Vendor Compliance & Onboarding Manager

COMPANY DESCRIPTION
At Beyond Meat, we started with simple questions. Why do you need an animal to create meat? Why can’t you build meat directly from plants? Thus, we make plant-based meats that allow families to eat more, not less, of the traditional dishes they love while feeling great about the health, sustainability, and animal welfare benefits of plant protein. Our goal is to bring exciting change to the plate—and Beyond.
The Vendor Compliance Manager’s primary role is to ensure that all ingredients onboarded meet requirements of customers, regulatory authorities, and the Company. The Vendor Compliance Manager is responsible for the overall coordination and implementation of ingredient quality control programs and procedures necessary to meet internal and customer specific quality control standards.

TASKS, DUTIES, & GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Approve new and existing raw materials and suppliers. Manage compliance documentation by using the vendor management system. Champion quality and food safety initiatives related to vendor compliance. Work closely with management on proactively improving quality assurance programs. 
• Onboard new suppliers and ingredients within project deadlines and ensure compliance with the company brand standards, regulatory and customer requirements. 
• Improve ingredient onboarding time by partnering with Procurement and maintain vendor KPI scorecards. Maintain supplier documentation current in the company database.
• Train vendors and other stakeholders on BYND onboarding process and system.
• Collaborate with R&D and Project Managers to communicate lead times for ingredient approvals.
• Ensure vendors meet all BYND Meat company requirements and standards.
• Write and implement SOPs where required including train company stakeholders on BYND Meat ingredients and supplier approval standards.
• Ensure claim certifications are secured in a timely manner by collaborating closely with 3rd party agencies.
• Work with the auditing team to audit vendors as needed. Manage audit non-conformances with external agencies such as BRC, SQF, Kosher, Halal, NGPV, Vegan as needed.
• Contribute to innovation and renovation projects in areas of responsibility and ensure compliance by design of finished products in close collaboration with a cross-functional team. Work collaboratively with Innovation, Commercialization, and Operations Teams in the development and commercialization process to assure quality and food safety requirements are met and ingredient compliance is achieved.
• Must have regulatory, domestic, and international food labeling knowledge. Working knowledge of FDA’s FSMA preventive controls and supply chain requirements.
• Work closely with the Co-Man management team on proactively improving quality assurance programs related to ingredients and supplier approval processes. Assist with process improvement, including working on ad hoc projects as necessary.
• Liaise with site QA Managers on meeting Quality & Regulatory requirements. Collaborate with regional Quality Managers on quality, food safety or regulatory issues.
• Must have the ability to work under pressure, problem-solve and find solutions.
• Interface with regulatory agencies, certification bodies, and customers and ensure compliance of manufacturing facilities.
• Attend industry educational training, seminars, and events to understand industry best practices and provide technical support as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS: Education, Technical Skills, and/or Previous Experience

• Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science or Microbiology preferred or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience may be considered.
• Working knowledge of HACCP ingredient risk analysis, FDA/USDA, FSMA, EU requirements and GFSI standards required.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a food and/or beverage manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of claim certifications required; halal, kosher, NGPV, vegan.
• Experience in creating finished product labels and nutritional facts panel preferred.
• Leadership skills, focused on results, employee engagement, decision making, teamwork, and change management.
• Strong mathematical skills.
• Strong PC skills; proficient in Microsoft office programs.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, problem solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to quantitatively review technical procedures and representative regulations. 
• Ability to effectively present information to groups and respond to questions from peers, supervisors, and managers is essential.
• Ability to multitask, adapt, set priorities within Quality Assurance and work in a fast-paced environment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• This position requires heavy computer use, emails, meetings