SQA Lead - Essentials

Mars; Franklin (TN); On-site; USD 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company bonus

Competitive benefits

Job summary

Mars is seeking a Supplier Quality Assurance Lead to ensure fit-for-purpose raw materials for regional manufacturing and end-users. You will lead supplier audits, drive continuous improvement, and collaborate with Commercial Buying, Operations, and R&D to manage material quality and compliance.

Ideal candidates have 2+ years in food manufacturing QA, knowledge of HACCP, and MS Office; willingness to travel 50% and a BS in a related field.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in food manufacturing quality with knowledge of food safety, HACCP, and auditing.
• Training and experience in continuous improvement and problem solving.
• Competencies in planning/project management, managing and measuring work, and data management in internal systems.
• Ability to travel minimum 50% of the time.
• Strong understanding of supply chain and ability to work in a manufacturing environment.
• BS degree in Chemistry, Food Science, Engineering or related field.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Assures quality and consistency of raw materials, primarily within the Palatant and Essentials category.
• Provides inputs to material risk assessments and drives supplier improvement plans.
• Works with Commercial Buying/Operations Teams and Site-based Quality Services on supplier non-conformance investigations.
• Manages inbound supply risks including material security, quality, safety and regulatory compliance.
• Performs supplier site audits and ensures corrective actions are completed.
• Communicates with stakeholders in Commercial, R&D and Supply.
• Performs supplier performance reviews and manages supplier metrics.
• Drives continuous improvement culture across the manufacturing network.
• Ensures product conformance to specifications and requirements.

Skills

Compliance Management

Creative Problem Solving

Data Collection and Analysis

Data Control

Planning and Organizing

Policy and Procedures

Policy and Regulation

Review and Reporting

Supplier Management

Verbal Communication

Education

BS degree in Chemistry / Food Science / Engineering or related field

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.

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.
• 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.

Skills

Compliance Management, Creative Problem Solving, Data Collection and Analysis, Data Control, Planning and Organizing, Policy and Procedures, Policy and Regulation, Review and Reporting, Supplier Management, Verbal Communication

Competencies

Collaborates, Communicates Effectively, Financial Acumen, Instills Trust, Manages Complexity, Optimizes Work Processes, Plans and Aligns