Customer & Supplier Quality Manager

Customer & Supplier Quality Manager

Location : Irvine, CA, US, 92618

Employment Type : Salaried Work Arrangement : Remote

Position Summary :

The Manager of Supplier Quality Assurance is responsible for setting strategy and ensuring the execution of a QMS for Ventura Foods Suppliers (Ingredients, Packaging and Copackers). Responsible for supplier approvals, performance monitoring, and issue resolution. Owner of the Tracegains systems and the Supplier Non-Conformance database (SNC). Ensure timely and effective CAPA response from suppliers in the SNC and perform validation. Modernize supplier approval program, establish risk-based criteria and evaluation standards, and identify technology solutions to improve effectiveness and reduce administrative work. Creates scorecards and KPIs and reports regularly to the organization. Establish role as a trusted partner to manufacturing plants for engaging suppliers and driving improvements initiates. Identify underperforming suppliers and lead efforts to resolve gaps. Lead investigations and cross-plant communication for supplier non-conformances that impact material at plant, finished products, and shipped product. Partner with Procurement, R&D, and packaging teams in continuous improvement for underperforming suppliers. Build a supplier auditing program and identify internal / external resources for auditing. Includes Copacking partner selection, quality performance monitoring, and complaint management.

Major Duties and Responsibilities :

• Responsible for establishing strategy and executing program to manage quality of Ingredient and Packaging suppliers, including compliance to documentation and performance expectations. Manage systems and related metrics that support initiatives including Trace Gains and the Supplier Non-Conformance Database.
• Modernize supplier approval program, establish risk-based criteria and evaluation standards, and identify technology solutions to improve effectiveness and reduce administrative work.
• Creates scorecards and KPIs and report regularly to the organization. Coordinate cross-functional efforts and response to supplier-related incidents with an impact on performance or risk. Establish role as a trusted partner to manufacturing plants for engaging suppliers and improving the quality of their ingredient and packaging inputs.
• Partner with Procurement, R&D, and packaging teams in continuous improvement for underperforming suppliers.
• Build and execute a supplier auditing program. Includes management of copacker quality programs at domestic and international copackers.
• May represent QA Director, VP of Quality and Food Safety and / or company at outside association meetings and / or conferences.

Education and Experience :

Knowledge and Skills :

Why Join Us :

Ventura Foods innovates and manufactures food solutions for foodservice and retail businesses. We make exclusive products for the world's most iconic restaurants and retailers, we provide ready-to-go product solutions for professional kitchens, and we make consumer brands everyone knows and loves. When you work for Ventura Foods, you get a strong foundation of training, a manager who cares about you and celebrates your success, a safe environment, and challenging work. As part of our team, your future is limited only by how much you're willing to push yourself to get there. We invest in your growth because you invest in ours.

Ventura Foods offers career growth opportunities as well as competitive compensation and benefits :

Diversity & Inclusion : Our commitment to a diverse and inclusive environment in which all employees are treated with respect is evident in our company culture and values. We believe that fostering an environment of inclusion and a focus on diversity across our organization is vital to attracting top talent, driving innovation, and meeting the high expectations of our customers in a rapidly evolving global marketplace.

Ventura Foods is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.