Packaging Buyer Supplier Quality - Food & Beverage

Location New York, NY**Position may be located in NYC, MI or ID.**A leader in healthy, gluten free products; fruit, vegetables, dairy, organic and puddings in convenient packaging distributed to over 10,000 grocery retailers across the US.**Responsibilities:**Plans, develops and ensures uniform implementation of supplier quality procedures and practices in direct support of the supply chain. The major focus is toward supplier quality assurance as a vehicle for achieving world class supplier / material quality and performance. Manage all processes and principles of quality to all third-party suppliers, including packaging, co-manufacturing, co-packers, warehouses, and transportation providers.Manage internal quality activities.Coordinate the early quality activities during the initial project phases for projects including local suppliers, logistic and co-manufacturing.Work closely with R&D, Operations, Marketing and Regulatory Affairs to assure that all aspects of quality and regulatory are addressed (risks are discussed and minimized/eliminated).Work closely with local Purchasing and Technical teams to shape the Supplier Quality Model direction and supplier development.Monitor and routinely report KPIs.Assure that quality is truly being designed into the product / operations / equipment etc.Hand over to the plant quality management in the execution phase.Organizing supplier audits, evaluating supplier risk & approving supplier quality systems prior to supplier use.Provide support between Purchasing, Marketing, R&D and Manufacturing to support flawless execution of new product introduction dependent on new source of material(s).Manage Supplier quality programs.Implement and execute suppliers audit program to meet Supplier Quality Model expectations and local regulatory guidelines.Direct resources to maintain and expand the quality program to key suppliers, successful technology transfer and provide accurate measures of supplier performance (KPI's).Manage and lead the FSVP program. Be the authority/expert to assure compliance to FSMA.Establish, implement, and monitor quality for all third-party distribution and transportation providers.Includes: audit process, quality agreements, KPIs, quality resource and continuous improvement of these providers.Drive supplier continuous improvement through implementing and executing Supplier Quality Model expectations.Liaison with Plant QA Managers and Purchasing Managers to ensure sustained implementation.Partner with Purchasing, Manufacturing, R&D, Supplier Quality Model, and suppliers to reconcile supplier quality nonconformance & enhance existing systems for MNA products.Monitor and improve practices as part of overall supplier continuous improvement.Interface with Purchasing, Manufacturing and Quality Model to resolve critical quality issues at suppliers.Access QA expert resources to assist in root-cause analysis of technical quality issues as needed.Manage cross-functional relationships internally to promote transparency and complianceDevelop strong alignment and relationships with the Plant QA who have direct responsibility for implementing the uniform QA processes and procedures & required technology.Establish strong alignment and close working relationships with Purchasing, Logistics, Manufacturing Facilities, Marketing and R&D.Provide leadership, expertise, and methodology to develop, maintain, and improve relevant processes across all categories, suppliers and contract manufacturing sites.Provide expertise, knowledge, and experience to advise on and resolve systemic issues while continuously improving the quality of material supply.Prioritize resources to meet urgent situations while maintaining a broad activity schedule annually.Key Performance Indicator (KPI):Lower percentage of nonconformance, work with purchasing to continuously develop and improve the NMCR process, lower the number of audits and onsite visits, create a quality program with suppliers, simplify the supplier approval process.Reports to: VP, Quality & Regulatory Affairs. Key Internal Partners: Manufacturing plants, Purchasing, R&D and Logistics. Key External Partners: Raw Material and Packaging Suppliers and 3rd Party Warehouse**Qualifications:**Bachelors degree in Science (Food, Chemistry, Engineering, Microbiology, or related field.)10-12 years of progressive experience in Quality, Purchasing and/or R&D.5+ years leading a Supplier Quality program.GFSI standards auditing experience required.GFSI experience (SQF and/or BRC preferred).Strong understanding and knowledge of FSMA, GMP and HACCP principles.Salary $150-160K, 15% bonus incentive, Medical, Dental and Vision Plan, Life Insurance, 401K + 4% match, vacation, holidays and relocation.