Technical Services Manager - Supply Chain

Location: Everett, WA - Please note, this is an on-site role with relocation assistance offered to candidates needing to move to the site location.

The Opportunity

An established, PE backed food manufacturer is looking to appoint a Technical Services Manager to lead its supplier and raw material quality assurance programmes.

This is a key role within the Supply Chain and Food Safety function, responsible for ensuring ingredients and suppliers meet the company's quality, regulatory, customer and food safety standards.

You'll take ownership of supplier approval processes, raw material risk assessments, supplier audits and compliance programmes, while leading a team of Vendor & Ingredient Specialists. The position will also play an important role in managing supplier performance, identifying potential risks and driving continuous improvement across the supply base.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead supplier and ingredient approval processes, including new supplier assessments, conditional approvals and ongoing reviews.

• Oversee supplier auditing programmes, raw material risk assessments and incoming material quality controls.

• Establish supplier risk categories, approval criteria, review schedules and escalation procedures.

• Monitor emerging risks relating to food safety, food fraud, regulatory changes and evolving customer requirements.

• Develop and maintain supplier guidelines, technical documentation, approval procedures and standard operating processes.

• Analyse supplier performance, identify recurring compliance issues and implement corrective and preventative actions.

• Manage high-risk supplier situations, including site assessments, emergency ingredient substitutions and conditional approvals.

• Work closely with Procurement, Customer Quality and the wider Food Safety & Quality teams to resolve supplier issues and strengthen assurance programmes.

• Lead, coach and develop the Vendor & Ingredient Specialist team.

• Support supplier and food safety audits, ensuring appropriate follow-up and corrective actions are completed.

Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Safety, Quality, or a related discipline. Equivalent industry experience will also be considered.

• 7+ years' experience within supplier quality, food safety, technical services, regulatory compliance or procurement quality in food manufacturing.

• Strong understanding of supplier approval, raw material specifications, supplier auditing and risk management.

• Experience managing CAPA, supplier corrective actions and continuous improvement programmes.

• Knowledge of SQF, GFSI, FSMA, FSVP, HACCP and food fraud prevention.

• Previous experience leading or developing a team would be advantageous.

• Strong organisational, analytical and project management capabilities.

• Confident communicating with suppliers and internal stakeholders, with the ability to manage escalations and make risk-based decisions.

• Willingness to travel to supplier locations and other manufacturing facilities as required.

What Success Looks Like

• A robust supplier and raw material approval programme, with accurate and up-to-date documentation.

• Clear visibility of supplier risks, outstanding approvals and conditional authorisations.

• Effective supplier performance monitoring, with corrective actions implemented where necessary.

• Improved reporting, documentation controls and overall efficiency across supplier assurance.

• A well-managed and developed team, driving accountability and consistent standards.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Supplier Quality, Technical Services or Food Safety professional to take ownership of supplier assurance within a growing food manufacturing environment.