R&D Supplier Quality Assurance Scientist

This role will assist the Europe Supplier Quality Assurance team by conducting re-approvals annually for low risk designated suppliers located in Europe that supply ingredients to Pepsico. This role will contact suppliers, request, and review returned pre-requisite data and documents, and re-approve the supplier site (3-year reapproval cycle). The role will update the required database(s) to support the re-approval. The expectation is ~200 supplier sites per year. The role will also support ancillary programs in Europe SQA such as gathering program evidence from suppliers and brokers related to Food Fraud, Quality and Food safety Certifications and Contaminants programs as well as updating the Master Supplier Ingredient database when new ingredients are added to existing supplier sites or when ingredients or supplier sites are obsoleted. In addition, the role may be required to create short PowerPoint reviews of supplier non conformances from specified material groups on a quarterly basis (~ 5) to support the Europe SQA agenda. There will be an ongoing requirement to cleanse and update supplier/ingredient data in the data base /portals with information supplied by Suppliers or GP or Pep manufacturing facilities.

Functional Responsibilities

• Utilize SQA Trackwise database to determine Supplier site re-approvals required over a defined time (12 months). SQA Europe team can construct a list/query to enable this and have specific records can be assigned to a named person.

• Using a pre-determined script by Material class/Sub class of materials, and/or a specific questionnaire to use send a request by email to the supplier requesting documentation and certifications to support the re-approval. The pre-determined documents are listed on script and in the body of the specific questionnaire. The process can benefit from having a brief zoom call with the supplier to re-educate the supplier on the request. This has proven to assist the agility of receiving all the documentation at once and avoids re-connecting / follow up on missing documentation. Typical documents requested are quality and food safety certifications (GFSI/ISO9001/Others), 3rd party audit reports, process flow diagrams, HACCP plans, specific contaminants data, pathogen sensitive ingredient program etc.

• Because the re-approval frequency for low-risk suppliers is approx. 3 years, it is likely that the supplier contacts may have changed, so it may be necessary at times to find a new contact by connecting with GP or pep site representative to determine who buys the material and ascertaining a new contact.

• Review all documents received from supplier site and create an Audit record in Trackwise database, complete the requisite record fields based on the information supplied. Carry out a check on FDA data base or horizon scanning data base also is required. Attach all the received Supplier site documents and questionnaire, and assign a status, and next audit date, and complete the audit verifying materials are correct.

• The person will also update progress metrics monthly showing number of sites completed/ sites outstanding/ overdue / sites on plan for balance of year. This can be a simple Dashboard.

• Maintain data governance of the information supplied by the R&D /specifications teams to update all Ingredient records in the Global Trackwise Database (additions/changes ~5-10 per week) cross checking the data base and if needed the specifications. In addition, continue to cleanse Supplier -Ingredient Master data in Trackwise data to ensure records are in correct status and are complaint, as required. e.g., Update any supplier site name changes or contact name changes etc. These are ad hoc and not frequent but important to update.

• Add GFSI certificates to supplier audit record when received, upload certificates to TW site audit record from Portal.

• Support the Supplier Performance Management agenda. (primarily supplier non-conformance incidents registered by plants and in a database). The task primarily would be to the preparation of short presentations for cross functional meetings held quarterly targeting ~ 5 material category metrics.

• Help prepare data for Europe sector manufacturing sites GFSI audits. The request is generally to check supplier data and documents received before an audit to ensure it is all present and correct or collect data during the audit if we find issues on conformance. This may be one or twice per month.
• Support ancillary programs in SQA such as food fraud questionnaire sending and reviewing to suppliers, request for contaminants data, creating ad-hoc requests from suppliers resulting from an incident of regulatory affairs requests, sending and reviewing/ aligning Pathogen Sensitive Ingredient (PSIP) Questionnaires as part of a formal Europe PSIP program. Some of these requests in the medium term may be automated but still requires governance to check compliance and close out requests/ follow up on outstanding information yet to be furnished.

• Bachelors degree in a science discipline (e.g Food Science, Food Engineering, Food Chemistry, Microbiology, Biochemical Engineering or Chemical Engineering or equivalent relevant experience required.)
• Lead Auditor training is a requirement, and the person will need to complete training either in advance, or shortly afterward joining the team. SQA Europe team can act as proxy to quicky review and approve the records in the interim and Europe SQA can assist in organizing the training as applicable.
• 1-2 years of experience on Regulatory, QA/QC, or other Food related FMCG in a technical role
• Ability to interpret technical information, escalate issues and seek alignment towards workable solutions.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to rapidly learn computer applications/programs / interrogate databases such as specification /SAP & navigate systems.
• Basic understanding of Food Safety, Microbiology and Regulatory Affairs
• Collaborative skills and strong interest in working with others across time zones; Ability to build relationships and work closely with both internal and external partners.