FDA HARPC principles. Evaluate supplier performance, history, and food safety and quality programs. Promote quality awareness and ownership across the supply chain. Own the Allergen Management Program, maintaining allergen matrices in the PLM system. Verify and validate specifications in the PLM system. Approve supplier documentation, including HACCP/HARPC plans, Process Authority filings, GFSI certifications, allergen control, and packaging specifications. Maintain supplier quality records and systems. Conduct quality and food safety audits of plants, suppliers, contract manufacturers, and third‑party warehouses. Resolve food safety and quality issues at corporate, plant, and contract manufacturing levels using root cause analysis. Monitor emerging food safety concerns, scientific developments, industry codes, and legislation. Collaborate cross‑functionally with Plant Quality, Regulatory, R&D, Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain, Finance, and Operations. Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in food science, biology, chemistry, or engineering. 4+ years of experience in Quality, Food Safety, and/or Regulatory Compliance. PCQI certification and required food safety experience in GFSI and Codex HACCP methodology. Strong understanding of food hazards. Ability to travel up to 30% of the time. Working knowledge of FDA and USDA regulations, including cGMPs, FSMA, FSVP, etc. Experience with GFSI schemes (SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000) and audit procedures. #J-18808-Ljbffr Provide