Asst. Supplier Assurance Manager (Ingredients, Commodities & Packaging)

Overview

PURPOSE & IMPACT: The role enables Supplier Assurance Managers to operate effectively and make informed, risk-based decisions by acting as a key coordination bridge between Suppliers, Procurement, Manufacturing Quality, R&D, and other supplier assurance stakeholders.

Focused on a specific buying segment, the role supports the end-to-end delivery of supplier assurance activities for that segment, ensuring food safety, quality, regulatory compliance, and data integrity. The role drives timely issue resolution, maintains high-quality and up-to-date documentation, and facilitates cross-functional collaboration to support robust supplier risk management and informed business decisions.

Responsibilities

First Line Supplier & Stakeholder Support

• Act as the first point of contact for supplier assurance queries, issues, and information requests, both internally and externally
• Investigate and resolve routine matters independently, escalating complex or high-risk issues appropriately
• Maintain clear, consistent communication with suppliers and internal stakeholders

Supplier Assurance Process Support

• Support execution of supplier assurance processes, including obtaining supplier documentation, alerts, certifications, and responses to questionnaires
• Collate, analyse, and summarise supplier data to support risk assessments and business decision-making
• Ensure supplier assurance systems are maintained with accurate and up-to-date information

Supplier Approval & Due Diligence

• Complete administrative and coordination activities related to supplier approval and onboarding
• Review supplier documentation for completeness and compliance against defined standards
• Maintain accurate and current supplier due diligence files for the designated segment
• Ensure ongoing updates of supplier assurance documentation, including risk assessments, self-assessment questionnaires, and certification status

Performance Monitoring & Reporting

• Supports sourcing process - analysing and summarising responses from suppliers to Alerts, RFIs etc.
• Support Supplier Performance Review Meetings and internal review forums by gathering and consolidating data from supplier assurance systems and cross-functional sources
• Provide trend analysis and structured insights to inform discussions and actions
• Prepare presentations, dashboards, and status reports for Supplier Assurance Managers and key stakeholders

Issue & Incident Support

• Assist in the investigation of supplier-originating quality, food safety, and integrity issues, ensuring timely tracking and resolution of corrective and preventive actions
• Maintain up-to-date status tracking of supplier issues, audits, corrective action plans, and close-outs for the segment
• Provide support in responding to supplier non-conformances, complaints, and incidents

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Maintain strong collaboration with Procurement, Manufacturing Quality, R&D, FSQR Data & Analytics teams, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure smooth delivery of supplier assurance plans and processes

Qualifications

• Food or Science degree or equivalent
• HACCP/Food Safety Level 3
• Experience of working in quality or food safety or technical roles in multi-national, commercial organisations of scale is essential. FMCG and Food Manufacturing sector experience preferred
• Exposure to food safety, quality management systems, supplier approval, or regulatory compliance processes
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills with high attention to detail
• Ability to analyse and interpret data, identify trends, and summarise insights clearly in order to support risk assessments or business decisions
• Structured and disciplined approach to documentation and process compliance
• Clear written and verbal communication skills
• Confidence to follow up, challenge constructively, and escalate where appropriate
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and maintain alignment