Material Quality Assurance Specialist

Mead Johnson Nijmegen; Nijmegen; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 vacation days

13 ADV days

Pension plan

Year-end bonus

Collective health insurance

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Mead Johnson Nijmegen is seeking a Material Quality Assurance Specialist to be the local expert for raw and packaging material quality at our Nijmegen site. You will ensure materials meet food safety, quality and regulatory requirements.

This role combines technical quality expertise with supplier quality management and cross‑functional collaboration across Procurement, Production, Supply Chain and Regulatory Affairs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Engineering, Packaging Technology, Quality Management or a related discipline.
• Experience in Quality Assurance, Supplier Quality, Quality Control, Food Safety or material quality management.
• Experience within regulated manufacturing environments (food, dairy, pharmaceutical, consumer goods).
• Knowledge of HACCP, food safety systems and risk-based quality management.
• Proficiency in English; Dutch is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary point of contact for raw and packaging material quality at the Nijmegen site.
• Support qualification and implementation of new raw materials and packaging materials.
• Manage material specifications, testing requirements and quality master data.
• Assess material changes and coordinate change control processes.
• Lead investigations and CAPA for deviations.
• Follow up on supplier corrective actions and drive improvements.
• Monitor supplier and material performance through data analysis, trend reviews and risk assessments.
• Define sampling and testing strategies to balance compliance, quality, efficiency and cost.
• Collaborate with Procurement, Production, Supply Chain, Quality, Regulatory Affairs and external suppliers.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce quality incidents and accelerate release.

Skills

Quality Assurance

Supplier Quality

Quality Control

Food Safety

Material Quality Management

HACCP

Risk-based Quality Management

Communication Skills

Stakeholder Management

English Proficiency

Dutch Language (advantage)

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science/related discipline

Job description

Are you ready for a new step in your career?

Mead Johnson Nutrition is a long-standing multinational brand specializing in infant and child nutrition. Our company vision is to become the world's leading provider of scientifically backed child nutrition and specialized food products and services. At Mead Johnson Nutrition, we are deeply committed to creating nutritional brands and products that give babies and children the best start in life. With over 450 employees, our Nijmegen factory produces super-premium child nutrition for the largest market in the world, Greater China. Quality, reliability, innovation, and ethics are core values at Mead Johnson.

What will you do?

As Material Quality Assurance Specialist, you will be the local expert for raw and packaging material quality at our Nijmegen manufacturing site. You will work closely with suppliers and internal stakeholders to ensure materials consistently meet food safety, quality and regulatory requirements.

Your responsibilities include:

• Acting as the primary point of contact for all raw and packaging material quality-related topics at the Nijmegen site.
• Supporting the qualification and implementation of new raw materials and packaging materials.
• Managing material specifications, testing requirements and quality master data.
• Assessing material changes and coordinating implementation through structured change control processes.
• Leading investigations and resolution of raw and packaging material deviations.
• Following up on supplier corrective actions and driving sustainable quality improvements.
• Monitoring supplier and material performance through data analysis, trend reviews and risk assessments.
• Defining and optimizing sampling and testing strategies to balance compliance, quality, efficiency and cost.
• Collaborating with Procurement, Production, Supply Chain, Quality, Regulatory Affairs and external suppliers to maintain the highest material standards.
• Driving continuous improvement initiatives aimed at reducing quality incidents, improving material performance and accelerating release processes.

The role combines technical expertise, supplier quality management, food safety and stakeholder engagement, making it ideal for professionals who enjoy solving complex quality challenges across the supply chain.

Why this role is exciting

Quality does not start on the production line. It starts with the materials that enter the factory.

As Material Quality Assurance Specialist, you will influence supplier quality, material performance and food safety across the entire value chain. You will work at the intersection of Quality, Supply Chain, Procurement and Manufacturing, helping to ensure that every ingredient and packaging component supports the production of safe, high-quality nutrition products.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Become the site expert for raw and packaging material quality.
• Work with international suppliers and cross-functional teams.
• Drive supplier performance improvements and quality excellence.
• Use data, risk assessments and technical expertise to make informed decisions.
• Lead investigations and improvement projects with a visible impact on site performance.
• Contribute directly to food safety, regulatory compliance and product quality.

Who are you?

You are a quality professional who combines technical knowledge with a practical and structured approach. You enjoy working with data, managing stakeholders and solving issues at their root cause.

You bring:

• A Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Engineering, Packaging Technology, Quality Management or a related discipline.
• Experience in Quality Assurance, Supplier Quality, Quality Control, Food Safety or material quality management.
• Experience within food, dairy, pharmaceutical, consumer goods or other regulated manufacturing environments.
• Knowledge of HACCP, food safety systems and risk-based quality management.
• Familiarity with quality standards such as FSSC 22000, ISO 9001, BRC and/or IFS.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Experience with deviation management, root cause analysis and CAPA processes.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• A proactive mindset and the ability to work effectively across multiple functions.
• Professional communication skills in English. Dutch is considered an advantage.

Whether you are an ambitious quality specialist looking to deepen your expertise or a seasoned professional ready to influence supplier quality performance, we would like to hear from you.

What do we offer?

An inspiring and innovative work environment where you can develop your career and sharpen your skills in a motivated and professional team. A fulltime contract with excellent working conditions and a competitive salary of €3.771- € 5.875, depending on knowledge and experience. Mead Johnson has a 38-hour working week with 25 vacation days and 13 ADV days. We also offer you a good pension plan, a year-end bonus, collective health insurance and opportunities for professional development.

Applying for a VOG may be part of the recruitment process.