Quality Specialist

CORE HOURS

• Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

STARTING PAY

• $65,000 - $73,000 (Annually)

UNIVERSAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the Mission Statement of the Company by Living Our Values, Creating Unique Solutions, and Supporting Customer Success.
• Treat all co-workers, customers, and suppliers in accordance with our Company's Core Values of Respect, Integrity, Extraordinary Care, Radical Generosity, Better Every Day, and Customer Success.
• Follow all company GMPs and SOPs.

GENERAL SUMMARY

This role manages supplier quality and food safety programs, ensuring compliance with internal standards and regulatory requirements. The position oversees supplier approvals, documentation, audits, and risk assessments, while supporting new product development and system implementation. It also leads TraceGains utilization and contributes to SQF system maintenance.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Supplier Management

• Review and approve supplier documentation. Ensure documentation is complete and meets internal quality expectations and standards, including performance and physical attributes.
• Approve new suppliers, ingredients, packaging, supplies, and assess the risk of each.
• Authorize exceptional approvals of suppliers, ingredients, packaging, and supplies when necessary.
• Manage and oversee supplier complaint processes. Follow up on past due supplier complaint responses.
• Create and communicate a monthly supplier scorecard; maintain and continue to develop/improve reporting systems.
• Develop internal ingredients and packaging specifications and manage non-conformance issues.

Food Safety Assessments

• Complete hazard analyses of ingredients and packaging for food safety and HACCP plans.
• Research, assess, and complete hazard analyses of new ingredients and packaging for new product development initiatives.
• Serve as primary contact for StageGate new product reviews (Gate 2).
• Consider new product risks compared to existing food safety information, including challenge studies, potential issues, allergens, and similar.
• Manage and assess food fraud risks and mitigation strategies.

Auditing

• Lead and manage the Suter external supplier audit program.
• Identify high-priority suppliers for audits and assign auditors.
• Train internal employees in audit processes.
• Ensure audit checklists meet internal needs and are maintained and improved.
• Work with suppliers to put corrective measures in place and perform follow-up audits as needed to ensure compliance.

TraceGains

• Lead TraceGains system implementation and ongoing maintenance.
• Develop new categories and associated structures as needed.
• Maintain the number of suppliers identified who meet the company's raw material requirements as outlined in TraceGains.
• Maintain and develop supplier relationships.
• Teach suppliers Suter requirements and how to achieve them.
• Create, monitor, and improve quality metrics for TraceGains utilization. Support other departments in TraceGains metrics and use.
• Serve as subject matter expert for TraceGains internally and with suppliers.
• Manage cross-functional meetings with Sourcing and Quality to ensure successful program implementation and maintenance.
• Manage document storage within the system to minimize annual costs and appropriately archive critical information.

SQF

• Serve as an alternate SQF Practitioner for the company.
• Support successful SQF System maintenance.

Recipe, Label, Specification Approvals

• Review and approve ingredient lines and nutritional information.
• Review and approve artwork.
• Review and approve specifications (customer and Suter).
• Review and approve recipes.
• Request updated thermal processes as needed.
• The role will require approximately % domestic travel.

PERIODIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Fill in for Quality Leadership during any absences.

Requirements:

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in food science or related discipline
• Five years' experience in Food Quality Management or Food Auditing

KNOWLEDGE

• Working knowledge of food safety and quality systems.
• Working knowledge of TraceGains.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs

ABILITIES AND SKILLS

• Reasoning – Comprehend several abstract and concrete variables; use logic or reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions or approaches to problems; bring others together to negotiate a resolution to differences
• Mathematical – Add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers and perform arithmetic calculations involving fractions, decimals, and percentages
• Language Development – Ability to communicate information and ideas by speaking or writing so others will understand; ability to gather and organize information to write reports; can evaluate technical data; can effectively relay information to and/or facilitate small groups of people.
• Physical Effort – Sedentary work; exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
• Vision – Far, near, and mid-range vision, depth perception, and field of vision
• Activity – Regularly required to talk, hear, perform repetitive motions, finger dexterity; occasionally stand, walk, and reach with arms and hands

ADDITIONAL BENEFICIAL, BUT NOT REQUIRED, SKILLS

• Spanish Language – ability to read, write, or speak Spanish

THE SUTER COMPANY BENEFITS (including, but not limited to)

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life & Accident Insurance
• 401 (k) Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Vacation
• Paid Holidays
• Wellness Programs

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND ADA STATEMENT

The work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee could be exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, significant pace/pressure and moderate noise level.

This role description does not state that the above are the only duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Employees holding this position will be required to perform any other job-related duties as required.

Equal Opportunity Employer