Vendor and Ingredient Specialist

Kettle Cuisine; Lynn (MA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Kettle Cuisine in Lynn, MA is seeking a Vendor & Ingredient Specialist to support supplier and raw-material approval activities and maintain vendor records in TraceGains. You will ensure documentation is complete and compliant with SQF/GFSI standards.

Collaborate with Purchasing to close documentation gaps, escalate issues as needed, and develop dashboards for reviews, all while upholding product safety and quality standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Supply Chain, or related field.
• Four+ years in supplier quality, technical services, regulatory, or procurement support.
• Experience with supplier documentation and raw-material specifications.
• Strong attention to detail and written communication.
• Ability to collaborate with suppliers and internal stakeholders while escalating issues.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and implement supplier and material documentation setup in TraceGains.
• Review documentation against Kettle Cuisine requirements and regulations.
• Maintain supplier and material records and close documentation gaps.
• Escalate unresolved supplier or risk issues.
• Develop dashboards and automated workflows for documentation reviews.

Skills

Supplier quality

Documentation management

Cross-functional collaboration

Written communication

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or Supply Chain

Tools

TraceGains

Job description

Job Description

The Vendor & Ingredient Specialist supports supplier and raw-material approval activities and maintains complete, accurate, and current vendor and ingredient records. This includes setting up and linking suppliers with the TraceGains system, closing documentation gaps, maintaining TraceGains and related systems, and preparing supplier and material information for approval, customer requirements, and risk review.

Responsibilities

Onboarding and documentation

• Coordinate and implement supplier and material documentation set-up within TraceGains; collaborate with Purchasing or Sourcing to resolve difficulties and train suppliers as needed
• Review documentation against Kettle Cuisine, customer, regulatory, SQF/GFSI, organic, and GFCO requirements. Report on documentation aging, approvals, and supplier performance
• Ensure supplier and material records are complete, current, correctly linked, and retained in TraceGains or the designated system. Track missing, expired, incomplete, inconsistent, conditional, or rejected documentation and follow up with suppliers and cross-functional team members to close documentation gaps.
• Escalate unresolved supplier, material, or risk issues using established protocols.
• Maintain and develop custom dashboards and automated workflows for standard documentation reviews.

Qualifications (Education / Experience / Skills)

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Supply Chain, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Four or more years of experience in supplier quality, technical services, regulatory, food safety, or procurement support.
• Experience with supplier documentation, raw-material specifications, databases, and cross-functional follow-up.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, follow-through, and written communication.
• Ability to collaborate professionally with suppliers and internal stakeholders while escalating issues appropriately.

Success Measures

• Supplier and material records are complete, correctly linked, current, and audit ready.
• Documentation gaps are actively managed to closure, with aging and escalation visible.
• New suppliers and materials move through approval with clear status and no avoidable delays.

As a Leader Within the Kettle Cuisine Team, You Are Expected To

• Model and support Kettle Cuisine’s Core Values and safety culture.
• Develop individual team members and their careers.
• Create a culture of accountability and performance.
• Drive a focus on quality assurance and continuous improvement.
• Plan work, track results, and resolve issues.

Required Attributes

• Self-directed, detail-oriented, and committed to data integrity.
• Positive, collaborative, and able to build productive supplier relationships.
• Organized and able to manage multiple records, requests, and deadlines.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills appropriate to the role.
• Willing to address difficult situations with patience and respect.
• Enthusiastic about food and committed to safe, high-quality products.