Hybrid Technical & Quality Leader – Plant-Based Oils

Natural Plant Products Inc.; Salem (OR); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Natural Plant Products LLC, located in Salem, Oregon, seeks a Technical and Quality Assurance Leader to direct technical and quality programs across production, product, and marketing teams. The role emphasizes innovation, regulatory compliance, and process improvement to deliver premium plant-based oils to a global market.

You will manage QMS, CAPA, supplier audits, and product specifications while collaborating with cross-functional teams to balance customer needs, manufacturing realities, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, food science, biology, chemical engineering, quality management, natural sciences, or related field.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in technical services, product development, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, or related manufacturing.
• Experience with FDA-regulated products including specialty chemicals, cosmetics, food ingredients, dietary supplements, or agricultural products.
• Experience managing audits (quality, social, biodiversity, etc.), certifications, and customer technical requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate new product development projects from concept through commercialization.
• Evaluate market opportunities, customer needs, and technical feasibility of new products.
• Develop product specifications, testing protocols, and validation plans.
• Coordinate pilot trials, product testing, scale-up activities, and commercialization.
• Conduct technical evaluations of new raw materials, suppliers, and formulation opportunities.
• Develop and maintain Technical Data Sheets (TDS), Product Specifications, Technical Bulletins, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), and related documentation.
• Prepare technical communications explaining product functionality, applications, benefits, and processing recommendations.
• Ensure technical documents remain current and aligned with product and regulatory changes. Manage document control processes and technical record retention.
• Provide technical expertise to support sales and marketing initiatives.
• Develop technical content for brochures, presentations, websites, trade shows, and customer communications.
• Liaise with external parties to create meaningful technical studies and research
• Review marketing materials for technical accuracy and compliance.
• Support customer meetings, trade shows and product demonstrations as the technical subject matter expert.
• Respond to technical inquiries from customers, distributors, and prospects.
• Assist with sustainability, sourcing, and product claim substantiation initiatives.
• Evaluate manufacturing, packaging, and quality systems to identify opportunities for increased efficiency, quality, and cost reduction.
• Lead continuous improvement projects using data-driven methodologies.
• Develop and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Analyze production and quality metrics to identify trends for improvement.
• Support root cause investigations and implement sustainable solutions.
• Collaborate with Production to optimize manufacturing processes, reduce waste.
• Maintain and continuously improve the Quality Management System (QMS).
• Ensure compliance with internal quality standards, customer requirements, and applicable industry regulations.
• Oversee incoming raw material, in-process, and finished product quality testing programs.
• Review and approve Certificates of Analysis (COAs), specifications, and quality records.
• Manage nonconforming materials and finished products.
• Coordinate internal audits, supplier evaluations, customer audits, and third-party certification audits. Travel required.
• Investigate customer complaints and oversee corrective actions.
• Monitor regulatory developments impacting products, labeling, and manufacturing practices.
• Ensure compliance with applicable FDA, MoCRA, cosmetic, food, agricultural, environmental, and state regulations as applicable.
• Prepare and maintain regulatory documentation, registrations, certifications, and customer compliance packages.
• Support customer requests related to regulatory, quality, sustainability, and compliance programs.
• Participate in product portfolio development and stage gate processes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Product development

Quality assurance

Regulatory affairs

Documentation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, food science, biology, chemical engineering, quality management, natural sciences, or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Natural Plant Products LLC, located in Salem, Oregon, seeks a Technical and Quality Assurance Leader to direct technical and quality programs across production, product, and marketing teams. The role emphasizes innovation, regulatory compliance, and process improvement to deliver premium plant-based oils to a global market.

You will manage QMS, CAPA, supplier audits, and product specifications while collaborating with cross-functional teams to balance customer needs, manufacturing realities, and