The QA Specialist – Food Safety Documentation & Technical Specifications is responsible for managing food safety, quality, certification, and product specification programs across the supplier network. This role combines ownership of supplier compliance documentation, certification management, and technical product specifications to ensure products consistently meet regulatory, customer, and internal quality requirements. The position serves as a key link between suppliers, Quality Assurance, Commercial, and Operations teams by maintaining accurate, audit-ready documentation and clearly defined product standards.
Key Responsibilities
1. Food Safety & Supplier Documentation Management
- Collect, review, and maintain supplier food safety documentation, including GFSI certifications, audit reports, Hazard Analysis, HACCP plans, and product certifications.
- Track certification validity, renewal timelines, and supplier compliance status.
- Review documentation for completeness, accuracy, and alignment with company requirements.
- Maintain organized, audit-ready document repositories and databases.
- Support supplier onboarding and ongoing compliance management.
2. Certification & Regulatory Program Management
- Manage participation in certification and sustainability programs, including Organic, Non-GMO Project, Kosher, Repurpose Global Plastic Recovery, and EPR programs.
- Coordinate with suppliers, certification bodies, and third-party program administrators.
- Ensure timely submissions, renewals, and compliance documentation.
- Monitor regulatory and certification requirements impacting the product portfolio.
- Track certification status and maintain related records.
3. Product Specifications & Quality Standards
- Develop, maintain, and manage supplier and finished product specifications.
- Establish and document product quality and organoleptic standards, including appearance, color, texture, flavor, aroma, and other key attributes.
- Ensure specifications align with regulatory requirements, customer expectations, and company standards.
- Support new product and supplier onboarding through specification development and review.
- Evaluate products and quality data against established standards, identifying gaps and opportunities for improvement; reviewing 20-30 samples per week.
- Collaborate with suppliers and internal teams to address quality issues and implement corrective actions.
- Maintain specification accuracy, consistency, version control, and standardization across product categories.
4. Quality Metrics, Auditing & Continuous Improvement
- Track and report key quality and compliance metrics, including supplier compliance, audit performance, certification status, and specification management.
- Support internal, customer, certification, and regulatory audits.
- Develop and maintain SOPs related to documentation, specifications, certifications, and quality programs.
- Identify opportunities to improve processes, documentation systems, and compliance programs.
5. Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with the Customer Experience, Operations, and Supply Chain teams to support business objectives.
- Coordinate with suppliers and certification bodies to ensure compliance with company standards.
- Support supplier qualification, product onboarding, and commercialization activities.
- Ensure alignment between food safety requirements, product specifications, quality standards, and customer expectations.
- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Quality Assurance, Microbiology, or a related field preferred.
- 3+ years of experience in food quality, food safety, supplier quality, specifications management, or regulatory compliance.
- Working knowledge of HACCP, GFSI certification schemes, supplier approval programs, and food safety systems.
- Experience managing technical specifications, certifications, and compliance documentation.
- Familiarity with organoleptic evaluation and product quality standards.
- Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and document management systems.
- Excellent communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Success Measures
- Supplier documentation and certifications are complete, current, and audit-ready.
- Product specifications and quality standards are accurate, maintained, and consistently applied.
- Certification and compliance programs remain in good standing.
- Audits are successfully supported with minimal findings.
- Quality and specification gaps are proactively identified and resolved.
- Documentation and compliance processes are continuously improved to support business growth.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.