Founded in 2012, Simple Mills is a leading provider of better-for-you crackers, cookies, snack bars, and baking mixes made with simple and nutritious high-quality ingredients that deliver extraordinary taste.
The Company has disrupted center-aisle grocery categories to become the leading cracker, cookie, and baking mix brand in the natural channel, and the leading natural cracker brand in MULO with distribution in over 30,000 stores nationwide.
Its mission is to revolutionize the way food is made to nourish people and planet. For more information, visit www.simplemills.com.
Role Description
This is a full-time, exempt, benefited position within the Simple Mills’ Quality team. This will be a critical role on the Supplier Quality team responsible for leading and executing the Simple Mills Supply Chain program and supporting the Quality department with the day-to-day requirements. This position will report to the Sr. Manager, Supplier Quality Assurance and responsibilities will include:
- Support QA team in maintaining high Quality and Food Safety standards by supporting the supplier management initiatives
- Ensure compliance of all suppliers to Simple Mills requirements regarding food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance; approving and disqualifying suppliers as required.
- Approve or disqualify suppliers through document review, on-site inspections, and risk assessments; maintain the approved supplier list
- Partner with Supplier QA Management to develop an annual target supplier list based upon supplier performance and ingredient risk factors; ensure audits are completed per agreed upon schedule
- Create internal specifications for approved ingredients
- Identify potential regulatory and/or food safety risks associated with ingredients/suppliers during product development; ensure all risks are communicated, properly assessed, controlled, and eliminated during the project.
- Managing the Quality review, substantiation, and approval of finished product packaging claims
- Managing the Corrective Action/Preventive action program for all supplier inputs and analyzing data to identify trends
- Generate and present Supplier Quality KPI reports and supplier scorecards
- Travel to suppliers to promote continuous improvement through CAPA verification, on-site inspections and partnering with suppliers on special projects
- Managing our Trace Gains (Supplier Document Management System) system
- Assuring that all suppliers meet Simple Mills Supplier Documentation requirements
- Reviewing supplier documentation and records to verify compliance
- Support development of any new Trace Gains initiatives and process improvements
- Partner with 3rd party laboratories to set up testing requirements and manage results
- Partner with the Simple Mills Supply Chain team to assure business needs are met
- Lead cross functional meetings effectively by setting clear agendas, facilitating open discussion, ensuring all relevant stakeholders are engaged, and driving actionable outcomes
- Execute additional QA tasks as assigned
- Performs other duties as assigned
Please Note: While we are open to considering remote candidates, we will prioritize those located in the Midwest and East Coast areas near major airports.
- Bachelor's degree required, with a strong preference for Science degrees (Chemistry, Food Science, or related fields).
- 3+ years of comprehensive food safety and quality related experience
- Must be proficient in Microsoft Office suite of software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and other applications as needed
- The position requires on average 40% travel, with the potential to travel up to 60% for critical business needs
- Candidates must possess a valid driver's license and be able to rent a car for work-related travel.
- The ability to travel to remote areas and farms within the United States and Canada is essential for this role.
- Candidates must reside in close proximity to a major airport to facilitate convenient travel when necessary
- Auditing experience strongly preferred
- Candidates must be able to work in a fast-paced environment and must also effectively manage and execute changes
- Position requires ability to act as a member of a highly functioning team
- Excellent communication, writing, analytical, and critical thinking skills
- Strong organizational skills
- Intermediate PowerPoint, and strong Excel skills (ability to structure and analyze data, manipulate pivot tables, create trackers, and utilize basic functions)
- Proficiency in TraceGains is preferred but not required
- A passion for natural food and healthy eating as well as a desire to change the way we think about ingredient labels
Working at Simple Mills
- You will make a huge impact as a key member of an emerging brand that’s changing the way we eat and facing explosive growth
- Working with a vibrant community of passionate team members that are driven by healthy food that tastes good and fuels your body
- We strive to foster and embed a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion across our organization. We know it is not only critical to the success of diversity initiatives - but instrumental in creating an equitable and inclusive workplace! It also creates a positive employee experience. DEI will remain at the center of our people strategy as grow and scale our organization.
- Our culture is aligned with doing good in the world and we are committed to the environment, fairness to employees and to our customers
- Integrating into a company that is passionate about its people and their development, with consistent training and multiple forums/platforms to participate in, contribute to and learn from.
- The ideal candidate will receive a competitive compensation package, with a salary range of $90,000 to $105,000.
- This role includes eligibility for an annual bonus, determined by individual and company performance, with the total award calculated at the end of the fiscal year.
- Employees receive comprehensive health and financial benefits, including robust health plans and a 401(k) plan to support long-term well-being.
- Work-life flexibility is prioritized with unlimited PTO, a one-time home workspace setup stipend, and monthly cell phone/internet stipends.
- Health, wellness, and product perks include stipends to support your lifestyle and additional benefits to enrich your daily life.
- Remote working may be considered for qualified candidates from a designated location in the United States (the new hire’s permanent residence, as documented in our HR System, Rippling) if willing and able to travel regularly to the Chicago office. Sufficient internet access to support video conferencing required.
At Simple Mills, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect and inclusion. Equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, past or present military service, physical or mental disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. All aspects of employment are decided on the basis of business need, job requirements, and individual qualifications. #LI-DNI
Simple Mills is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Simple Mills will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact careers@simplemills.com.
