Supplier Quality Assurance Lead - Vegetables & Grains

Mars; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mars University

Performance bonus

Competitive benefits

Career development

Job summary

Mars is seeking a Supplier Quality Assurance Lead in the United States to ensure fit-for-purpose raw materials meet the needs of regional manufacturing sites and end users.

You will lead supplier quality audits, drive continuous improvement, and partner with Commercial Buying, Operations, and R&D to ensure safety, quality, and regulatory compliance across Vegetables & Grains materials. Travel up to 50% is required.

Qualifications

• 2+ years in food manufacturing QA with knowledge of food safety and HACCP.
• Experience leading QFS Management System audits.
• Training in continuous improvement and problem solving.
• Strong planning, data management, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Willingness to travel at least 50% of the time.
• BS in Chemistry, Food Science, Engineering, or related field.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Ensure quality and consistency of raw materials, primarily in Vegetables & Grains; knowledge of mycotoxin management preferred.
• Provide inputs to material risk assessments and drive supplier improvement plans.
• Work with Commercial Buying/Operations and Site Quality Services on supplier non-conformance investigations.
• Manage inbound supply risks including material security, quality, safety and regulatory compliance.
• Perform supplier site audits and ensure corrective actions are completed.
• Communicate with internal stakeholders in Commercial, R&D and Supply.
• Conduct supplier performance reviews and manage supplier metrics.
• Promote continuous improvement and problem-solving across the network.
• Ensure product conformance to specifications and requirements.

Skills

Quality management

Auditing

HAACP

Continuous improvement

Problem solving

Project management

Data systems

Microsoft Office

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry/Food Science/Engineering

Tools

Internal systems

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.
• Top Requirement- Must Have- Experience leading Q&FS Management System audits.
• 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 Requirement -Must Have- 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 Vegetables & Grains category. Knowledge of and experience in mycotoxin management is preferred.
• 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.