Compliance Specialist, Vendor Quality

As our Vendor Compliance Specialist, you will own and strengthen a disciplined, risk-based Vendor Management Program—with a particular focus on produce suppliers, brokers, and traceability back to the true source.

This role is for a hands-on quality leader who knows how to hold vendors accountable, close documentation gaps, and ensure we clearly understand who is supplying what commodity, from where, and under what controls. You’ll bring structure, visibility, and consequences to supplier compliance—while partnering closely with Procurement, Operations, and Finance to protect food safety, brand integrity, and audit readiness.

How You’ll Make an Impact:

• Own and advance the Vendor Management Program, covering supplier approval, performance monitoring, escalation, and disengagement
• Drive timely supplier documentation and follow-up, with clear accountability for late or missing items
• Make confident decisions to pause or remove non-compliant suppliers when standards aren’t met
• Strengthen supplier and commodity transparency, especially for produce and brokered items, ensuring visibility to the true grower or processor
• Align approved commodities to approved suppliers and prevent unauthorized substitutions
• Perform source-level diligence when risk or complexity requires it
• Lead supplier audits, including third-party review and targeted on-site audits based on risk, commodity, or performance
• Ensure corrective actions are effective, documented, and closed
• Maintain accurate, audit-ready supplier documentation and data across DCN, ERP, and SpecRight
• Close visibility gaps between brokers, distributors, and growers—starting with priority commodities
• Build and use vendor scorecards to track risk, quality, food safety, service, and shelf-life performance
• Tie complaints and shelf-life outcomes directly to suppliers using SpecRight and reporting tools

What You’ll Need to Succeed:

You bring technical credibility and practical judgment—you understand the regulations, the intent behind them, and how to apply them in a fast-moving manufacturing environment. You’re structured, decisive, and comfortable enforcing standards while maintaining strong, productive supplier relationships.

• Strong working knowledge of U.S. and Canadian food regulations
• Proven ability to analyze audits, regulations, supplier data, and risk signals and translate them into clear, actionable plans
• Deep experience managing food suppliers, brokers, and distributors, with particular strength in produce
• Hands-on experience with SpecRight, Azzule, TraceGains, ERP systems, DCN, and reporting tools
• Experience building, strengthening, or revitalizing vendor scorecards and compliance programs
• Comfortable managing multiple priorities with high attention to detail and follow-through
• Clear, confident communicator who collaborates effectively across Operations, Procurement, R&D, Sales, Finance, IT, and QA
• A mindset grounded in ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Calm, firm, and solutions-focused—whether addressing audit gaps, recalls, or supplier pushback, including when supplier disengagement is required

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Agriculture, or related field (Equivalent experience considered)
• 5 years in supply chain quality, supplier quality, food safety, or vendor compliance
• Practical experience with FSMA, HACCP, GFSI (SQF, BRC), Produce Safety, and traceability requirements

Physical Demands:

This role requires regular communication and the ability to work at a computer for extended periods. The position involves frequent sitting, with occasional standing, walking, and light physical activity such as reaching, bending, or lifting up to 25 pounds. Visual ability to review detailed information on a screen and in documents is required.

Work Environment:

Cold working environment (approximately 37°F) while at manufacturing facilities. Physical hazards of working in and about moving machinery

Join the Fresh Revolution with F&S Fresh Foods!

Headquartered in Vineland, NJ, F&S Fresh Foods is leading the way in fresh-cut fruit, vegetables, and meal solutions distribution. With the recent acquisition of five additional state-of-the-art facilities strategically located across the U.S., we now deliver to customers across the United States and Canada —every single day!

For over 40 years, we’ve been redefining production and safety processes, building strong partnerships, and creating endless possibilities for our diverse customers—from restaurants and supermarket prepared food operations to convenience store chains and beyond. At F&S, we are fueling families with nutrition, innovation, and convenience, turning meals into memorable moments. By combining cutting-edge technology, deep-rooted customer relationships, and operational excellence, we are shaping the future of fresh—from farm to family.

We’re not just about food; we’re about people. Recognized as a Great Place to Work for five (5) consecutive years, our team of 2,100 full-time employees drives our culture forward by living our values every day.

If you’re ready to be part of a company that values innovation, excellence, and community impact, join us as we embrace our next exciting chapter of growth. Together, we’re planting the seeds of progress and nourishing a fresh, healthy future for everyone!

Our Values: As we continue to grow and provide leading edge products to our customers, we understand hiring the right people and treating them well is critical to our success. Everything we do starts with our values. These are the beliefs that we share and that strengthen our team. Our values shape our thoughts and actions every day. At F&S its Always FRESH and Always FUN!

Find the most positive path.

Respond swiftly, accurately, and nimbly.

Earn trust by sharing, helping, and keeping promises.

Serve up safety.

Have each other’s backs.

F&S Offers: We are proud to provide a comprehensive benefits program focused on your total well-being.

• Competitive compensation package
• A robust health and welfare benefits package that includes Life, Health, Dental, Vision
• The opportunity to plan for the future with a strong 401(K) including company match
• Time to recharge with Paid Time Off annually Paid Holidays
• Career Advancement opportunities and Tuition Assistance to help you achieve your goals and continue your career growth.

F&S is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in its workforce. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. Join us in shaping the future of F&S Fresh Foods!

F&S Fresh Foods does not accept unsolicited resumes from search or staffing firms. No placement fees will be paid in the event a candidate is hired through an unsolicited referral. Firms that are not authorized to recruit on this search will not be eligible for fees or ownership claims.