This specialist role supports the company's supplier management program and quality systems by maintaining supplier compliance records, coordinating documentation, supporting qualification and approval activities, and helping ensure food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements are met. The position works cross-functionally with Quality, Regulatory, Procurement, Operations, and external suppliers to maintain accurate records, drive timely follow-up on supplier requirements, and support continuous improvement of quality systems and supplier-related processes.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Complete annual supplier and ingredient risk assessments for Kagome USA facilities.
- Manage and organize documentation submissions for identity-preserved certifications across Kagome USA facilities, including Kosher, Halal, Organic, and RSPO.
- Review and maintain internal ingredient specifications as a Quality-authorized representative, ensuring accurate information is available for all Kagome USA facilities to verify COAs at the plant level.
- Serve as backup to the Corporate Quality Supplier Administrator.
- Coordinate the IPF program with certification bodies.
- Monitor supplier performance to help ensure quality and food safety requirements are met.
- Support new ingredients and secondary supplier approvals for all Kagome USA facilities, ensuring required information is complete and compliant and that appropriate actions are taken when variances or deviations occur.
- Implement requirements established in the Corporate Supplier Management Program.
- Participate in the Supplier Outreach Program.
- Participate in continuous improvement efforts to streamline supplier compliance, document control, reporting, and quality systems processes.
- · Serve as the subject matter expert and system administrator for TraceGains.
- Support the Supplier Non-Conformance Program for KIU and KFI.
- Support the Foreign Supplier Verification Program for KIU and KFI.
- Support plant audits by providing required documentation.
- Communicate effectively and respectfully with Corporate Quality leadership and cross-functional teams to support company objectives.
- Support food safety and quality culture initiatives.
- Collaborate with Quality, Regulatory, Procurement, Operations, and other functional teams to ensure supplier and system requirements are communicated and completed effectively.
- In the absence of the Corporate Supplier and Systems Specialist, these responsibilities will be assigned to the Corporate Quality Systems Manager or designate.
POSITION DIMENSIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree from a 4-year college or university in a scientific or technology field and a minimum of 2 years of related food manufacturing experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Preferred Knowledge: Knowledge of supplier approval programs, document control, corrective action processes, food safety and quality management systems, and applicable regulatory or certification requirements. Experience with supplier management or quality systems software such as TraceGains or similar platforms is strongly preferred.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Strong attention to detail, organization, and follow-through.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and cross-functional requests.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
- Ability to review records for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with established requirements.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and comfort working in databases, ERP systems, and supplier or quality management platforms.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive supplier and company information appropriately.
- Problem-solving skills and the ability to identify issues, escalate when needed, and support corrective action follow-up.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
This role is primarily office-based with regular interaction across corporate and plant functions. Occasional travel may be required based on business needs to support supplier, audit, or facility activities. The position may require flexibility to respond to time-sensitive quality and supplier compliance matters and willing to travel up to 20% of the time based on business needs. This is a Safety Sensitive position.