SQA Lead - Essentials

Mars; Creve Coeur (MO); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Mars is seeking a Supplier Quality Assurance Lead in Missouri to ensure fit-for-purpose raw materials, drive supplier improvements, and uphold food safety across manufacturing sites. The role emphasizes auditing, HACCP, and collaboration with Commercial Buying and manufacturing teams.

The candidate should have at least 2 years in food manufacturing quality, with travel up to 50% and a BS in a related field. Proficiency in MS Office and a commitment to continuous improvement are required.

Qualifications

• 2+ years in food manufacturing quality and food safety.
• Experience with HAACP and auditing is required.
• Travel up to 50% to supplier sites and audits.

Responsibilities

• Ensure raw materials meet quality specs and safety standards.
• Lead supplier improvement plans and risk assessments.
• Perform supplier site audits and close corrective actions.
• Collaborate with Commercial Buying, Operations and Site Quality teams.

Skills

Food quality assurance

Auditing

Food safety

Continuous improvement

Project management

Travel readiness

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry/Food Science/Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description:

As a Supplier Quality Assurance Lead at Mars you will assure “fit for purpose” raw materials that meet/exceed the needs of the regional manufacturing sites and end-users. Ongoing responsibilities of the role include ensuring continuous supplier process improvement, identifying and executing cost improvement initiatives, assuring food/pet/product safety, continuous quality improvement, and performing supplier site visits and audits. The role requires functional experience in auditing, food materials, and food production activities. The Supplier Quality Assurance Lead interacts extensively with the Commercial buying and sourcing teams, manufacturing, product, packaging and commodity development functions with a special emphasis on a select set of commodity categories from High to Low risk levels to ensure we provide nothing but the best quality products to our consumers.

What are we looking for?

• 2 or more years of experience working food manufacturing quality, with sound understanding of food safety, HAACP, and auditing.
• Understanding of GFSI Auditing Schemes
• Training and experience in continuous improvement and problem solving.
• Competencies in planning/project management, managing and measuring work, managing data through internal systems
• Ability to travel minimum 50% of the time
• Strong understanding of supply chain with the physical capability of working in a manufacturing environment when necessary.
• Minimum of a BS degree (Preferably in Chemistry, Food Science, Engineering, or a related field).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Assures quality and consistency of raw materials, primarily within the Palatant and Essentials category.
• Provides inputs to material risk assessments and creates/drives supplier improvement plans.
• Works in partnership with Commercial Buying/Operations Teams and Site-based Quality Services to support supplier non-conformance investigations.
• Manages all inbound supply risks including material security, quality, food/product safety and regulatory compliance.
• Performs supplier site audits and ensures completion of identified corrective actions.
• Communicates effectively with multiple internal stakeholders in Commercial, R&D and Supply.
• Performs supplier performance reviews and manages supplier performance metrics.
• Drives a culture that is rooted heavily in continuous improvement principles and applying problem solving methodology across the manufacturing network.
• Ensures product conformance to specifications and requirements.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.