Employee Recognition Program Specialist

About this role

Founded over 35 years ago, First Quality is a family-owned company that has grown from a small business in McElhattan, Pennsylvania into a group of companies, employing over 5,000 team members, while maintaining our family values and entrepreneurial spirit. With corporate offices in New York and Pennsylvania and 8 manufacturing campuses across the U.S. and Canada, the companies within the First Quality group produce high-quality personal care and household products for large retailers and healthcare organizations. Our personal care and household product portfolio includes baby diapers, wipes, feminine pads, paper towels, bath tissue, adult incontinence products, laundry detergents, fabric finishers, and dishwash solutions. In addition, we manufacture certain raw materials and components used in the manufacturing of these products, including flexible print and packaging solutions.

Guided by our values of humility, unity, and integrity, we leverage advanced technology and innovation to drive growth and create new opportunities. At First Quality, you’ll find a collaborative environment focused on continuous learning, professional development, and our mission to Make Things Better®.

We are seeking an Employee Recognition Program Specialist and the role will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies and programs designed to recognize the milestones, contributions, and achievements of First Quality’s Team Members. The role is also responsible for building a culture of appreciation at First Quality, ensuring team members feel genuinely valued while extending that same spirit of care into the communities the company serves.

This role partners cross-functionally to design impactful tools and initiatives that resonate across the organization. This individual will be responsible for the end-to-end management of branded merchandise — from vendor relationships and contract negotiation to budget oversight and brand integrity — so that every touchpoint reflects First Quality's identity. Additionally, this role leads First Quality's charitable giving strategy, coordinating large-scale product donations and employee fundraising initiatives so the organization's community impact is as intentional and well-organized as its internal recognition efforts. This is a high-impact role that requires a self-motivated professional who can hit the ground running and deliver results quickly.

Principal Accountabilities/ Responsibilities: • Design and implement a technology platform to streamline and automate recognition, tracking milestones, anniversaries, and recognition history • Partner with leaders across the organization to build recognition programs and events that are meaningful, inclusive, and aligned with company culture • Collaborate with senior leadership, HR, and Communications to ensure engagement messaging resonates across operations and non-operations audiences, facilitating cross-functional committees to standardize best practices • Develop recognition program policies and procedures with HR that balance consistency and flexibility across the organization • Own the full lifecycle of branded merchandise, including vendor selection, inventory management, curation, pricing, and purchase orders • Build and negotiate key vendor relationships and contracts to secure competitive pricing through volume discounts and long-term partnerships • Provide creative direction on merchandise design and trend-spotting to ensure all branded items reflect company visual identity • Lead Human Resource’s charitable giving strategy, serving as the primary point of contact for large-scale donation requests and enterprise-wide community partnerships • Coordinate large-scale, cross-divisional product donations, ensuring proper approvals and alignment with brand and philanthropic goals • Plan and execute employee fundraising campaigns, managing logistics, budgets, and vendor relationships • Analyze recognition, merchandise, and giving program data to identify trends and opportunities, developing reports and dashboards to track impact • Conduct ongoing benchmarking across all program areas to ensure they remain competitive, cost-efficient, and best in class

Qualifications/education and experience requirements: • Bachelor's degree preferred, or equivalent work experience • 4+ years of experience in rewards and recognition program management, employee engagement, or a related HR/communications function • Demonstrated experience building or significantly contributing to recognition programs from the ground up • Proven vendor management experience, including contract negotiation, pricing discussions, and relationship building — with a track record of securing favorable terms • Experience managing branded merchandise programs, including knowledge of swag ordering processes and brand compliance • Familiarity with recognition platforms or digital tools used to manage and automate employee programs • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, with strong Excel and PowerPoint skills; ability to analyze data and translate insights into clear presentations • Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently • Excellent communication skills with the ability to present program updates and insights to a variety of audiences

Skills/Competencies: • Exceptional writing, editing, proofreading, and research skills. • Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and business stakeholders. • Self-motivated and able to work with short deadlines and competing demands. • Strong accountability and completion of tasks without close supervision. • Embraces an entrepreneurial mindset with a willingness to explore new ideas, the tenacity to drive to execution, and flexibility to take on different roles and duties as required. • Open to candid feedback and brings initiative, humility and a strong desire to learn and grow in a fast-paced environment.

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