BJ's Restaurants, Inc. · 21 hours ago
Supplier Quality Assurance Manager
Huntington Beach, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
$115K/yr - $125K/yr
5+ years expBJ’s Restaurants is a $1 billion public restaurant company known for its award-winning craft beer and unique menu offerings. They are seeking a Supplier Quality Assurance Manager to lead the Supplier Quality Assurance program, ensuring that purchasing categories meet quality and food safety standards while fostering strong relationships with suppliers.
Food and BeverageHospitalityTravel
Responsibilities
Develop, implement, and manage all Supplier Quality Assurance programs and policies related to the purchase of raw materials (Meats, Dairy, Produce, Grocery, Packaging, and Chemicals)
Establish and maintain a supplier approval and onboarding process, including initial assessments, documentation review, and approval criteria
Assess the risk of suppliers and ingredients and categorize the level of scrutiny for each based on hazard analysis and historical performance
Maintain an index for every supplier, including documentation of supplier visits, third-party audits, certificates of insurance (COI), certificates of analysis (COA), allergen statements, and mandatory supplier-provided QA and food safety documentation
Manage supplier expectations manual and ensure all suppliers are aware of and compliant with company standards
Audit distributors and suppliers, including food processors, co-packers, packaging facilities, and storage/distribution facilities, using GFSI-recognized standards or company-specific audit protocols
Review and approve supplier and distributor food safety programs, third-party audits (SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000, etc.), and related documentation
Ensure vendor regulatory compliance with USDA, FDA, FSMA, State, and local authorities
Stay current on new food safety regulations, industry standards, and emerging risks, and communicate changes to internal stakeholders and suppliers
Assist in the development and maintenance of specifications for identified products, including raw materials, packaging, and finished goods
Ensure labeling compliance for inbound ingredients by reviewing ingredient declarations, allergen statements, weight statements, and nutrition facts panels for accuracy and compliance with all labeling regulations (FDA, USDA, state-specific)
Support new product development and menu innovation by evaluating supplier capabilities and ingredient safety
Design and oversee shelf-life testing protocols for new and existing products to validate expiration dates and storage conditions
Coordinate microbiological and chemical testing (e.g., plate counts, pathogen screening, allergen testing, nutritional analysis) with third-party labs and interpret results
Establish hold-and-release protocols for high-risk ingredients and finished products pending lab clearance
Assist with recalls and traceability exercises, including mock recalls, supplier notifications, and regulatory reporting
Oversee root cause analysis for supplier-related quality or safety incidents, including foreign objects, allergen cross-contact, microbial contamination, and specification deviations
Provide technical support and expertise in quality-related problem solving, risk analysis, and crisis management
Partner with the supply chain team and vendors on compliance issues to find workable, cost-effective solutions
Draft, implement, and enforce department SOPs as needed to ensure consistency and compliance
Track and trend supplier performance metrics (e.g., non-conformance rates, audit scores, corrective action closure rates) and present findings to leadership
Lead supplier corrective action and preventive action (CAPA) processes, ensuring timely and effective resolution of issues
Conduct supplier performance reviews and recommend changes to approved supplier lists based on performance data
Partner with Procurement, Operations, R&D, and Risk Management to align supplier quality expectations with business goals
Serve as the primary technical liaison between suppliers and internal teams for quality and food safety matters
Perform other related duties, tasks, and projects as assigned
Ability to travel as much as 50% (domestic and occasional international travel to supplier facilities)
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in food science, food safety, food technology, microbiology, engineering, chemistry, or related field required
5+ years of experience in supplier quality assurance, food safety, or quality management within the food industry
5+ years of experience conducting audits, writing detailed audit reports, and interpreting and verifying corrective action responses
Experience auditing a wide range of facilities including Meats, Dairy, Produce, Grocery, Packaging, Paper, Chemicals
Comprehensive understanding of quality systems, food safety programs, Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), GMPs, HACCP, SQF, and BRC
Strong knowledge of food microbiology, chemistry, and common food hazards (biological, chemical, physical, allergen)
Deep understanding of food safety regulations, laws, and best practices, including those from FDA, USDA and other state and local agencies
Strong leadership, organizational, and planning skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present technical information to non-technical audiences
Exceptional follow-up skills and attention to detail
Ability to work independently with minimal oversight and make sound, risk-based judgments
Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, with a focus on root cause analysis and continuous improvement
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and experience with quality management software or databases
Ability to build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders
Comfortable working in fast-paced, dynamic environments and adapting to changing priorities
High level of integrity, professionalism, and commitment to food safety and quality
Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, as needed
Ability to travel up to 50% (domestic and occasional international)
Valid driver's license and reliable transportation
Ability to stand/walk for extended periods, lift and carry up to 50 lbs., push and pull carts or equipment, grasp with fingers, reach with hands and arms, stoop, crouch, kneel, and climb stairs
Must be able to work in a variety of environments, including refrigerated and freezer spaces, production floors, and warehouse settings
Preferred
Advanced degree or certifications preferred
Experience with Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) audit schemes (SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000, IFS, etc.) is strongly preferred
PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) certification preferred
HACCP certification preferred
Prior recall experience and knowledge of traceability systems (one-up, one-back) preferred
Familiarity with allergen management programs and cross-contact prevention
Experience with supplier scorecards, risk-based supplier categorization, and vendor management systems
Company
BJ's Restaurants, Inc.
BJ's Restaurants, Inc. is an American restaurant chain having a brewery on the premises.
10001+ employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
L
Lyle Tick
Chief Executive Officer
Recent News
2026-01-09
Company data provided by crunchbase