Supplier Compliance Specialist

Supplier Compliance Specialist

Making Better Happen

Our story goes back more than 150 years, to the windy coast where Sweden and Denmark meet.

From our success in Scandinavia, we've grown into the world's leading specialist producer of plant-based oils, employing more than 4000 people all across the globe.

We work with our customers to make the products you love even better. The oils we produce go into making your chocolate extra creamy or putting the crunch into your croissant. And it's not just food - we work across industries to make products that are higher quality, healthier and better for the planet.

Every one of us works towards our shared purpose:
Making Better Happen.

Everything we do is about Making Better Happen together.

Join nearly 4,000 like-minded colleagues globally and build a better future with us.

Build a better future as a Supplier Compliance Specialist in Edison, NJ

Compensation Range: $78,840 - $96,360

Possible Bonus: 7.5%

AAK Edison

About the role

The Supplier Compliance Specialist is responsible for leading and supporting various aspects of supplier compliance, adherence to AAK's internal standards, and external regulatory requirements. This role serves as a key control point for supplier data integrity, compliance oversight, and risk mitigation within AAK's supplier & product portals. Partnering with suppliers and with various functions across the organization, the compliance specialist will drive consistent adherence to food safety, regulatory, and sustainability standards, ensuring that suppliers are guided through a transparent onboarding process, and that products supplied to AAK are routed through the appropriate channels for qualification.

The role also supports audit readiness, strengthens supplier accountability, and enables informed business decisions by maintaining accurate, complete, and compliant supplier information across the organization.

Responsibilities

The duties of the Supplier Compliance Specialist include but are not limited to:

Supplier Engagement and Compliance Oversight

Serve as a primary steward of supplier compliance within the AAK Supplier & Product portal ensuring all supplier records, documentation, and certifications are accurate, complete, and aligned with internal policies and external regulatory requirements. Maintain current knowledge of system updates and global requirements to ensure ongoing compliance and audit readiness.

Lead supplier onboarding and compliance engagement by clearly communicating AAK's requirements, standards, and expectations. Provide training and guidance to suppliers to ensure accurate and timely completion of required documentation, reinforcing accountability for maintaining compliant records within the system.

Conduct detailed reviews and validation of supplier information, including risk-based assessment of documentation and certifications. Proactively request additional evidence or clarification to ensure adherence to the relevant food safety regulations, industry standards, and AAK compliance requirements.

Own the approval workflow for supplier facilities and raw materials by coordinating compliance verification across internal stakeholders. Communicate approvals, conditional approvals, or rejections with clear justification, maintain strict adherence to compliance standards and minimizing operational and reputational risk.

Enforce supplier responsibility for maintaining up-to-date and accurate documentation within the required systems, ensuring data integrity and reducing exposure to compliance gaps involving sensitive or regulated information.

Cross-Functional Supplier Compliance Coordination

Partner with the relevant functions to ensure supplier and product data aligns with supply chain realities while meeting all compliance and regulatory expectations. Provide compliance insights, risk identification, and documentation support to proactively mitigate supply chain risks, including sustainability and regulatory considerations.

Collaborate with procurement to ensure supplier compliance is embedded in procurement decisions and supplier setup. Provide detailed compliance feedback on suppliers and materials, support risk mitigation efforts, and assist with supplier audits and corrective actions as needed.

Facilitate the compliance review process by coordinating supplier and product assessments with QA. Ensure all required documentation is available for risk evaluation and regulatory review. Support follow-up actions, including gathering additional evidence, addressing non-conformances, and maintaining audit readiness.

Partner with the Customer Innovation & Quality functions to ensure product compliance alignment by coordinating reviews of supplier specifications against AAK requirements. Escalate discrepancies, gather technical feedback, and support approval decisions in partnership with QA, ensuring all products meet internal and customer-driven compliance standards.

Act as the U.S. compliance representative for the global supplier & product…