Supplier Quality Assurance Specialist

Supplier Quality Assurance Specialist

The Supplier Quality Assurance Specialist is a member of the Quality team providing in‑depth technical knowledge and experience in primary assigned ingredient categories. This includes ensuring compliance toward food safety, regulatory and quality procedures and standards for ingredients and suppliers. The work is completed through risk assessments, audits and corrective action follow‑ups, review/monitoring of critical information and verifying supplier adherence to defined requirements.

• Support new product development teams.
• Provide input and approve ingredient specifications from a food safety and quality perspective (e.g., ingredient hazard categories).
• Partner with Sourcing to maintain the approved supplier list.
• Lead development of desk review/on‑site audit plans and execute activities per the plan.
• Identify, train, and qualify (assist in managing) second‑party audit firms.
• Manage supplier corrective action and preventive action.
• Determine and assign approval status of supplier facility locations.
• Manage ongoing supplier location and ingredient monitoring to ensure compliance for business continuity.
• Lead integration of new acquisitions to ensure compliance with company supplier quality standards and requirements.
• Utilize the Supplier Issue Tracking (SIT) system and documentation to ensure timely close‑out of issues and provide feedback and reports to users and stakeholders.
• Lead the development and implementation of regulatory compliance programs such as the Foreign Supplier Verification Program, Bulk Feed Transportation Program, Supply Chain Preventive Control Program, and the Economically Motivated Adulteration program.
• Lead maintenance and reporting on metrics, audit reports, supplier risk assessments, and timely updates to the approved supplier list.
• Assist plants, sourcing, and transportation in resolving supplier issues.
• Analyze data for trends to turn it into actionable information.
• Provide training to both internal and external partners.
• Identify and implement system improvements, suggest improvements to systems/processes, and participate in improvement activities.

• Bachelor’s in Food Science, Animal Science, or equivalent.
• Minimum five years’ experience in a Quality/Food Science background; experience in Food/Feed/Dairy Manufacturing desired.
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to work closely with cross‑functional teams.
• Ability to travel up to 30%+ of the time.

• Create appropriate metrics that support and measure the success of the internal and external supply chain quality to drive continuous improvement.
• Auditing experience and knowledge of food and feed regulations.
• Facilitate engagement, communication, and consistent application of metrics and goals.
• Excellent organizational, communication, interpersonal, and team interaction skills.
• Highly motivated, self‑directed, and a self‑starter with a strong business mindset.
• Proficiency in standard business software (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).

Salary Range: $93,360 – $140,040. Candidates are normally offered a pay rate near the middle of the range.

Land O’Lakes and its global entities support diversity in employment practices.