QUALITY SPECIALIST

QUALITY SPECIALIST, Cernusco sul Naviglio

Location: Cernusco sul Naviglio, Italy

Company Description:

The PENNY store is a place where you can find fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and fresh items delivered daily to guarantee freshness and quality; where you can purchase your favorite products at affordable prices; and where each item is carefully selected and displayed on the shelves to make your shopping experience more straightforward.

PENNY Italy is the discount food chain of the REWE Group, one of the leading retail groups in Germany and Europe in the organized large-scale distribution sector. Established in Italy in 1994, it marked a significant change in the national discount sector, initiating a renewal based on the “quality assortment, brand, and low prices” formula.

Position:

We are seeking a Quality Specialist for our Italian headquarters. Reporting directly to the Product Area Coordinator within the Quality Control Department, the candidate will be responsible for:

• Ensuring the implementation of guidelines set by the Management in compliance with current regulations in both food and non-food sectors, with a focus on assigned product categories.
• Guaranteeing and ensuring the safety and quality of suppliers/products during onboarding and surveillance, especially for products under the Penny Market Italy brand, focusing on specific categories.
• Managing the supplier/product onboarding and surveillance process for their assigned categories.
• Conducting analytical performance assessments and audits at supplier facilities, especially for branded products.
• Handling non-conformities identified through self-control measures (preventive recalls, physical returns, non-physical returns) and coordinating necessary actions.
• Managing critical suppliers/products and scorecards to evaluate performance.
• Handling alerts and complaints from stores and warehouses (self-control) and customer complaints.
• Managing the alert and crisis system related to product quality.
• Collaborating in the training of company resources and developing materials on the quality management system (self-control manual, risk management, procedures, and forms).
• Assessing criteria and processes for evolving technical and regulatory standards.

The ideal candidate has a degree in a technical food-related field and at least 5-6 years of experience in a similar role within structured environments, preferably in the GDO sector. Excellent organizational skills, analytical abilities, and the capacity to interface at different levels are essential.

Knowledge of English and proficiency in the Office suite are mandatory.