Job Details

Position Overview The Supplier Quality Manager will play a critical role in ensuring the quality, safety, and compliance of all incoming materials and supplier?partner programs. This position will lead supplier qualification, ongoing monitoring, and performance management programs while supporting continuous improvement initiatives. The role is remote, manages one direct report, and requires strong technical expertise in food safety standards, regulatory compliance, and data?driven decision?making. Occasional travel to company manufacturing sites and supplier locations may be required. This position may also serve as a designated back?up for the Senior Director of Quality and Plant QA Managers as needed, ensuring continuity of leadership and decision?making across the Quality organization.

Key Responsibilities

Supplier Management & Compliance

• Lead supplier approval, auditing, monitoring, and verification processes, ensuring compliance with GFSI?benchmarked standards (BRC, SQF, FSSC 22000) and company requirements.
• Oversee risk assessments, corrective action management, and continuous improvement plans with suppliers.
• Serve as the primary liaison with suppliers on quality and food safety expectations, audits, and issue resolution.

Food Safety & Regulatory Oversight

• Maintain advanced knowledge and application of HACCP principles and ensure supplier programs align with company HACCP plans.
• Act as a PCQI resource for supplier programs, ensuring compliance with US and Canada requirements.
• Ensure supplier documentation meets requirements for USDA Organic, Juice HACCP, FSMA and FSVP where applicable.
• Support internal plants as needed for QFS processes.

Data & Systems Management

• Manage supplier documentation and compliance tracking within platforms such as TraceGains.
• Build and manage dashboards to visualize supplier performance, quality trends, and risk indicators. Report KPIs to senior management.
• Leverage data analytics to drive strategic supplier quality improvements and business decisions.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Manage and develop one direct report, fostering growth in supplier quality expertise.
• Lead cross?functional supply quality meetings, ensuring alignment between procurement, operations, and quality.
• Confidently drive meetings, ensuring clear action plans, accountability, and measurable outcomes.

Note: This is not an all?inclusive list of responsibilities, and other duties may be assigned as required to meet business needs.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelors degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, or a closely related scientific field.
• Minimum 5 years of food industry experience, with a strong focus on supplier quality, quality processes and food safety.
• Advanced knowledge of HACCP.
• PCQI certification.
• Advanced working knowledge of BRCGS or other GFSI certification schemes.
• Demonstrated knowledge of USDA Organic, Kosher, non?GMO, and FSVP requirements.
• Working knowledge of auditing principles and practices.
• Experience using supplier management platforms (e.g., TraceGains).
• Skilled in building dashboards and visualizing complex data sets.
• Strong understanding of regulatory requirements (FDA, Prop 65, USDA Organic).

Soft Skills

• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to lead meetings and influence outcomes.
• Excellent problem?solving, critical thinking, and decision?making abilities.
• Proactive leadership with strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to balance technical expertise with interpersonal effectiveness in supplier and internal relationships.

Preferred Qualifications

• Beverage processing, particularly pasteurization.
• Completed coursework in Better Process Control School modules.
• Advanced knowledge of risk assessment tools and supplier auditing.

TruRoots Company is a private equity?backed CPG food and beverage company with thriving, category?leading brands that consumers love. We are focused on accelerating growth through expanding our brand portfolios, which include RW Knudsen Family juices, Santa?Cruz Organic beverages and apple sauces, TruRoots grains, and private label customers. We are seeking a detail oriented Supply Quality Specialist that can support the organizations supply quality needs as we grow.

TruRoots is an equal?opportunity employer. We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, natural origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristics protected by applicable law. In compliance with federal and state employment laws, TruRoots prohibits discrimination against employees and applicants based on these protective characteristics. This policy applies to all aspects of employment including recruitment, hiring, promotion, transfer compensation, benefits, training, and termination. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment where all employees are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness. Our commitment to diversity extends beyond compliance with the law. It is integral to our culture and central to our success as an organization.