Quality Manager, Vendor Compliance

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Quality Manager, Vendor Compliance based in United States.

We are looking for a Quality Manager, Vendor Compliance to oversee supplier quality, food safety, and regulatory compliance across a network of ingredient suppliers, manufacturing partners, and fulfillment facilities. You will own the quality systems and processes that ensure materials and finished products consistently meet established standards. Working closely with Procurement, Regulatory, R&D, and Supply Chain, you will lead supplier qualification, audits, risk assessments, and corrective action programs. You will also manage ingredient verification, quality documentation, and supplier performance monitoring to identify and address potential issues proactively. This role combines hands-on quality oversight with strategic supplier partnerships and continuous improvement initiatives. You will contribute to a collaborative, fast-moving environment where product integrity, accountability, and consumer trust are essential.

Accountabilities:

As Quality Manager, Vendor Compliance, you will take ownership of supplier quality programs and the systems used to maintain food safety, regulatory compliance, and reliable manufacturing standards. You will work across internal teams and external partners to identify risks, resolve quality issues, strengthen supplier performance, and ensure documentation remains accurate and audit-ready.

Supplier Quality & Compliance

Own supplier qualification, approval, and compliance programs, ensuring suppliers and materials meet quality, food safety, regulatory, and business requirements.

Lead supplier and material onboarding in partnership with Procurement, Regulatory, R&D, and Supply Chain.

Establish and maintain risk-based supplier and ingredient assessments based on material risk, manufacturing processes, supplier performance, and historical quality data.

Lead supplier quality investigations, corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs), and escalations, ensuring root causes are identified and corrective actions are sustainable.

Ensure suppliers comply with established requirements, including supplier expectation guidelines, specifications, quality standards, and applicable regulations.

Lead supplier audits and facility assessments while driving continuous improvement through effective supplier partnerships.

Ingredient Quality Management

Manage the ingredient positive release program, including certificate of analysis (COA) reviews, material disposition, and communication with warehouses and internal stakeholders.

Establish risk-based ingredient testing and verification programs to confirm materials meet quality and food safety specifications.

Oversee ingredient retention sample and traceability programs to support investigations and supplier performance evaluations.

Lead ingredient nonconformance investigations and coordinate appropriate supplier corrective actions and material disposition.

Monitor ingredient quality trends and variability to identify and mitigate emerging risks.

Quality Systems & Document Control

Own document control processes for Quality and Supply Chain documentation, including SOPs, forms, specifications, and work instructions.

Establish standards for document creation, review, approval, version control, archiving, and retention.

Ensure supplier compliance records remain complete, current, and audit-ready.

Coordinate periodic document reviews with cross-functional process owners to ensure procedures reflect current practices and requirements.

Continuously improve quality systems and documentation processes to strengthen compliance, traceability, and operational efficiency.

Supplier Performance & Continuous Improvement

Develop and manage supplier performance metrics and scorecards to track quality, compliance, recurring issues, and emerging risks.

Establish supplier performance review and escalation processes, including improvement plans for high-risk or underperforming suppliers.

Analyze supplier and ingredient quality trends to identify systemic risks and improvement opportunities.

Partner with Procurement and Supply Chain leadership on supplier approval, performance management, escalation, and disqualification decisions.

Provide leadership with visibility into supplier quality risks, significant nonconformances, and outstanding corrective actions.

Requirements:

The ideal candidate has 6–8+ years of Quality Assurance or Supplier Quality experience in the food and beverage industry, preferably within beverage manufacturing. You bring strong technical knowledge of food safety systems and supplier compliance, combined with the ability to manage investigations, audits, and corrective action programs. You are analytical, organized, and comfortable influencing external suppliers and internal stakeholders while managing competing priorities.

6–8+ years of experience in Quality Assurance or Supplier Quality within the food and beverage industry; beverage experience is preferred.

0–2 years of experience managing and developing technical team members.

Demonstrated experience managing supplier qualification, approval, compliance, and risk assessment programs.

Strong experience conducting supplier audits, managing quality investigations, and implementing CAPAs.

Thorough knowledge of food safety and quality systems, including:

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).

HACCP and Preventive Controls.

Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) standards.

FDA and Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements.

Experience managing supplier onboarding, approval, and compliance documentation through platforms such as TraceGains, FoodLogiQ, or FoodChain ID, keeping certificates, audits, and specifications current and audit-ready.

Strong Microsoft Excel skills and experience analyzing quality data and supplier performance metrics.

Excellent organizational and analytical abilities, with strong attention to detail.

Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to influence cross-functional partners and drive supplier accountability.

Ability to manage competing priorities, adapt to changing business needs, and promote continuous improvement.

A collaborative mindset and commitment to professional values such as humility, aspiration, integrity, accountability, and empathy.

Benefits:

Annual compensation of $120,000–$135,000, plus bonus.

Remote working arrangement.

Opportunity to take ownership of supplier quality and compliance programs across manufacturing and supply chain partners.

Cross-functional collaboration with Procurement, Regulatory, R&D, Supply Chain, and Quality teams.

Opportunity to drive continuous improvement and strengthen quality systems in a growing consumer products environment.

Collaborative culture that values transparency, thoughtful feedback, initiative, and professional development.

Commitment to providing reasonable accommodations during the application process and employment.

Equal opportunity employer committed to considering qualified applicants fairly and without discrimination.