Associate Manager Vendor Quality Assurance

Premier Nutrition; Emeryville (CA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Premier Nutrition is seeking an Associate Manager Vendor Quality Assurance in Emeryville, CA. You will oversee supplier approvals, risk assessments, deviation management, and quality documentation within a hybrid work setting.

The role collaborates across R&I, Regulatory, Sourcing, and external suppliers to ensure material quality and food safety. Ideal candidates have a Bachelor’s in a related field, PCQI certification, and 5+ years in quality roles with knowledge of FDA GMPs for dietary

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (Food Science, Microbiology, Engineering).
• PCQI Certification.
• Strong understanding of Quality and FDA GMPs within dietary supplements.

Responsibilities

• Lead supplier and material approvals, and risk assessments.
• Investigate non-conformances and manage deviations using QMS-Intelex.
• Maintain quality documentation and support procedure development.
• Provide Intelex training and cross-functional project support.
• Conduct supplier audits and annual performance reviews.

Skills

Quality mindset

Food safety principles

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulatory awareness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or Engineering

PCQI Certification

Tools

Intelex QMS

Job description

Position: Associate Manager Vendor Quality Assurance

Location: Emeryville, CA

Job Id: 252

# of Openings: 1

Here’s what all the hype is about…

Premier Nutrition Company (PNC) is one of the fastest-growing companies in the proactive wellness space showing clear leadership in the category of protein shakes and powders. We make the brands Premier Protein and Dymatize, and are part of our publicly traded holding company, BellRing Brands (NYSE: BRBR).

We have a simple, yet powerful, formula for our success, which we’ve been nailing since our founding in 1997. We start with an organization powered by our company purpose—Changing Lives with Good Energy. Then our purpose-driven people are given the support and autonomy to develop and grow. Next, we are super-intentional about designing a culture where everyone feels like they truly connect and belong, which is one of our five company core values. Purpose-driven, connected employees deliver amazing business results. And winning companies with remarkable people and thriving cultures attract and retain top talent, so the cycle becomes self-reinforcing or what we call our regenerative culture.

We don’t mind sharing our formula, since we believe the world would be a better place if more workplaces treated adults like adults and gave them the platform to do the best work of their lives—alongside some truly amazing colleagues. Why don’t more companies do this? It takes deep-in-your-bones conviction to your people, products, and purpose to pull it off. It also takes resisting the urge to try to control people, and instead, trusting them to make the right decisions. The result of our vibrant culture speaks for itself: We were certified as a Great Place to Work™ for the 9 th year-running in 2025. And we currently rank #8 on Fortune Magazine’s Best Workplaces in our category and were in the top 12 for each of the last 7 years.

We have a long list of ways we take care of our people, but here are some crowd-pleasers that our employees often say they love most: Year-round ½ day Fridays, in-office massages, free lunches & snacks, dogs in the office, culture of belonging celebrations, engaging in-office events like bring your kids to work day, 6% 401k match after 1 year, generous paid family leave regardless of gender, all positions bonus-eligible, company-wide volunteer days, company-matched charitable donations, no employee handbook, no dress code, coaching conversations instead of performance reviews, and walking meetings.

PNC seeks individuals who will flourish in this type of work environment and will add to our culture and help build this high-growth company for the next phase in our amazing journey. Does this sound like you? Then read on…

We believe in the power of mindset, and specifically what we call the Challenger Mindset. Do you take smart, bold risks, display relentless hunger, and see yourself as a builder? We’re looking for individuals who choose action over analysis paralysis—those who start before they feel completely ready, make calculated moves based on the best information available, and build momentum through decisive action rather than perfect planning. You should have an insatiable drive that keeps you agile and forward-thinking, always challenging assumptions, seeking new opportunities, and focusing on long-term impact over short-term wins. Above all, you’re a builder—someone who transforms the status quo, finds smarter, simpler, faster ways to get things done, and inspires others to do the same. #LI-HYBRID

The role you’re interested in…

This role serves as a key liaison across R&I, Quality Assurance, Sourcing, Regulatory, and external suppliers to ensure raw materials, packaging, and vendors meet quality and food safety requirements. You will lead supplier and material approvals, complete risk assessments, investigate non‑conformances, and manage deviations and corrective actions through QMS‑Intelex. The role also oversees quality document control, supports procedure development and cross‑functional projects, and provides Intelex training and guidance to teams across PNC. Through supplier audits, annual performance reviews, and ongoing quality systems administration, you will help strengthen compliance and maintain a reliable, high‑performing supplier network. This role reports to the Internal Compliance Manager.

