Specialist SQM

Specialist SQM

The Specialist SQM will support supplier quality and food safety activities for assigned suppliers, products, processes, or project areas. This role helps coordinate recurring QA verifications, testing activities, supplier documentation reviews, food safety monitoring, and product/process verification work to ensure requirements are met and risks are identified and escalated appropriately. Working under general supervision, this role will organize and prioritize work to meet service, cost, quality, and compliance objectives.

The Specialist SQM will communicate findings, identify trends within scope, support defined process adjustments, and help drive consistency and continuous improvement in quality and food safety performance.

Coordinate recurring QA checks, testing activities, sampling plans, specification checks, sensory evaluations, and product/process verification activities for assigned products, lines, suppliers, or processes. Support the Quality Design Process for chocolate paste renovation and Superior Snacking formulation-change projects, including coordination with external chocolate paste suppliers and internal cross-functional partners. Conduct and support supplier quality assessments for ingredient, packaging, and storage sites to help ensure compliance with government regulations, industry standards, and company supplier quality management policies.

Review supplier information forms and documentation as part of the ingredient and packaging approval process, ensuring documentation meets company requirements and supporting the overall approval program. Monitor food safety programs within assigned scope, including sanitation verification, hygiene audits, allergen control checks, and environmental monitoring. Use QA, food safety, laboratory, supplier, and verification data to identify patterns, recurring issues, or emerging risks;

summarize findings and recommend defined improvements. Support incident investigations by collecting information, analyzing results, reviewing process conditions and trends, and coordinating follow-up checks to confirm corrective actions are effective. Partner with Product Development, Sensory, Commercial, Procurement, Operations, Manufacturing, and QRC teams to coordinate regulatory, labeling, claims, material receipt, and supplier quality activities. Maintain accurate QA, food safety, and laboratory documentation in line with document-control requirements;

prepare reports or dashboards to support continuous improvement discussions.

Minimum Education & Requirements Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, Engineering, or a related technical field preferred. 1+ years of relevant experience in quality, food safety, supplier quality, manufacturing quality systems, laboratory testing, product/process verification, or a related area. Experience in food manufacturing, quality systems, supplier quality, sanitation, auditing, HACCP, risk identification, or risk management preferred. Experience in chocolate, confectionery, snacking, or ingredient/packaging supplier quality preferred.

Benefits and Perks At Hershey, we offer competitive pay and a comprehensive total rewards package designed to support your wellbeing, financial security, and life outside of work. Health & Wellbeing:
Medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus wellness programs that support your physical and mental health. Financial Security:
Competitive pay, annual incentive opportunities, and a 401(k) with company match. Time Off & Flexibility:
Paid time off, company holidays, and flexible ways of working where applicable. Growth & Development:
Career development programs, learning opportunities, and internal mobility. Benefits may vary based on role, location, and eligibility.