Vendor QA Senior Technologist

VENDOR QA SENIOR TECHNOLOGIST

COMPANY SUMMARY (“Who are we?”)

At The Honest Kitchen, we believe pets deserve the same quality of food as the humans who love them. As pioneers of human grade pet food, we use thoughtfully sourced ingredients and gentle preparation methods to create foods that are as wholesome as they are nutritious. We’re a purpose-driven, growth-minded, proud B Corp, (which is a legal corporate structure that allows us to operate and make decisions based upon a triple bottom line, factoring in social and environmental impacts right alongside our prioritization of long-term financial sustainability!) company made up of people who care deeply about pets, their parents, and each other. If you’re looking to do meaningful work in a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment where your ideas can make a real impact, you’ll feel right at home here.

We strive for an inclusive work culture that supports a diverse array of skills, experiences, and perspectives our employees bring to the table. For us, differences are a source of strength. We celebrate strong performance and ethical processes, and we work hard every day to nurture an inclusive culture where all employees can innovate and thrive. Here, you will not only build your career, but you will also uncover new experiences and collaborate with passionate colleagues.

The Honest Kitchen values a diverse workforce. Everyone, including women, people of color, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community are strongly encouraged to apply. The Honest Kitchen believes that an equitable and inclusive work environment and a diverse, empowered team are key to achieving our mission. We’re looking for candidates who can expand our business culture by bringing their whole, authentic selves to work. We strive to provide all qualified candidates with an equitable and accessible recruitment process.

POSITION SUMMARY (“What are we looking for?”)

The Vendor QA Sr Technologist is responsible for The Honest Kitchen’s Vendor Quality Program and runs the program day to day. The role manages specifications, reviews COAs, monitors material control, approves and maintains vendors, tracks vendor compliance, and manages SCARs and NCRs for materials.

This is an on-site position based in Topeka, KS.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Vendor Quality Program Development

• Develop, train and implement elements of the Vendor Quality Program, including procedures, forms and work instructions for specifications, COA review, vendor approval, material performance and SCAR/NCR.
• Train THM Quality, Receiving, Procurement and R&D partners on vendor quality procedures and requirements.
• Review program effectiveness and recommend improvements to the Director of Quality.

Specification Management

• Strengthen internal THK material specifications so they reflect THK quality, food safety and regulatory needs and what suppliers can consistently deliver.
• Create and maintain material specifications in THK format.
• Facilitate cross-functional alignment on specifications with Quality, R&D, Procurement and Operations partners, support approval and sign-off, and keep versions controlled with Quality Systems.

COA Review

• Identify COA requirements for each ingredient category (e.g., required tests, methods, limits and frequency), aligned to material risk and THK specifications.
• Communicate COA requirements to suppliers and build them into specifications and supplier agreements.
• Review supplier COAs against specifications before material use or release, and flag deviations.
• Use AI-assisted COA review tools as they are implemented.

Material Control Monitoring

• Monitor compliance of COAs and material performance to THK specifications, and trend results by ingredient and supplier.
• Monitor incoming material status, holds, non-conforming material and shelf life across THM and co-manufacturers.
• Verify APHIS and export-related ingredient documentation with Regulatory.

Vendor Approval

• Collect and review supplier documentation (GFSI certificates, audit reports, allergen statements, FSVP records, questionnaires) in SafeFood360.
• Maintain the approved supplier list and re-approval schedule, and meet review turnaround targets for new and trial ingredients.

Vendor Compliance

• Track expiring certificates and documents,and follow up with suppliers before they lapse.
• Compile supplier performance data and scorecards.

SCAR / NCR

• Develop, train and implement a comprehensive Material Performance Program
• Issue and track non-conformance reports (NCRs) and supplier corrective action requests (SCARs).
• Review supplier root cause and corrective action responses and verify effectiveness.
• Perform other duties as required to support the Quality team or internal stakeholders.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• 100% of active suppliers approved with current documentation
• Supplier and trial ingredient reviews completed within 5 business days (3 for urgent requests)
• 100% of active specifications in THK format and signed
• SCAR responses tracked to closure within 30 days

REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Excellent attention to detail and follow-through.
• Organized, able to manage a high volume of documents and deadlines.
• Clear written communication with suppliers.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Smartsheet and supplier management systems (e.g., SafeFood360).
• Must love animals and be passionate about their health.

REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Biology, Chemistry or related field, or 2+ years of equivalent quality assurance experience.
• HACCP certification preferred. PCQI a plus.
• Food or pet food supplier quality experience preferred.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

• Based on-site in Topeka, KS (not remote). Travel up to 15%.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• This role is performed on-site in Topeka, KS, in office and manufacturing environments.
• Must be able to move freely through a manufacturing facility, including production, warehouse and laboratory areas, and wear required PPE.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% or more of the time.
• Must be able to operate a computer and other office machinery, such as a calculator, copier, and printer.
• Must be able to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information.
• Must be able to observe details at close range and for long periods.
• Occasionally move items that weigh up to 25 pounds.

The salary range for this role is: $85,000 - $90,000/year

WHY YOU’LL LOVE WORKING HERE (“What makes us different?”)

• Mission-driven brand making a real difference in pets’ lives

• High-growth environment with room to shape strategy and programs

• Collaborative, values-led culture that supports both people and pets

• Opportunity to work on a category-leading, human-grade brand with strong consumer loyalty

BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR THE HONEST KITCHEN (“What do we offer?”)

We offer a competitive compensation package, including salary and robust employee benefits. Some key highlights include:

• Time off: We offer a highly competitive time off schedule, including unlimited vacation and additional sick time, in addition to a generous company-paid holiday schedule.
• Benefits: Various health insurance plans with generous employer contributions to premiums. We also offer vision, dental, short-term disability, long-term disability, accident, critical illness, an employee assistance program, and an FSA/HSA.
• Financial wellness: Enjoy perks like a company 401K with an employer match.
• Mission Driven: Employees can take up to 40 hours of volunteer time a year, and we offer donation matching to non-profit organizations of your choosing.
• Pet Friendly: Pet-friendly offices, zoom calls, discounts on pet insurance, and of course, free pet food!
• Collaborative Team: We offer a fun, team-oriented work environment where you feel like you are making a difference every day.

Ready to help bring better food to more bowls? We’d love to hear from you.

As a Public Benefit Corporation, our company's practices and outputs are assessed and evaluated across five categories: Governance, Workers, Community, The Environment, and Customers. We track our social and environmental impact over time and publicly disclose our performance in our annual impact report.

As an employee of a Certified B Corp, it is required that in performing your role, you factor social and environmental impacts into decision-making and actions as they pertain to your role with The Honest Kitchen, so as to ensure that our actions make a positive impact where possible.

*The Honest Kitchen is an equal opportunity employer. The Company’s policy prohibits discrimination based on race, religious creed (which includes religious dress and grooming practices), color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status.