Compliance Analyst, Whole Foods Market (WFM) OPs & Food Safety

This position is an integral part of the Supply Chain Compliance (SCC) team, responsible for analyzing food safety and quality standards requirements and working closely with internal subject matter experts - including food safety, quality standards, legal, and other specialized teams - to ensure supplier compliance. The Compliance Analyst serves as the operational resource for suppliers navigating WFM's compliance program, interpreting requirements, evaluating supplier documentation against standards, and guiding suppliers through the onboarding and approval process.

This role requires the ability to analyze regulatory and program requirements, assess supplier compliance status, and determine appropriate next steps within a complex, multi-step process spanning compliance approval, business compliance approval, and item setup. The Analyst communicates directly with suppliers via phone, email, and system notifications to explain requirements, provide guidance on software tools, troubleshoot issues, and resolve questions. Internally, this role collaborates with food safety, quality standards, legal, and merchandising teams to ensure compliance decisions are informed by the appropriate subject matter expertise and that supplier progress is communicated effectively.

The ideal candidate combines strong analytical skills with excellent communication abilities - someone who can work across multiple internal teams, synthesize complex compliance frameworks, and translate them into clear, actionable guidance for suppliers with varying levels of technical sophistication.

Key job responsibilities

COMPLIANCE ANALYSIS & STANDARDS APPLICATION:

• Analyze food safety and quality standards requirements and apply them to supplier-specific scenarios throughout the onboarding and compliance lifecycle.
• Work closely with internal food safety, quality standards, legal, and other subject matter experts to ensure accurate interpretation and application of compliance requirements.
• Evaluate supplier documentation and compliance submissions against WFM program requirements.
• Identify compliance gaps and determine appropriate resolution paths, escalating to SMEs when specialized expertise is required.
• Assess and troubleshoot complex compliance issues, recommending solutions of moderate scope and complexity.

SUPPLIER ENGAGEMENT & GUIDANCE

• Serve as the operational point of contact for suppliers navigating WFM's food safety and quality compliance program.
• Communicate directly with suppliers to explain compliance requirements, answer questions, and provide step-by-step guidance through the onboarding process.
• Translate complex compliance standards and software processes for non-technical audiences.
• Proactively engage with suppliers to understand their objectives, anticipate issues, and ensure progress toward compliance milestones.
• Send invitations and welcome new suppliers for FoodLogiQ and provide ongoing support throughout the process.

PROCESS MANAGEMENT & INTERNAL COLLABORATION

• Oversee the supplier onboarding process end-to-end, from invite through compliance approval, business compliance approval, and item setup initiation.
• Handle intake of new supplier and new item requests from merchandising teams.
• Input supplier data into business compliance software applications to initiate downstream item systems setup.
• Report progress daily and escalate non-responsive or non-compliant suppliers per established protocols.
• Serve as the liaison between suppliers and internal WFM teams regarding supplier compliance status and progress.
• Provide feedback on process improvements based on supplier interactions and recurring compliance issues.
• Apply innovative solutions to enhance personal work and, where applicable, the work of the team.

PREFERRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Proficient in the use of the FoodLogiQ software application.
• Proficient in Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Working knowledge of food labeling and FDA/USDA regulations.
• Experience in food safety compliance, quality assurance, or regulatory compliance environments.
• Familiarity with supplier compliance programs or third-party audit/certification frameworks.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional subject matter experts in a compliance or regulatory setting.