Royal Canin
Supplier Quality Assurance Category Lead (H/F/X)
Aimargues, Francia
Everything we do is driven by our passion for pets. Across every role and every location around the world, our teams are united by a shared purpose: creating A Better World For Pets. As a truly pet-centric company, we put pets at the heart of everything—from the products we create to the care and expertise we bring to our work. Whether you’re in R&D, manufacturing, customer care, or any of the corporate functions, your contributions make a direct impact on the health of pets everywhere. We’re also deeply committed to the growth and development of our associates, offering opportunities to learn, innovate, and make a difference every day.
- Job Type: varies
- Level: mid-level
- Travel: varies
- Average Salary: $63K-$96K
Success Profile
What makes a successful Supplier Quality Assurance Category Lead (H/F/X) at Royal Canin? We look for the right mix of the following traits when speaking with you.
- Analytical
- Curious
- Efficient
- Responsible
- Results-driven
- Team player
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Purpose
Connect your passion for pets to the purpose: A Better World For Pets
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Health & Wellbeing
A comprehensive focus on your individual health & wellbeing
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Inclusion
A place where you can belong and be yourself
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Career development
Professional learning offerings, annual personal development plans, Mars University
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Attractive total rewards
Your financial wellbeing through a competitve salary and bonus plan
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Focus on sustainability
We invest in you so you can make a better world
What I love most about Royal Canin is how pet-centric we are—everything we do revolves around improving the lives of pets. It’s not just about creating high-quality products; it’s about living our purpose every day. At the same time, Royal Canin invests in us as associates, helping us grow, develop our skills, and find real meaning in our work. It’s inspiring to be part of a global team that prioritizes both pet health and personal development.
Christina Sermak-Frankowski People & Organization Director, Learning & Culture
Supplier Quality Assurance Category Lead(H/F/X)
Segment : Royal Canin
Location : Aimargues (Near Montpellier)
Type of contract : Permanent
The Global SQA Category Lead is responsible for developing and driving the global supplier quality assurance strategy for Palatants for both Royal Canin and Pet Nutrition. This strategic role emphasizes governance, policy development, and continuous improvement across the global supplier base, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and regulatory requirements.
The position is non-operational and focuses on leadership, collaboration, and influence rather than day-to-day execution.
What are we looking for?
Bachelor of Sciences Degree in Biology Chemistry, Food Science, Agronomy, Engineering or similar technical field
Has satisfactorily completed IRCA Lead Auditor training course
Fluent in English is a must, fluent in another language is good to have.
10+ years of experience in a technical area such as quality and food safety or material development including 5+ years of experience in supplier quality management
Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems and evaluate quality risks.
Proven ability to deploy and influence quality standards and strategies
What will be your key responsibilities?
Governance & Policy: Establish and maintain global policies, requirements and ways of working for supplier quality assurance. Ensure compliance with internal and external regulatory requirements.
Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with senior leadership, category management, procurement, and regional SQA teams to communicate strategy, share best practices, and drive alignment.
Continuous Improvement: Lead global initiatives to enhance supplier quality performance, including benchmarking, innovation, and adoption of new technologies and methodologies.
Risk Management: Develop global risk assessment models and mitigation strategies for supplier quality, supporting proactive decision-making at the enterprise level.
Performance Monitoring: Define and track global supplier quality KPIs, analyze trends, and report insights to executive stakeholders.
Supplier Development: Oversee global supplier development programs, focusing on capability building, long-term partnership, and strategic improvement.
Training & Knowledge Sharing: Develop and deliver global training programs, workshops, and resources to elevate supplier quality standards and awareness across regions.
External Engagement: Represent the company in industry forums, regulatory bodies, and external partnerships to shape supplier quality standards and practices.
Ownership of MQM: Serve as the owner of Material Quality Management (MQM) across all categories, ensuring its effective deployment, governance, and continuous improvement aligned with organizational goals.
Global Strategy Development: Design and implement global supplier quality assurance strategies and frameworks for the assigned category, ensuring consistency and alignment with business goals.
What can you expect from Mars?
Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by The Five Principles.
Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.
[Insert any additional market/role specific benefits that the candidate might be interested in]
Find out more about what Mars can offer you by visiting our Global Careers