Supplier Quality Specialist

Select Milk Producers is one of the nation’s largest and most progressive dairy cooperatives, with 32 wholly owned subsidiaries, 12 processing plants, and 8 joint ventures including Fair Oaks Farms, Continental Dairy Facilities, Continental Dairy Facilities Southwest, Mill Haven Foods, Select Custom Solutions, GreenLink and Select Services. With over 1,000 employees, the Select Milk family of companies impacts all aspects of the dairy farm business and at the heart of our family of companies, is you.

"We strive to go above and beyond what’s expected in providing for our families, leading our employees, caring for our land and animals, serving our customers, producing quality milk, and serving one another. This commitment is more than our business, it’s in our culture and our character. We believe in being accountable, in doing what’s right, in performing at our best, in setting a higher standard."

Select Milk Producers and its subsidiaries offer attractive compensation and a best-in-class benefits package that includes but is not limited to medical, vision, dental, life insurance, and more that can be tailored for you and your family. Other benefits for eligible employees include 401(k) up to 6% company match, life and disability insurance, and paid holidays & vacation. We are proud to promote an equal employment opportunity workplace.

What Select Offers You

Comprehensive benefits package focusing on your physical, financial and emotional health to include the following perks as well as the standard benefit offerings (health, dental, vision, etc.):

• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays Off
• Uniform Program
• Shoe Allowance
• Onsite gym
• Career Advancement Opportunities
• Leadership Development
• Opportunities to support our local communities
• Chance to apply best practices in sustainability and environmental initiatives
• Commitment to producing high quality nutritious products and providing nourishment around the world
  
  

What This Role Is All About

We are looking for a Supplier Quality Specialist in La Crosse, WI.

The Supplier Quality Specialist assists the Supplier Quality Supervisor in the supplier management program. The Supplier Quality Specialist helps conduct supplier documentation analysis and maintenance in our supplier portal (TraceGains), assisting with assessing risk of new suppliers/ingredients and packaging, and audits suppliers as necessary.

• Schedule: Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• This position has the opportunity to be onsite, hybrid, or remote
  
  

Job Duties

• Assist Supplier Quality Supervisor and/or Quality Assurance Manager in maintaining compliance with our supplier management program; act as the point person for specific programs as assigned by the Supplier Quality Supervisor/Quality Assurance Manager.
• Assist in ensuring supplier and item level documentation in TraceGains are being appropriately gathered, and reviewed; using a risk analysis approach, determine whether approval or denial is appropriate. Correctly document risk assessments in TraceGains along with ensuring appropriate controls are put in place.
• Help build and maintain connections in TraceGains and respond/investigate any declined TraceGains connections for more efficient document gathering.
• Help reduce food safety risk through supplier audits by periodically executing in-person audits and virtual audits. Audits to include any co-manufacturers and outside warehouse services as well.
• Assist Supplier Quality Supervisor in monitoring supplier email alerts that come through TraceGains and respond/manage supplier feedback in TraceGains.
• Continually work in TraceGains to gather and review all expired, missing, and awaiting approval supplier and item level documents for existing items.
• Ensure risk assessment tasks assigned through new product introduction program are completed in a timely manner to maintain schedule of meeting customer needs as best as possible.
• Assess food fraud risk for all items assigned utilizing SmartAlerts in TraceGains.
• Help with compiling information and submitting supplier complaints through CARs in TraceGains when facility issues result in supplier complaints.
• Improve Select Custom Solutions Quality and Food safety programs through continuous evaluation of Supplier(s).
• Work with QA Compliance on ensuring change control records are entered as needed.
• Assist Quality department in monthly GMP inspections and CAPA program.
• Understand and adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Stop any observed unsafe acts and obey facility safety rules and procedures.
• Correct or report any observed safety hazards.
• Support safety policies and programs.
  
  

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities, as management may deem necessary from time to time.

Qualifications

Education Required:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Microbiology, Food Science, Biology, Chemistry, or other Science related field required.
• Equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be considered.
  
  

Experience Required

• Minimum three (3) years of experience in Quality at a Food Manufacturing business required.
  
  

Certification/Licensure Required

• HACCP certification preferred.
• SQF Practitioner preferred.
• PCQI certification preferred.
  
  

Where You’ll Be Working

Our La Crosse, WI, plant is home to approximately 330 employees. This facility supplies the food, beverage, and nutritional industries with innovative functional ingredients and superior quality contract manufacturing services.

La Crosse, WI, is nestled between the Mississippi River and the rolling river bluffs. This town is home to a plethora of colleges, high-quality health care, community events, and cultural opportunities. If you want to enjoy outdoor activities there are many opportunities, such as hiking, cycling, skiing, and boating. The town hosts multiple events annually and is famously known for their Oktoberfest celebration as well as offering a minor league baseball team. Visit the La Crosse Chamber site https://www.lacrossechamber.com/ for more information on local events.

AA/EEO – Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity