Sr. Regional Supplier Quality Performance Lead

About the Role

The Sr. Regional Supplier Quality Performance Lead is a pivotal strategic partner within the Regional Procurement, operations, CI&TS and Regional Quality leadership teams. This role safeguard the brand’s reputation by building a resilient, high-performing regional supplier base, fostering a culture of Zero Defect in alignment with Barry Callebaut’s global quality, business continuity, and growth ambitions. 

This role goes beyond monitoring supplier performance and is accountable for: 

• Translating global supplier quality and compliance strategy into regional execution
• Influencing and building a partnership with the senior stakeholders across functions and regions 
• Shaping the regional supply base as a strategic enabler of business continuity, innovation, resilience, and competitive advantage 

The role acts as a trusted strategic partner to Regional Leadership Teams, Procurement, Operations, and Global Supplier Quality, ensuring suppliers are not only compliant, but future‑fit for long-term business needs. 

The individual in this role is expected to bring proven experience in a regional supplier quality lead position, with the capability to operate at enterprise level, manage complexity, and lead through influence across a diverse regional stakeholder landscape. 

Job Responsibilities Include

1. Regional Supplier Performance & Strategy Leadership 

• Own and lead the regional supplier performance strategy, fully aligned with global quality, compliance, and risk management frameworks. 
• Translate long-term business priorities into clear supplier performance roadmaps covering quality, delivery and risk. 
• Actively contribute to shaping global supplier quality strategy, bringing regional insights, risks, and opportunities into enterprise-level decision making. 
• Ensure that the regional supply base is positioned to support business growth, innovation pipelines, and customer expectations. 

2. Executive & Cross-Functional Stakeholder Management 

• Serve as the senior regional quality interface between suppliers and Barry Callebaut’s leadership teams. 
• Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with senior stakeholders across:  Global & Regional FSQR , Regional Sourcing, Regional Operations / Supply Chain, Regional CI&TS  
• Lead complex, sometimes conflicting stakeholder agendas and drive alignment through influence rather than authority. 

3. Supplier Risk, Resilience & Business Continuity 

• Proactively identify emerging risks within the supplier base and industry (food safety, regulatory, geopolitical, operational). 
• Embed risk insights into regional and global BC programs, ensuring continuity of supply without compromising product quality or safety. 
• Lead region-wide mitigation strategies and ensure early escalation of strategic supplier risks to global leadership. 

4. Supplier Performance Governance & Transformation 

• Define and steer regional supplier performance KPIs, ensuring consistency with global frameworks and strategic priorities. 
• Govern the regional audit strategy, ensuring focus on risk-based prioritization rather than transactional compliance. 
• Drive continuous improvement and supplier capability development programs with measurable business impact. 
• Ensure best-in-class Quality Assurance practices are embedded across the supplier's lifecycle (onboarding, qualification, development, exit). 

5. Regional Team Leadership & Capability Building 

• Lead, coach, and develop a regional team of Supplier Quality Auditors. 
• Set clear strategic direction, priorities, and performance expectations. 
• Foster a high-performance, strategic mindset focused on value creation rather than inspection-based quality. 
• Ensure strong succession planning and capability development within the regional supplier of quality organization. 

Scope

• Regional BC business for direct materials:  
  • Cocoa, Chocolate, Specialties, Decorations, Beverages 
• BC Ingredients suppliers in the Americas region 
• Key stakeholders include: 
  • Global & Regional FSQR  
  • Regional Sourcing  
  • Regional Operations / Supply Chain 
  • Regional CI&TS  
  • External authorities, industry associations, and auditing bodies

About You

• Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Engineering, Microbiology or related field 
  or Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business or equivalent (Master’s strongly preferred) 
• Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in supplier quality, supplier performance, procurement, or supply chain regional leadership role. 
• Proven experience in a regional strategic leadership role, managing complexity across multiple countries and cultures. 
• Strong background in food safety, quality systems, and supplier governance within the food or FMCG industry. 
• Demonstrated ability to operate at regional leadership level, influencing without direct authority. 
• Experience translating global strategy into regional execution with tangible business outcomes. 
• Strategic thinking with the ability to connect supplier performance to business, growth, and risk outcomes 
• Exceptional stakeholder management, negotiation, and influencing skills 
• Strong business acumen with the ability to challenge constructively
• Data-driven mindset with experience in supplier scorecards and performance analytics 
• Proven leadership and people development capability 
• Certifications such as Six Sigma, PMP, ASQ are a plus 

What you can expect from Barry Callebaut

•    Salary Range of $110,000 - $125,000, depending on factors such as experience and location, plus annual bonus and our comprehensive benefits package
•    PTO, Paid Holidays, Flex Days
•    Environment that welcomes workplace flexibility and hybrid environment
•    An atmosphere where diversity is embraced, and inclusivity is second nature. We call it #OneBC! Just ask our champions with the Americas Women’s Forum and the Racial Equality Forum!
•    Ability to grow personally and professionally within an organization that values development and internal career growth

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and encourage all qualified candidates to apply.  Be part of our mission in making sustainability the norm through Forever Chocolate with priorities centered around prospering farmers, zero child labor, carbon and forest positive, and creating 100% sustainable ingredients in all our products.