Quality Assurance Specialist jobs in Albany, CA

The Supplier Quality Assurance Specialist partners with Ghirardelli Quality, Procurement, Supply Chain, and Research and Development teams to assess and qualify potential new suppliers and third party packaging partners in support of Ghirardelli initiatives. This individual will be required to develop close working relationships with key Ghirardelli supplier, co-manufacturer, and co-packer technical resources to provide supply chain quality support. This specialist is involved in new product and process start-up activities, and will provide problem solving and troubleshooting support as required for project initiatives. The Supply Quality Specialist is an active member of the product commercialization team and participates in the assessment and approval of outside vendors. This individual performs audits of ingredient and packaging suppliers against Ghirardelli Food Safety and Quality policies, identifying deficiencies and requesting follow-up on corrective actions. They drive resolution of vendor non-conformances and influence supply base quality best practice improvement.

Salary Range: $80,546 - $104,700 Bonus eligibility

• Recommend approval or rejection of potential new suppliers, ingredients, or packaging based on thorough assessments of quality and food safety systems against Ghirardelli policies. Effectively communicate decisions to internal and external parties
• Manage corrective and preventative actions for Ghirardelli supplier quality-related issues and non-conformances, or food safety / quality system deficiencies
• Participate as a member of innovation business teams and take the lead on initiatives involving Ghirardelli quality policies, procedures, and requirements
• Complete requested customer questionnaires communicating food safety and quality compliance
• Develop value-added working relationships with key suppliers, co-manufacturers, and co-packers
• Maintain Kosher requirements for ingredients and finished products
• Manage Supply Quality system databases as the primary Ghirardelli interface with key co-manufacturers and suppliers
• Assemble team of internal experts to solve food safety and/or quality problems or deficiencies

• Effectively interpret and communicate Ghirardelli food safety and quality policies to internal business associates and to external partners
• Support regulatory and 3rd party food safety audits
• Develop and implement best practices while driving continuous improvement
• Traveling required: at least 25 – 55%