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The Supplier Quality Assurance Head leads the team of Supplier Quality Assurance (SQA) Associates which are responsible for respective Raw & Packaging Material categories within E&S. This person is responsible for sustaining and develop the high level of capabilities among the SQA team. The team collectively protects RC’s supply chain from quality, technical and food safety risks associated with raw & packaging materials, their production and transportation. The role’s purpose is also to drive the evaluation and implementation of raw & pack material quality standards (MQM & PQM) and to support the RC growth towards health nutrition and individualization via supplier’s continuous improvement.

To succeed ithe E&S Supplier Quality Assurance Head needs to develop a SQA team that can build collaborative links internally with R&D, Q&FS, and Supply department, and externally with our suppliers in order to deploy MQM, HRCI, Mycotoxin, PQM and all Mars standards.

Key interfaces within the role are the all E&S factories including E&S plant management teams, the central formulation team, the regional laboratory, the RC E&S commercial team , the E&S Q&FS team , the RC sustainability team, Mars cross segment SQA managers and global MQM managers.

Key Responsibilities

Lead & develop the SQA team, supporting the supply of RC factories in E&S

• Lead, develop and motivate the E&S SQA team, engaging them in Commercial & Q&FS strategies

• Determine training needs for SQA and new comers, regarding food safety related programs

• Set up SQA functional objectives in line with Regional Royal Canin strategy

• Develop Technical competencies of the team to upskill their competencies, ensuring consistent evaluation of supplier quality program and continuous improvement

• Train and maintain SQA activities with Commercial, Factory Q&FS and suppliers to ensure consistent roll-out within region

Royal Canin E&S Expertise in global MQM and SQA committees

• Represent Royal Canin E&S Commercial team through participation & influence in Global SQA Steering Team and Global Material Quality Management (MQM) Community.

• Deploy and ensure MQM and PQM compliance within E&S region, as aligned with Global Mars &  RC  SQA Strategies

• Interact with other SQA Heads and segment counterparts to identify best practices, improve processes, coordinate cross regional supplier reviews and collaborate on strategic projects

• Report regional periodic metrics for global roll-up

Strategic leadership for raw material quality sourcing and continuous improvement

• Lead project teams to proactively manage material quality & food safety related aspects of a project, and ensure proper visibility of risks, challenges, and/or successes. Ability to translate the message around a technical risk into a relevant business risk point of view

• Support Commercial Team, Regional QF&S Directors and Factories for Business-critical Supplier Quality processes and execution

• Review supplier and material performance and manage follow-up activities for continuous improvement with designated SQA

• Assess, track and trend audit completion in the region

• Partner with formulation and Q&FS for high supply risk, cost savings projects and long term / strategic projects to drive (Do It Best)

• Improve regional supplier performance and manage material risk assessment review with SQA

• Implement, enhance and deploy supplier quality tools & process to include best practices from Mars MQM

• Support the development and implementation of new raw materials in response to the Innovation Pipeline

• Provide direction and input for the development and implementation of consistent SQA management systems across the region: for examples audit standards, audit template, auditor requirements, and reporting

Knowledge / Experience

• 10+ years of experience in a technical area such as quality assurance, laboratory, manufacturing or food engineering, including experience in direct supplier quality management.

• Demonstrated abilities to lead, engage and develop a team, with experience in project management and leadership.

• Strong technical competencies in auditing and evaluation of supplier quality system

• Expert with the Material Quality Management (MQM & PQM) processes (risk assessment, raw material specification, auditing suppliers and material derogation).

• Knowledgeable with various global audit standards (GMP, HACCP, ISO etc)