The work environment…

So, what’s it like to work here? If you’re based in the greater Bay Area, you’ll walk into our Emeryville office each Tuesday morning and start the in‑person portion of our hybrid work week at our weekly all‑company meeting and find close to 200 of your colleagues, some sitting with their dogs, talking excitedly through the week ahead and watching a newer teammate tell their personal life and career journey followed by a quick update on any hot topics that might be relevant to the week ahead.

We are a dynamic, HYBRID workplace, with an expectation that all employees come into the office Tuesday through Thursday. We are very intentional about connecting in person for things like innovation, impromptu collaboration, having respectful challenges to get to better decisions, leadership role‑modeling, and culture building. Great work cultures are built on stories about what great looks like in practice, and great stories during virtual meetings just don’t happen. The expected pay scale for this role is $110k to $120k, which may vary based on relevant experience, qualifications, geographic area (if applicable), and internal equity for the role.

At the beginning of 2026, we moved into our massive modern 133,000 square foot headquarters in Emeryville, California, complete with spacious personal workspaces, gym with rock‑climbing wall, a café, free onsite parking, tons of greenery, and many transportation options.

You’re excited about this opportunity because your time will be filled with…

Raw Material and Supplier Approvals: 50% of your time

• Responsible for approving new ingredients, packaging and suppliers used in the finished product.
• Completing Risk assessments of raw materials and suppliers on QMS -Intelex.
• Responsible for requesting the required documentation to complete risk assessments.
• Create Deviation statements for temporary and full approvals. Responsible for communicating the statements with relevant internal and external teams.
• Investigate and close out supplier non‑conformances by completing relevant CAPA forms on QMS-Intelex.
• Support cross functional projects by representing vendor quality team.
• Provide QMS-Intelex training and guidance for all teams within PNC.
• Conduct onsite and/ or virtual audits of raw material suppliers.
• Conduct supplier annual performance, risk assessments, and approval reviews to ensure GFSI and other 3rd party certification are achieved.
• Build new applications and maintain existing applications in QMS-Intelex.

Document Control/Quality Systems: 30% of your time

• Responsible for the maintenance and administration of quality document control system, Intelex.
• Assure quality documentation is kept up to date, accurate, and organized.
• Assure appropriate documentation is uploaded into quality systems/databases and available for use.
• Assist with writing and revisions of quality procedures.
• Support cross-functional raw material projects with Regulatory.

The daily stuff that everyone does but few quantify: 20% of your time

• Attending meetings and presentations
• Participating in company‑wide activities and events galore
• Impromptu conversations with colleagues
• Participate in tasting and sensory panels as needed.
• Administrivia like email, calendaring, expense reports, and other non-value-added work

What are we looking for?

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field (Food Science, Microbiology, Engineering).
• PCQI Certification

Experience:

• 5+ years of experience in Quality, with experience in document control and component/supplier management.
• Performed supplier and ingredient risk assessment by reviewing documentation and identifying hazards
• Investigated supplier non‑conformances
• Used a quality management system - preferred.

Skills and mindset:

• Strong understanding of Quality and Food Safety principles, process control and statistical analysis.
• Extensive knowledge of FDA current Good Manufacturing Practices and the Code of Federal Regulations as applicable for dietary supplements.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, and an ability to apply to investigations and corrective actions.
• Demonstrated knowledge of inspection and control methods, techniques and documentation.
• Ability to travel up to 50%.

