Area Supplier Quality Assurance Leader

Roquette; Larkin Charter Township (MI); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 166,000; Full time

Job summary

Roquette, a global leader in plant-based ingredients, seeks an Area Supplier Quality Assurance Leader to manage supplier quality for Cellulose and chemical suppliers in a hybrid role based in Larkin, Michigan, with eligibility across Newark, DE, Plaquemine, LA, or other U.S. locations.

You will drive risk assessment, supplier qualification, audit planning, performance monitoring, and corrective actions to uphold Roquette’s quality standards while collaborating with Purchasing, Supply Chain,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s or Engineering degree a plus.
• 5–10 years of professional experience in Quality, Supply Chain, or Purchasing, ideally in process, food, feed, or pharmaceutical industries.
• Strong knowledge of quality standards and regulations (ICH Q7, IPEC GMP/GDP, Excipact, ISO 9001, FSSC 22000).
• Solid audit capabilities, risk-based approach, root cause analysis, and deviation management experience.
• Ability to influence and align stakeholders in a multicultural, matrix organization.
• Fluent English is required.
• Willingness to travel 50–70% of the time, including ~25 audits per year.

Responsibilities

• Define, prioritize, and monitor the annual supplier audit schedule for Cellulosics manufacturing plants.
• Act as regional Supplier QA reference for plants and stakeholders, ensuring KPI follow-up and alignment on priorities.
• Lead supplier risk assessments and determine qualification, monitoring, and control measures.
• Review supplier documentation, Quality Agreements, RFQI responses, and approve/reject qualifications.
• Plan and conduct supplier audits, issue reports, monitor CAPA closure, escalate risks.
• Contribute to supplier performance reviews, quality management reviews, and continuous improvement actions.
• Develop supplier quality culture with Purchasing, Supply Chain, and suppliers.
• Provide regular reporting on KPIs, audit progress, actions, risks.

Skills

Quality management

Auditing

Risk assessment

Stakeholder management

Root cause analysis

Deviations management

Communication

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's or Engineering degree

Job description

Roquette is a family-owned global leader in plant-based ingredients and a leading provider of pharmaceutical excipients. Want to help us make a difference? Using plant-based resources, we collaborate with our customers and partners to imagine and offer ingredients to better feed people and treat patients. Each of our ingredients responds to unique and essential needs, and they enable healthier lifestyles.

About the role

We are looking for an Area Supplier Quality Assurance Leader to support supplier quality management for Cellulose and chemical suppliers.

In this role, you will ensure that supplier quality practices comply with applicable regulations, standards, customer expectations, and Roquette requirements, while supporting continuous improvement across the supplier base.

Working closely with Purchasing, Supply Chain, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, manufacturing plants, and suppliers, you will drive risk assessment, supplier qualification, audit planning, performance monitoring, and corrective actions.

This is a hybrid role based in Larkin Michigan; Newark, Delaware; Plaquemine, Louisiana or other eligible U.S. locations.

Compensation: The current salary range for this role is estimated to be $110,000- $166,000. In addition, this position may also be eligible to earn performance-based incentive compensation. The specific compensation offered to a candidate will be influenced by a variety of factors including but not limited to skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

What you'll do:

• Define, prioritize, and monitor the annual supplier audit schedule for suppliers serving Cellulosics manufacturing plants.
• Act as the regional Supplier QA reference for plants and key stakeholders, ensuring clear communication, KPI follow-up, and alignment on supplier quality priorities.
• Lead supplier risk assessments and determine appropriate qualification, monitoring, and control measures.
• Review supplier documentation, Quality Agreements, and RFQI responses, and approve or reject supplier qualification when applicable.
• Plan and conduct supplier audits, issue reports, monitor CAPA closure, and elevate critical quality or product safety risks when needed.
• Contribute to supplier performance reviews, quality management reviews, and continuous improvement actions.
• Develop supplier quality culture by partnering with Purchasing, Supply Chain, technical experts, and suppliers.
• Provide regular reporting on KPIs, audit plan progress, category actions, risks, and priorities.
• Serve as Global SQA Specialist for Cellulose (Pulp), supporting the category quality roadmap, governance documents, supplier quality tools, and annual process reviews.

What You’ll Need:

• Bachelor’s degree minimum; Master’s or Engineering degree is a plus.
• 5 to 10 years of professional experience in Quality, Supply Chain, or Purchasing, ideally within process, food, feed, or pharmaceutical industries.
• Strong knowledge of quality standards and regulations such as ICH Q7, IPEC GMP/GDP, Excipact, ISO 9001, and FSSC 22000.
• Solid audit capabilities, risk-based approach, root cause analysis, and deviation management experience.
• Ability to influence, engage, and align stakeholders in a multicultural and matrix organization.
• Pragmatic, analytical, autonomous, and result-oriented mindset.
• Fluent English is required.
• Ability to travel 50% to 70% of the time, including a minimum of approximately 25 audits per year.

What will make you successful

You are comfortable working both strategically and operationally: defining supplier quality priorities, leading audits, managing risks, and following actions through to closure. You communicate clearly, build trust with internal and external stakeholders, and protect Roquette’s quality standards and reputation in every interaction.

Why join us?

This role offers the opportunity to contribute directly to product quality, customer satisfaction, and supplier performance across a global industrial environment. You will play a key role in strengthening supplier quality governance, developing partnerships, and supporting Roquette’s continuous improvement culture.

AAP/EEO Statement

Roquette is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. “AAP, EEO, Drug-Free Workplace”

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Roquette is proud to be a global company where you can find personal and professional growth through multiple diverse experiences. Roquette strives to create a dynamic workforce while remaining firmly committed to equal opportunity by complying with EEO laws. As we continue to grow, Roquette understands that to be successful we must always be inclusive in our approach.

To find out more about our products, values and sustainable development ambitions visit us at www.roquette.com and at www.sustainability.roquette.com

Roquette is a global leader in sustainable plant-based solutions, driving innovation and strong partnerships that are shaping the future of nutrition, health, and bioindustry. The company harnesses natural resources such as wheat, corn, seaweed, and cellulose to craft high-performance ingredients used in everyday foods, oral medications, advanced biopharmaceuticals, and a range of bio-based products. A family-owned company with over 90 years of expertise and 11,000 employees, Roquette serves clients in over 150 countries and is committed to creating lasting value for customers, patients, consumers, and society. Together, we turn the potential of nature into the essentials of life.

Discover more about Roquette here.