SQA Lead - Essentials

Mars; Franklin (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Mars is seeking a Supplier Quality Assurance Lead to ensure fit-for-purpose raw materials for regional manufacturing and end-users. The role emphasizes supplier audits, process improvement, and collaboration with Commercial, R&D, and Operations to uphold safety and quality standards.

The candidate will lead supplier site visits, manage risk assessments, and drive corrective actions while ensuring compliance with food safety regulations. Travel up to 50% is required.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in food manufacturing quality.
• Sound understanding of food safety, HACCP, and auditing.
• Understanding of GFSI Auditing Schemes.
• Training and experience in continuous improvement and problem solving.
• Competencies in planning/project management and data management through internal systems.
• Ability to travel minimum 50% of the time.
• Strong understanding of supply chain with manufacturing exposure.
• 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 creates/drives supplier improvement plans.
• Works with Commercial Buying/Operations 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 completion of corrective actions.
• Communicates with multiple internal stakeholders in Commercial, R&D and Supply.
• Performs supplier performance reviews and manages supplier metrics.
• Drives continuous improvement across the manufacturing network.

Skills

Food quality

HACCP

GFSI auditing

Continuous improvement

Project management

Travel readiness

MS Office

Education

BS degree in Chemistry, Food Science, Engineering

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.

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.