What are the responsibilities and job description for the Quality Food Technologist position at Hunter the Headhunter?
Quality Systems Food Technologist
Position Summary
The Quality Systems Food Technologist supports the company's supplier quality, ingredient approval, and regulatory compliance programs. This role is responsible for managing supplier documentation, ingredient qualification, quality systems, and change control while partnering cross-functionally with Quality, R&D, Procurement, Packaging, and Operations to support both new product commercialization and ongoing manufacturing.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage supplier and ingredient qualification programs, ensuring compliance with FDA, USDA, FSMA, SQF, and customer requirements.
- Serve as the primary administrator for TraceGains and other supplier/customer quality databases, maintaining accurate and audit-ready records.
- Review supplier documentation including food safety certifications, HACCP plans, Letters of Guarantee, insurance, allergen information, and regulatory documentation.
- Coordinate ingredient and supplier change control activities with R&D, Procurement, Regulatory, and Quality teams.
- Support new product commercialization by reviewing and approving ingredient and supplier documentation.
- Maintain approved supplier and ingredient lists, specifications, and quality documentation within SAP and other quality systems.
- Track supplier performance metrics, assist with raw material investigations, and support supplier corrective actions and audits.
- Participate in continuous improvement initiatives and ensure quality systems remain compliant and audit-ready.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Nutrition, or a related scientific discipline.
- 1-3 years of experience in Quality Assurance, Food Safety, Supplier Quality, Regulatory Affairs, or Quality Systems within food manufacturing.
- Experience with supplier qualification, document control, and regulatory compliance.
- Familiarity with TraceGains, SAP, or similar quality management systems is preferred.
- Working knowledge of FSMA, HACCP, SQF, FDA, and USDA requirements.
- Strong organizational, communication, and project management skills.