Supplier Quality Portfolio Associate Manager

Our Company The Kraft Heinz Company is the fifth largest food and beverage company in the world, with eight $1 billion+ brands and global sales of approximately $25 billion. We are a globally trusted producer of delicious foods for 150 years, and we provide high quality, great taste and nutrition for all eating occasions whether at home, in restaurants or on-the-go. The Kraft Heinz Company manufactures and markets food and beverage products in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Australia and throughout Asia-Pacific. Our products include condiments and sauces, cheese and dairy, meals, meats, refreshment beverages, coffee, and other grocery products, as well as infant and nutrition products.

As one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, we are proud to spark joy around mealtimes with a global portfolio of more than 200 brands. Our iconic brands include Kraft, Oscar Mayer, Heinz, Philadelphia, Lunchables, Velveeta, Maxwell House, Capri Sun, Kool-Aid, Jell-O, and Classico, among others. We sell products through our own sales organizations and through independent brokers, agents, and distributors to convenience stores, drug stores, value stores, bakeries, pharmacies, mass merchants, club stores, foodservice distributors, and institutions (e.g., hotels, restaurants, hospitals, health care facilities, and certain government agencies) as well as to chain, wholesale, cooperative, and independent grocery accounts.

No matter the brand, we are united under one vision: To Be the Best Food Company, Growing a Better World. Bringing this vision to life are our 39,000+ teammates around the world, making food people love. Together, we help provide meals to those in need through our global partnership and commitment with Rise Against Hunger. And we also stand committed to sustainability, and the health of our planet and its people. Every day, we are transforming the food industry with bold thinking and unprecedented results. If you share our passion -- and are ready to create the future, build on storied legacy, and participate as a conscientious global citizen -- there’s one thing to do: join us.

Our culture of Ownership, Meritocracy and Collaboration We’re not afraid to think differently. Embrace new ideas. Dream big. We empower our people at every level – from entry intern to senior leader -- to own their work. We believe that we share a responsibility to think like Owners – to be mindful of the collective and sustained success of Kraft Heinz – and we apply this to every situation, every day. As part of Kraft Heinz, you’re supported to grow and achieve. You’re recognized and rewarded for outstanding performance at every level. You’re given opportunity to leave a mark and build a legacy. But you won’t do it alone. You’ll be supported by a thriving group of teammates in over 40 countries around the world, and our collective, collaborative spirit fuels our incredible progress every day.

Role / Title : Supplier Quality Portfolio Associate Manager

This role/position ensures effective implementation and execution of the Kraft Heinz Supplier Quality Management System across an assigned ingredient or packaging category. The position provides visible quality leadership ensuring that KHC supplier quality standards are understood and met through on-site assessments as well as desk top audit as determined by the Kraft Heinz supplier management policy. This position also ensures that best practices are replicated across the category. This position requires travel between 50 – 70%.

This role is responsible for providing program support and data analysis for the US and Canada supplier quality program. This position requires some quality technical depth and applicant should be comfortable with learning and working with internal systems, technology and reporting. As there is a significant amount of supplier compliance and performance data for ~ 3,000 KHC, the position requires exceptional organizational skills. It is important that the person is detailed oriented to make sure data is accurate in the system. Organization and communication skills are also needed to support the KHC audit strategy and working with external partners.

In this role, the individual will evaluate the 2nd party audit reports for the KHC NA suppliers as well as support global compliance reporting, which is a very important KPI to support strategic growth. The individual will work with outside audit companies (examples NSF and DNV) weekly to 2nd party audits are complete and include supplier corrective and preventive actions. In addition, the person will track and trend data for reporting purposes.

This person will support plants in achieving Quality KPIs through participation in root cause activities, corrective and preventive action, and customer complaint related to suppliers. This position works closely with cross functional partners (Examples include but not limited to Procurement, specification management, FSM, R&D, Category Quality, Material management, Plant Quality) . Candidate should be comfortable with working with virtual tools to conduct audits if needed. Travel required 50-70%.

Key Components of the role

• Manage assigned portfolios/Categories of suppliers against KHC Supplier expectation Manual and Supplier management policies

• Support KHC business teams and factories to address supplier performance concerns or complaints; perform follow-up visits (“tech assessments”), as needed

• Provide FSQ input into Procurement sourcing strategy and supplier business review meetings

• Conduct Supplier Quality Audits on behalf of KHC

• Maintained compliance to FSMA and to KHC Internal Policy

• Schedule new audits requested by the business

• Train cross functional partners on Supplier Quality WOW

• Ensure that audit trackers and data are up to date

• Become knowledgeable on functional Quality systems (Agile, SAP and Intelex)

• Maintain communication with suppliers in your portfolio

• Maintain communication with internal KHC factories and cross functional partners

• Review 2nd party audit program for NA

• Prepare monthly tracking documents

• Support Supplier Verification as it relates to FSMA (regulations FDA and CFIA) where applicable

• Build organizational capacity and monitor Food Safety events across the supply chain for assigned portfolio

• Maintain Food Fraud Vulnerability register using software and technology available to the team.

• Utilize KHC electronic Quality Management System

• Support NA Supplier Quality team to deliver against key KPIs and business objectives to meet overall NA Zone FSQ and organizational deliverables and strategic commitments

Proficiency:

• HACCP Compliance and Execution; Compliance with KHC and FSMA Requirements

• Auditing

• Communication

• Relationship building

• Integrity and Trust

• Organization skills

• Ability to work autonomously

• Results driven

Communication:

• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing by adopting appropriate communication style to Senior Leaders and individuals at all levels of the organization to promote and embed risk monitoring process.

• Skilled in standing alone and delivering tough messaging (i.e., related to audit observations or supplier performance)

• Establish key relationships and lead discussions with cross functional teams to understand and collaborate on complex business issues.

• Ability to interact and exercise strong judgment in communicating issues internally and to senior management.

• Articulate understanding of business areas under review and demonstrate thorough analysis and solid rationale for potential issues.

• Update Manager, Sr. Manager and/or Head of Supplier Quality on progress and potential issues in a timely manner.

Leadership:

• Develop an open and honest working relationship with Senior Leaders and those being audited and maintain a professional approach at all times.

• Share best practices, tools and testing methodologies with all members of the audit team, members of the business and contribute to departmental projects.

• Be able to work with multiple organizations and teams, consistently meet deadlines and work well under time constraints and be able to quickly learn and understands diverse business areas/systems.

Qualifications:

• BS Degree in Food Science, Animal Science, Microbiology or other related field

• Food safety and regulatory requirements (PCQI preferred)

• Supplier expectations in Food Safety, Regulatory and Quality

• Fundamental statistics (DMAIC Process/DFSS/Lean/Metrology/MSA/Sampling Procedures)

• 3-5 years of experience in food or CPG

• Experience in plant and/or corporate quality

• Experience in RDQI

• Working knowledge of quality systems and policies, HACCP, and ISO/GFSI systems

• Lean Six Sigma to support Supplier Integration

• Excellent computer skills in Microsoft office suite (i.e., Excel and PowerPoint) a must

• Understanding of the procurement processes a plus

• Experience or education in food science, food safety or packaging a plus

EEO Statement Kraft Heinz is an EEO employer – Minorities/Women/Vets/Disabled and other protected categories