New

Sr Manager, Supplier Food Safety and QA

Meijer
parental leave
United States, Michigan, Grand Rapids
Feb 20, 2026
As a family company, we serve people and communities. When you work at Meijer, you're provided with career and community opportunities centered around leadership, personal growth and development. Consider joining our family - take care of your career and your community! Meijer Rewards Weekly pay Scheduling flexibility Paid parental leave Paid education assistance Team member discount Development programs for advancement and career growth Please review the job profile below and apply today! Lead the end-to-end Food Safety and risk mitigation strategy for Suppliers (Own Brand suppliers, Meijer Manufacturing Ingredient Suppliers, National Brand High-Risk Suppliers, etc.) from qualification and risk assessment through ongoing performance management, incident response, and continuous improvement. You will design and govern a risk-based supplier management framework aligned to regulatory requirements (e.g., FDA, FSMA, USDA, etc.), GFSI benchmarked standards, and our brand's performance ambitions, while developing a high performing team and cross functional partnerships across Own Brands, Sourcing, Merchandising, Product Development, Manufacturing/Operations, and Distribution. WhatYou'llBe Doing: Strategy & Governance Build and own arisk-basedsupplier Food Safety strategyfor Own Brands, Meijer Manufacturing ingredients (ingredients, finished goods, and packaging), National Brand high-risk products, across categories. Establish policies and standardsbased onscience,industry best practices, emerging risks, regulatory requirements,whichincorporatesGFSI requirementsacross multitiered supply networks. Translateregulatory changesand emerging risks into clear, prioritized controls, SOPs, and verification plans. Determinesupplier compliance with applicable regulations beyond FSMA/USDA in assigned categories. Support implementation of department processes, standards, policies, and projectsin a timely manner. Supplier Qualification & Ongoing Assurance Build the program toestablish, implement, and managethe Meijer Supplier Food Safety Standard. Leadstandard development, riskmodel development,determinethe riskranking requirements,qualification, approval, andmaintenance auditsof supplier facilities; oversee corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) and escalation pathways. Integrate food safety requirements forproduct and process controls within the Own Brand product specifications, collaboratingwith QA/Product Development; ensure claims (e.g., allergen, "gluten free") are scientifically supported and verified. Identify3P auditing partners tofacilitatedesk and facility level reviews to verifysuppliercomplianceagainst the Meijer Standard. This includesfacility-level claims (e.g., gluten-free, allergen programs) per regulatory guidance and Meijer standards; and prerequisite programs (pest management, GMPs, allergen control, foreign material prevention,environmental monitoring,master sanitation, food fraud, preventive equipment maintenance) within supplier operations. Deployprocess capability and SPC programsto improve supplier reliability and reduce variability in critical parameters. Incident Management & Business Continuity Ownsupplier relatedincident response (holds, withdrawals, recalls) includingtrack & holdprotocols, rapid risk assessment, and crisis communications; manage investigations of product or facility-related issues with suppliers; ensure effective root cause analysis and robust corrective/preventiveaction. Monitor industry-wide outbreaks/recalls and translate lessons learned into preventive changes and supplier requirements. Establish and define criteria for change management to ensure safety, compliance, and business continuity. Cross FunctionalLeadership FunctionalLeadership Partner withOwn Brands/Sourcing/Merchandising/Manufacturingon supplier selection, scorecards, and performance requirements; withOwn Brand/Manufacturing &Sourcingon incoming controls and release; withProduct Developmenton design forfood safetyand shelf life; and withRegulatory/Legalon label claims and compliance. Build andmaintainprofessional working relationships with suppliers while holding them accountable to Meijer standards. Serve as the Food Safety voice in commercialization and change management to ensureright-the first-time launchesand risk-based substitutions. Serve as the operational communication link between Meijer, stakeholders, and third-party partners (testing labs, audit/inspection companies) to execute verificationactivities. Escalate supplier/facility performance risks to leadership with Food Safety recommendations on facility status, withdrawals/recalls, disposition, and overall performance action plans. People & Culture Lead, coach, and develop a team of Food Safetyprofessionals and external partners (labs, audit providers); build a culture ofownership, accountability, and continuous improvement. Provide targeted training (HACCP/FSMA Preventive Controls, FSVP, allergen control, foreign material prevention,environmental monitoring &sanitation, SPC). Digital Systems & Analytics Establish and create supplier/food safety platforms and dashboards to manage risk, specification requirements, and performance at scale, drivedata informed decisions. Key Performance Indicators EstablishKey Performance Indicators to document, track, andmonitorsupplier food safety requirements, aligned with Own Brands/Manufacturing/Sourcing/Merchandising. Examples of KPIs include: % suppliers approved/maintainedon time;high risksuppliers with enhanced oversight metrictime. Audit performance: major/critical nonconformances per audit;CAPA closureprocesstimeand reoccurrencerate. Incoming defect rate / COA conformity;first passacceptance. Incident metrics. Determinemethodologytoincorporate KPIs into continuous improvement frameworks. What You BringWithYou: Bachelor's degree inFood Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Engineering, or related field(or equivalent experience). 8+ years in Food & Beveragequality/food safetywith significant supplier management and manufacturing exposure;plant-levelquality leadershipexperiencerequired. Strong working knowledge ofFSMA/Preventive Controls/HACCP,GFSI benchmarkedschemes (e.g., SQF, BRCGS). Demonstrated capability inrisk assessment, supplier auditing,statistical tools/SPC, change management, and leading complexcross functionalprojects. Excellent communication skills with the ability toinfluence atmultiple levels and with external partners. Advanced degree (M.S. in Food Science/Engineering) or MBA; PCQI, HACCP, FSVP, and GFSI auditor/implementer credentials (preferred). Experience in global supplier networks and consumer brands (preferred). Familiarity with specification and supplier systems(preferred).