Supplier Quality Specialist in Kendal

About us:

Join one of Europe’s fastest-growing nutrition success stories.

Kendal Nutricare creates world-class nutrition for every stage of life — from Kendamil infant and toddler formula to Kendalife adult nutrition. We’re a family-owned, purpose-driven business with big global ambitions.

In 2025, we were ranked the UK’s fastest-growing food and drink company, with Kendamil now one of the fastest-growing baby brands in the world, the No.1 Organic formula in both the UK and USA, and available in 40+ countries (and counting).

As the only British infant formula manufacturer, we’re proud to produce our award-winning products here in the UK using British full-cream milk, with no palm oil or unnecessary additives — trusted by families worldwide.

We’re on an exciting path – join us!

Summary:

The Supplier Quality Specialist is responsible for supporting the qualification, approval, and ongoing compliance management of suppliers, ingredients for internal manufacturing sites, and Third-Party Manufacturers (TPMs).

This role ensures that supplier and ingredient approval activities are executed consistently across sites in alignment with company quality standards, food safety requirements, regulatory expectations, and customer requirements. The position plays a critical role in maintaining supplier assurance systems, managing technical documentation, supporting global manufacturing compliance, and driving supplier quality performance improvements.

The role collaborates closely with Quality, Procurement, Regulatory Affairs, Operations, R&D, and manufacturing partners across multiple regions to support a robust and compliant global supply network.

Responsibilities:

Supplier Qualification

• Support the qualification, approval, and ongoing monitoring of Raw material suppliers
• Support supplier risk assessments by maintaining assessment templates and ensuring supplier information and records are accurate, complete, and up to date.
• Participate in qualification activities to ensure alignment with quality and food safety standards.
• Maintain and manage approved supplier, ingredient, and manufacturing site lists.

Supplier Quality Documentation & Questionnaire Review

• Review and assess supplier and manufacturing site quality questionnaires and technical documentation.
• Evaluate supplier and site certifications including:
• GFSI-recognized certifications (BRCGS, FSSC 22000, SQF, IFS)
• ISO certifications
• Organic, Halal, Kosher, Vegetarian, Non-GMO certifications
• Regulatory and customer-specific compliance documentation
• Verify certification validity, scope, and compliance status.
• Identify and escalate technical risks, compliance gaps, or non-conformances.

Ingredient & Material Compliance

• Review and assess ingredient documentation including:
• Specifications
• Allergen declarations
• Country of origin
• GMO status
• Nutritional information
• Contaminant and microbiological data
• Regulatory compliance statements

Specification Management

• Create, review, update, and maintain ingredient and raw material specifications within company systems.
• Ensure specifications remain accurate, complete, and aligned with regulatory, customer, and internal quality standards.
• Coordinate technical reviews and approvals with cross-functional stakeholders.

Supplier Deviations & Corrective Actions

• Support investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective/preventive action (CAPA) follow-up.
• Ensure timely closure and effectiveness verification of supplier corrective actions.
• Escalate significant supplier quality risks to management.

Compliance & Audit Support

• Support global supplier audit programs.
• Maintain supplier compliance documentation within quality management systems.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with Procurement, Regulatory Affairs, R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, and Manufacturing teams across regions.
• Production Planning and Material Coordination support:
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives within supplier quality systems and global quality programs.

What you’ll be doing;

• Support the Production Planner in creating and maintaining accurate production schedules.
• Coordinate material availability to ensure production runs efficiently.
• Monitor stock levels and stock rotation to minimise waste.
• Liaise with Procurement, Warehouse, QA, and Production teams to resolve planning and material issues.
• Track supplier deliveries and communicate any delays or changes.
• Raise purchase orders and maintain accurate planning records.
• Monitor production progress and communicate schedule changes where required.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of planning and scheduling processes.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Nutrition, Quality Assurance, or related scientific discipline.
• Demonstrated understanding of supplier quality management systems (SQMS).
• Demonstrated knowledge of ingredient compliance and technical specification management.
• Strong understanding Supplier quality management systems
• Knowledge Ingredient compliance and specification management
• Knowledge GMP, HACCP, and GFSI standards
• Understanding of Supplier qualification and risk assessment processes
• Food safety and quality systems knowledge
• Knowledge of supplier certification schemes and audit requirements.

Desirable:

• Experience working with Third-Party Manufacturers (TPMs).
• Proficiency in using Quality Management System (QMS) software and Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders.
• Exposure to international quality and regulatory standards.
• Familiarity with global regulatory requirements and market-specific compliance expectations.

What you’ll get from us:

The opportunity to work for the fastest growing infant milk brand in Europe, alongside a young talented team dedicated to serving thousands of passionate customers.

We offer to all our employees:

• 33 days holiday (incl. bank holidays), pro rata to start date and FTE.
• Pension Scheme by Aegon, the Employer will match contributions up to a maximum of 5%
• Free health cash plan
• Free Gym Membership*
• Life Assurance at 2 x basic salary after 6 months of service
• EAP Programme
• New parents enjoy up to £350 worth of Kendamil products (excluding Stage 1 formula)*
• Employee Referral Scheme
• *Further details are available from the HR department.