Manager, Vendor Compliance & Onboarding

By shifting from animal to plant-based meat, we can positively affect the planet, the environment, the climate and even ourselves. After all, the positive choices we make every day – no matter how small – can have a great impact on our world.

At Beyond Meat, we started with simple questions. Why do you need an animal to create meat? Why can’t you build meat directly from plants? Thus, we make plant-based meats that allow families to eat more, not less, of the traditional dishes they love while feeling great about the health, sustainability, and animal welfare benefits of plant protein. Our goal is to bring exciting change to the plate—and Beyond.

The Vendor Compliance Manager’s primary role is to ensure that all ingredients onboarded meet requirements of customers, regulatory authorities, and the Company. The Vendor Compliance Manager is responsible for the overall coordination and implementation of ingredient quality control programs and procedures necessary to meet internal and customer specific quality control standards.

Beyond Meat is an equal employment opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, ancestry, veteran status, marital status, gender identify, sexual orientation, national origin, liability for military service, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you are interested in learning the status of your application, please note you will be contacted directly by the appropriate human resources contact person if you are selected for further consideration. Beyond Meat reserves the right to defer or close a vacancy at any time.

Please note that Beyond Meat has adopted a COVID-19 vaccination policy to safeguard the health and well-being of our employees. All U.S. employees who (a) physically enter a Beyond Meat facility in the United States, (b) represent Beyond Meat at work-related events, including but not limited to trade shows and product demonstrations, or (c) physically enter customer or potential customer sites in connection with their work for Beyond Meat must take all necessary steps to be Fully Vaccinated as a condition of employment, unless a reasonable accommodation is approved.

Approve new and existing raw materials and suppliers. Manage compliance documentation by using the vendor management system. Champion quality and food safety initiatives related to vendor compliance. Work closely with management on proactively improving quality assurance programs. 

Onboard new suppliers and ingredients within project deadlines and ensure compliance with the company brand standards, regulatory and customer requirements. 

Improve ingredient onboarding time by partnering with Procurement and maintain vendor KPI scorecards. Maintain supplier documentation current in the company database.

Train vendors and other stakeholders on BYND onboarding process and system.

Collaborate with R&D and Project Managers to communicate lead times for ingredient approvals.

Ensure vendors meet all BYND Meat company requirements and standards.

Write and implement SOPs where required including train company stakeholders on BYND Meat ingredients and supplier approval standards.

Ensure claim certifications are secured in a timely manner by collaborating closely with 3rd party agencies.

Work with the auditing team to audit vendors as needed. Manage audit non-conformances with external agencies such as BRC, SQF, Kosher, Halal, NGPV, Vegan as needed.

Contribute to innovation and renovation projects in areas of responsibility and ensure compliance by design of finished products in close collaboration with a cross-functional team. Work collaboratively with Innovation, Commercialization, and Operations Teams in the development and commercialization process to assure quality and food safety requirements are met and ingredient compliance is achieved.

Must have regulatory, domestic, and international food labeling knowledge. Working knowledge of FDA’s FSMA preventive controls and supply chain requirements.

Work closely with the Co-Man management team on proactively improving quality assurance programs related to ingredients and supplier approval processes. Assist with process improvement, including working on ad hoc projects as necessary.

Liaise with site QA Managers on meeting Quality & Regulatory requirements. Collaborate with regional Quality Managers on quality, food safety or regulatory issues.

Must have the ability to work under pressure, problem-solve and find solutions.

Interface with regulatory agencies, certification bodies, and customers and ensure compliance of manufacturing facilities.

Attend industry educational trainings, seminars, and events to understand industry best practices and provide technical support as needed.

Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science or Microbiology preferred or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience may be considered.

Working knowledge of HACCP ingredient risk analysis, FDA/USDA, FSMA, EU requirements and GFSI standards required.

Minimum of 5 years of experience in a food and/or beverage manufacturing environment.

Working knowledge of claim certifications required; halal, kosher, NGPV, vegan.

Experience in creating finished product labels and nutritional facts panel preferred.

Leadership skills, focused on results, employee engagement, decision making, teamwork, and change management.

Strong mathematical skills.

Strong PC skills; proficient in Microsoft office programs.

Excellent interpersonal, communication, problem solving, and organizational skills.

The employee must have the ability to quantitatively review technical procedures and representative regulations. Ability to effectively present information to groups and respond to questions from peers, supervisors, and managers is essential.

Ability to multitask, adapt, set priorities within Quality Assurance, and work in a fast-paced environment.

This position requires heavy computer use, emails, meetings, and phone calls in multiple time zones including Eastern, Mountain, Pacific, Asia, & Central European standard times. Some travel may be required (10%).

Must be able to sit or stand for extended periods of time with the ability to spend extended periods of time working at a computer station.