Area Supplier Quality Assurance Leader

Roquette Group; Michigan; On-site; USD 110,000 - 166,000; Full time

Job summary

Roquette Group in the United States seeks an Area Supplier Quality Assurance Leader to oversee supplier quality for Cellulose and chemical suppliers, ensuring compliance with Roquette standards and regulatory requirements while driving continuous improvement.

This hybrid role based in Larkin, Michigan or other eligible US locations involves collaboration across Purchasing, Supply Chain, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, and plants, focusing on audits, CAPA, and supplier performance to strengthen

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree minimum; Master’s or Engineering degree is a plus.
• 5–10 years in Quality, Supply Chain, or Purchasing in process, food, feed, or pharma.
• Strong knowledge of ICH Q7, IPEC GMP/GDP, Excipact, ISO 9001, FSSC 22000.
• Solid audit capabilities, risk-based approach, root cause analysis, deviation management.
• Fluent English and ability to travel 50–70% with ~25 audits/year.

Responsibilities

• Define annual supplier audit schedule for Cellulosics suppliers.
• Act as regional QA reference for plants and stakeholders; monitor KPIs.
• Lead supplier risk assessments and determine qualification/monitoring measures.
• Review supplier documentation, QA agreements, RFQI responses; approve/reject qualifications.
• Plan/ conduct audits, issue reports, monitor CAPA closure and risks.
• Contribute to supplier performance reviews and continuous improvement.
• Develop supplier quality culture with Purchasing, Supply Chain and suppliers.
• Provide regular KPI/audit progress reports and risk prioritization.
• Serve as Global SQA Specialist for Cellulose (Pulp) category governance.

Skills

Audit leadership

Risk assessment

Stakeholder engagement

Quality systems

Root cause analysis

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's or Engineering degree

Job description

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 escape 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.