Raw Material Quality Specialist - Erlanger, KY

Raw Material Quality Specialist - Erlanger, KY

Position Summary
The Raw Material Quality Specialist is responsible for supporting raw material qualification for new and second source raw materials, supplier approval, and ongoing risk management activities across BEVQC, QC, and QCMICRO workflows. This role serves as a key liaison between Quality, Food Safety, Microbiology, and Procurement teams to ensure raw materials meet established quality, regulatory, and food safety requirements. While providing primary support for color-related workflows, the specialist is responsible for completing all assigned raw material workflows as needed.

Key Responsibilities
BEVQC Workflow Management

• Support new and second source and reactivate raw material qualification workflows.
• Review vendor specifications and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and enter critical raw material information into AS400, including:
• Flash Point
• Appearance
• Aroma
• Color
• Shelf-Life
• Storage Conditions
• Maintain and update this data for all approved raw materials.
• Ensure raw material information remains accurate, current, and aligned with supplier documentation.
• Participate in cross-functional workflow review meetings and provide status updates.
• Partner with Procurement and Category Specialists to resolve specification discrepancies and support supplier qualification activities.

QC Workflow Management

• Support new and second source, distributor, mass replace, and reactivate raw material qualification workflows.
• Evaluate test samples against vendor specifications for physical and chemical attributes.
• Conduct sensory evaluations for second source raw material workflows.
• Verify alignment of all supplier specifications with applicable USP and/or FCC monographs.
• Implement 3rd party testing programs for high risk raw materials per risk assessment, including pesticide and heavy metal monitoring where warranted.
• Participate in cross-functional workflow review meetings and provide status updates.
• Partner with Procurement and Category Specialists to resolve specification discrepancies and support supplier qualification activities.

QCMICRO Workflow Management

• Support new and second source and reactivate raw material qualification workflows.
• Review supplier documentation within OpenText to ensure completeness and compliance for all food safety and microbiological documentation.
• Utilize HorizonScan, FDA Appendix, FDA/USDA alerts amongst other risk management tools to evaluate material specific hazards and supplier risk.
• Complete raw material risk assessments and supporting risk analysis documentation.
• Review supplier food safety documentation, hazard analyses, preventive controls, and verification activities to assess compliance with FSVP requirements if applicable.
• Perform supplier and material assessment, supplier site, and FSVP if applicable activities within eQMS to qualify the supplier and raw material.
• Support supplier qualification and ongoing monitoring programs by evaluating food safety and microbiological risks and applying appropriate microbiological specifications and sampling plans.
• Participate in cross-functional workflow review meetings and provide status updates.
• Partner with Procurement and Category Specialists to resolve specification discrepancies and support supplier qualification activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Microbiology, Quality Assurance, or a related field.
• Experience in raw material quality, supplier quality management, food safety, and regulatory compliance.
• Knowledge of raw material qualification processes, supplier approval programs, and risk assessment.
• Familiarity with USP and FCC monographs, GMPs, HACCP, food safety regulations, and supplier management systems.
• Experience with systems such as AS400, OpenText, eQMS, HorizonScan, and Microsoft Office applications preferred.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Excited about this role but don’t think you meet every requirement listed? We encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings.

ADM requires the successful completion of a background check. 

REF:111463BR