Manager-Supplier QA (UK, Ireland, & Germany)

Job Description Summary:

Supports the Pizza Hut UKI and Germany system and is responsible for managing various product categories across the business, ensuring food safety, regulatory compliance and consistent product quality from supplier manufacturing through restaurant operations.

Responsibilities:

Product Quality and Brand Protection (60%)

•Maintain product specifications and quality standards throughout the product lifecycle.

•Support innovation, product changes, and alternate sourcing projects through risk assessments and quality reviews.

•Investigate quality complaints, food safety incidents, and consumer concerns.

•Partner with Supply Chain, Procurement, Operations, and FIT to deliver safe and high-quality products.

•Conduct routine supplier visits to evaluate product quality, manufacturing execution and finished product performance, ensuring Pizza Hut standards are consistently achieved.

•Plan, conduct, and evaluate product cuttings/evaluations, manufacturing evaluations, product testing, and quality assessments to verify compliance with product specifications and identify opportunities for improvement.

• Conduct non-conformance investigations and root cause analysis in partnership with suppliers and cross-functional teams, and monitor supplier implementation of corrective and preventive actions, escalating unresolved issues to the Head of Food Safety and Quality.
• Demonstrate flexibility to manage evolving product categories and business priorities as organizational needs change.
• Lead product quality investigations and support product incidents, risk assessments, withdrawals, recoveries, and crisis management activities.
• Maintain oversight of regulatory compliance across the UKI and Germany markets, interpret and communicate changes and support implementation of new legal requirements.

Supplier & Food Safety Risk Management (40%)

• Partner with suppliers to strengthen food safety systems, manufacturing practices, process capability, product consistency, field performance, animal welfare, distribution practices, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Conduct supplier approval assessments and onboarding activities, providing recommendations to the Head of Food Safety and Quality for final approval, and monitor ongoing supplier performance.
• Coordinate GFSI-recognised audits and supplier compliance reviews and follow up on supplier corrective actions in line with established FSQA processes.
• Support supplier development initiatives while maintaining food safety, quality, and business continuity requirements.
• Review supplier risk assessments, quality and food safety documentation, and product integrity programmes.
• Support the ongoing development and continuous improvement of food safety & quality systems, databases, reporting tools, and digital platforms.
• Ad hoc tasks

Cross Functional Collaboration

• Support cross-functional business initiatives including supplier meetings, innovation summits, product evaluations, commercialization activities, and customer events.
• Act as the food safety and quality subject matter expert for suppliers and internal functions.
• Build strong relationships with suppliers, franchise partners, regulators, and industry bodies.

People Leadership (Not Applicable – No direct reports.)

Working Relationships

Develop collaborative partnerships and influence cross-functional teams including Procurement, Supply Chain, FIT, Marketing and Legal as well as external stakeholders such as suppliers and third-party service providers. Build trusted relationships by demonstrating Heart, Smart, and Courage while driving alignment and delivering business results.

Collaboration & Culture Fit

• Leads with Heart, Smart, and Courage, inspiring positivity and trust.
• Strong customer service orientation with a passion for food safety and quality.
• Skilled in building and sustaining effective relationships across diverse teams, suppliers, and external partners.
• Adaptable to various leadership styles and capable of influencing without authority

Required Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Food Technology, Microbiology, Animal Science, Dairy Science, Biology, Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline required. Master's degree preferred.

Experience

• 7+ years of experience in Food Safety, Quality Assurance, Food Manufacturing, Product Development, Supplier Quality, or a related technical field.
• Demonstrated experience managing supplier quality programs, food safety systems, and product evaluations.
• Lead auditor qualification (GFSI scheme, ISO) advantageous
• Strong understanding of food manufacturing processes, HACCP, Preventive Controls, GMPs, GFSI standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience conducting product quality investigations, supplier corrective actions, and root cause analysis.
• Strong analytical, reporting, problem-solving, and project management skills, with experience using data and technology to assess supplier performance, manage risk, and drive continuous improvement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders across all levels of the organization.
• Self-motivated with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Travel domestically and internationally (approximately 50 %) to supplier manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, and Pizza Hut restaurants to conduct product evaluations, manufacturing assessments, commercialization activities, and quality improvement initiatives.