Quality & Compliance Specialist

Quality & Compliance Specialist - 100% REMOTE

Quality & Compliance Specialist - 100% REMOTE OPPORTUNITY Build the quality systems that enable the next generation of agricultural innovation! Join a fast-growing startup where you'll lead supplier quality, compliance, and continuous improvement across a global manufacturing network.

The Quality & Compliance Specialist establishes and maintains a robust, fit-for-purpose quality management system to support the development, launch, and commercialization of agricultural products manufactured through external partners. This role serves as the primary quality interface with contract manufacturers, tolling partners, formulators, packagers, and logistics providers, ensuring regulatory compliance, consistent product quality, and reliable supply. The position drives continuous improvement across the external manufacturing network while balancing compliance rigor with the agility required in a fast-paced, resource-constrained startup environment.

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive Quality Management System (QMS) tailored to a virtual and outsourced manufacturing environment.
• Establish clear quality standards, specifications, and release requirements for products manufactured by contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) and tolling partners.
• Qualify, onboard, and periodically assess contract manufacturers, formulators, packagers, and critical suppliers to ensure they meet quality and compliance expectations.
• Define, implement, and maintain supplier quality agreements, including performance expectations and roles and responsibilities.
• Monitor manufacturing performance using key performance indicators, scorecards, and regular business reviews, and address gaps proactively.
• Support technology transfer, scale-up, validation, and commercial launch activities for new and existing products.
• Ensure products and manufacturing operations comply with applicable regulatory requirements, customer specifications, and internal company standards.
• Maintain a state of audit readiness and coordinate supplier audits, qualification assessments, and compliance reviews.
• Lead investigations related to deviations, customer complaints, out-of-specification results, and non-conformances, ensuring thorough root cause analysis.
• Drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), verify the effectiveness of implemented actions, and embed lessons learned into procedures and practices.
• Oversee change control processes to assess and manage impacts on product quality, regulatory compliance, and supply continuity.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate quality and compliance risks across the external manufacturing network using structured risk assessment and mitigation approaches.
• Partner with Regulatory, Product Development, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to support successful product introductions and lifecycle management.
• Establish quality requirements for new products and ensure manufacturing readiness and robust controls are in place prior to launch.
• Participate in process optimization initiatives to improve product consistency, manufacturability, and cost competitiveness.
• Support inventory disposition decisions and product release processes, ensuring timely and compliant supply to customers.
• Develop and execute supplier improvement plans and collaborate with manufacturing partners to enhance quality, reliability, and service.
• Analyze quality trends, identify systemic issues, and implement preventive measures to reduce risk, variability, and defects.
• Promote and reinforce a culture of quality across the organization and the external partner network through communication, training, and example.
• Build strong partnerships with external manufacturers and suppliers, driving accountability and continuous improvement across the manufacturing network.

• Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Chemistry, Engineering, Biology, Pharmacy, or a related discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in Quality Assurance, Compliance, Manufacturing, or Supplier Quality within agriculture, biologicals, crop protection, biotechnology, or specialty chemicals.
• Proven experience managing quality systems in outsourced or virtual manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrated experience working with CMOs, toll manufacturers, formulators, and global supply partners.
• Hands-on experience with supplier qualification, audits, quality agreements, CAPA, change management, and product launch processes.
• Strong understanding of quality assurance principles, industry…