Nutrition & Quality Standards Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Overview

The Job in a Nutshell:

The Nutrition and Quality Standards Specialist (NQSS) is an educational link for all crew and customers, keeping them informed about nutrition and store products, while providing the Nutritional Health Coaches (NHCs) with a professional resource for nutrition information. The NQSS also acts as the company resource on Natural Grocers dietary supplement quality control and plays an integral role supporting the quality review processes for Natural Grocers Purchasing Department .

Applications are accepted by the date below, which may be updated if the hiring timeline is extended.
08/17/2026

Responsibilities

Main Ingredients:

1. Purchasing Department responsibilities:
   1. Assist Category Managers with product quality review and research ingredients
   2. Investigate ingredient purpose and safety to create “Ingredient Guidance” documents for purchasing and the Nutrition Education Department (NED)
   3. Provide input for Natural Grocers Private label dietary supplements
      1. Research ingredients, sourcing and review formulations
      2. Data entry of Natural Grocers supplement health claims in the FDA database
   4. Research special order requests from stores to evaluate product ingredients
   5. Provide training to the Purchasing department on Natural Grocers standards
   6. Monitor product compliance for maintaining Natural Grocers’ standards
   7. Participate in Quality Standards Meetings
   8. Assist with up-dates for the Things We Won’t Carry and Why material
   9. Stay up to date on Dietary Supplement Labeling Compliance laws and guidelines
   10. Manage Natural Grocer’ database for substantiated research to support NGBP supplement health claims
2. Nutrition Education Department responsibilities
   1. New supplements product training education for NHC’s
   2. Create and maintain Crew and customer education materials (e.g., good4u crew Trainings, customer classes, nutrition coaching documents, etc.)
   3. Partner with the Video Education Training department for video trainings
   4. Conduct Crew good4u trainings at the Store Support Center (SSC)
   5. Prepare and deliver on-going education for all NHCs (e.g., monthly NHC nutrition education trainings) and assist with coordinating the NHC monthly meeting
   6. Review and provide Health Supportive Statements studies for Office Hours training
   7. Review Health Hotline articles to add to the Customer Literature Files (CLFs)
   8. Update, review and write new CLFs as needed
3. Create Natural Grocers Brand Product education for NHCs and good4u crew
4. Marketing Support
   1. Review and provide input on marketing collateral (e.g. companywide initiatives, product promotions, HHL and social media content, etc.)
5. Additional projects may be assigned on an as needed basis by the Nutrition Education Department.
   1. Writing articles for the Natural Grocers website blog
   2. Participating in recipe development and testing
   3. Researching political topics affecting the industry
   4. Creating documents for the Political Podium
   5. Other tasks as assigned

Although this is a general outline of job responsibilities all employees are expected to be “hands on” and do whatever it takes to get the job done and make the company thrive.

Qualifications

Recipe for Success:

1. Degree or certification in Nutrition or related field is required
2. Minimum 3 years research, writing and presentation skills preferred
3. Previously filled the NHC position and exceeded expectations preferred
4. Has thorough knowledge of the NGVC NHC/NED Policies and Procedures a plus
5. Has excellent organizational skills with strong attention to detail
6. Has impeccable follow-up and follow-through skills to meet company deadlines
7. Has the ability to act independently and autonomously with little supervision
8. Has the ability to prioritize multiple tasks requiring deadlines
9. Works well with interruptions and changing deadlines
10. Must be self-motivated with a high degree of personal integrity and professionalism
11. Tolerates prolonged viewing of a computer screen
12. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint

This job description is not an employment contract. It does not guarantee a job or that the above listed duties are the limit of responsibilities. The job and job description are subject to change with and without notice. Employees are required to accomplish any and all tasks assigned to them by their Manager and/or other Store Support Center manager that might not be listed in this job description.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

N = Never

O = Occasional; 1-33% of time

F = Frequent; 34-66% of time

C = Constant; 67-100% of time

Physical Requirements:

• Must have the ability to occasionally lift or carry up to 50 lbs.
• Must have the ability to occasionally push or pull up to 30 lbs.
• Must be able to constantly use the computer for data entry and use of mouse.
• Must be able to constantly sit, use fine motor manipulations, and reach outward for the duration of the work shift.
• Must be able to frequently grip, bend, twist, and turn.
• Must be able to occasionally walk, stand, squat, kneel, and reach above chest as needed.

Environmental Requirements:

• Must be able to work occasionally with cold, heat, sharp tools and equipment, noise, contact stress, dust, fumes, and congested worksite.

Here’s an overview of the benefits we offer our good4u Crew to help ensure the health and wellbeing of you and your family, now and well into the future:

All Crew Members

• Birthday Bonus Pay
• Vitamin Bucks (up to $2,080 earned as store credit annually)
• Holiday Pay for 5 Holidays – Stores Closed
• Paid Time Off (sick days and vacation) that Increases with Tenure
• Paid Nutrition Education
• good4u Crew Member Discount
• {N}power Program (customer appreciation and rewards program)
• Regular, Scheduled Pay Increases
• Advancement Opportunities and Career Development
• Health and Wellness Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employee Referral Program

Full-Time Crew Members (30+ hours/week)

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Medical Leave (through company paid short-term disability insurance)
• Company Paid Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits Including Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Long-Term Disability Insurance, Term Life Insurance
• Retirement Savings Plan (401k) with discretionary Company Match
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with Company Match

Diversity Statement

At the heart of Natural Grocers' commitment to our community and crew is this belief: All people should be empowered to experience health and wellbeing! We cannot be true to this conviction without honoring diversity and cultivating inclusion throughout every aspect of our organization.

At Natural Grocers, we honor our differences, embrace diversity, and cultivate inclusion because both individual and societal health are rooted in these principles. Our Crew is diverse not only in gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, abilities, and age but also in cultural backgrounds, thoughts, and ideas. Celebrating our diversity refreshes, expands, and shapes our perspective, energizing our mission of equitable access to health and wellness for all. We welcome everyone who would like to join us in this mission, with gratitude for the unique life experience each person brings to the table. We’re committed to nurturing an ecosystem of diversity and inclusion in which our Crew can continue to thrive.