What the work is like:

• You’ll spend a significant portion of your day working on a computer, reviewing data, creating reports, communicating with partners, and joining virtual and in‑person meetings
• This role requires frequent and ongoing use of a keyboard, mouse, phone, and other office technology
• You’ll regularly navigate multiple systems at once, analyze detailed information, and shift between competing priorities and deadlines
• You’ll communicate regularly with team members, cross‑functional partners, external partners, and leaders through meetings, Outlook based email, messaging platforms such as Microsoft Teams, and presentations
• Occasional movement around the office may be required for meetings, collaboration, and team activities
• May occasionally lift or move office materials weighing up to 10 pounds

So, if after reading through this long list you’re thinking—I’m not sure I meet 100% of these requirements, should I still apply? YES—if you embody a growth mindset, see challenges as opportunities to develop, and find innovative ways to get the real work that matters done, you sound like our kind of candidate!

The 5 capabilities or mindsets most relevant to this role:

• Be a builder by creating for the future
• Challenge ideas respectfully by sharing your real opinion with conviction; disagree in a way people feel heard
• Bring people along by providing context and cascading information; share openly and inclusively
• Play to win—exceed stretch goals and have fun doing it along the way
• Connect courageously through empathetic, authentic personal connections with warmth and care

You will thrive here and may just do the best work of your life if…

• You want to be an integral part of shaping and nurturing an amazing work culture
• You like trying out novel minimum viable product people-related ideas
• You can be flexible in your approach to people challenges and abandon past practices if they don’t make sense or would lead to a poor outcome
• You are comfortable being natural, casual, open, and even a bit playful at work
• You can be friendly, vulnerable, and self-deprecating in one moment, and deal with a challenging, delicate people-related matter as a professional in the next
• You can do periods of focused, deep work on projects that drive the needle

This may not be your ideal next career move if…

• You like order, hierarchy, command and control management
• Dealing with ambiguity or experimentation are not your jam
• You try to resolve challenging interpersonal situations over email or instant messaging
• You enjoy writing stuffy job descriptions
• You like managing from behind your computer and demonstrating excellence through email
• You tend to chase whatever shiny object presents itself during the day even if non‑strategic

Here’s the deal with our not‑so‑standard, um…standard interview process because we know you are the curious type, which is why you’re still reading this…

• Quick 30 min phone chat with a high energy member of our Talent Acquisition team to do a quick overview of your background and answer any burning questions you have
• Team interviews are kept to a minimum to foster a more efficient, candidate-friendly process (too many interviewers yields little value and drags out the process for you—and who wants that, right?):
  • A short series of in-person or video interviews in a 1:1 setting; these are usually with the hiring manager, one or two other team members, and a person from another team to get broader perspectives (note: we don’t do panel interviews because they don’t give interviewers a chance to ask you unique questions, and we assign interviewers different roles so we’re probing different capabilities)
• A case study or job task to simulate what you’d actually be doing in the role might be included (since your job is not actually to be interviewed for a living, why is that the thing companies rely on so much?) Yes, there will be a small panel for this one so you don’t have to do it more than once, and yes, they might ask you some kind yet probing questions at the end after the raucous applause stops.
• Once your interview concludes, the team will meet for an in-depth consultative process to ensure we are hiring the right person for the right job. Interviewers must come in with a strong yes or no vote beforehand to avoid groupthink with supporting reasons. The collective thoughts on your candidacy will be discussed in an environment of safety to challenge ideas respectfully, debate. and be open to all important qualifications of the candidates. A trained, disinterested bias blocker will be present to help mitigate bias so the team can make a sound hiring decision. The moment of truth arrives when the hiring manager makes the big decision. If you nailed the interviews and the case study was brilliant, guess what? The offer is all yours! And the ball is in your court. Will you accept? We sure hope so, because this place is the real deal, and don’t just believe us—just ask the 91% of our people who said this is a great place to work in our most recent employee survey.

We strive to create an equitable and inclusive environment to contribute to the success of our organization. Premier Nutrition provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, status as a covered veteran and any other category protected under applicable federal, state, provincial and local laws