Job Description
Position Purpose:

The Food Safety Specialist administers all food safety and sanitation activities in our retail stores to ensure compliance with established laws, regulations, policies, and procedures; and communicates the standards for safe food practices to ensure clean, safe stores for our associates and community at large.

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Conducts frequent and unscheduled visits of assigned stores to assess food safety and sanitation, with particular emphasis on those stores with higher risk, unusual cleaning supply movement, evidence of pest activity, history of cliental complaints, any non-compliance on food safety or regulatory health inspections, or recent management concerns.
• Maintains recordkeeping schedule to ensure proper follow-up of facilities with high-risk violations from a variety of different audits.
• Reviews all types of audits (Local Health Departments, Ecolab, etc.) with key store personnel and provides support to correct deficient conditions.
• Assists the Director of Food Safety and Environmental Affairs monitoring all third-party chemical and pest control partners for compliance and execution to the standards of the Company.
• Assists the Food Safety Manager in communicating and ensuring vary classifications of recall are completed within a timely manner.
• Provides regular updates to the Director of Food Safety of all regulatory trends and actions that impact the business.
• Schedules, Proctors, and facilitates Certified Food Safety Managers Certification Testing (CFPM) when needed.
• Prepares Food Safety and Sanitation discussion topics for the weekly sales messages and district meetings within given geographical area.
• Develops and maintains active professional relationships with local, state, and federal health officials.
• Actively participates in regulatory meetings in all assigned areas.
• Continually maintains knowledge of updates of new local and state changes to the food code.
• Assists as requested with investigations of food-related illness claims to determine and implement corrective actions.
• Assists with in-store Ecolab training, district training during store meetings and District/Division meetings.
• Maintains channel of communication, encouraging store and division personnel to express innovative ideas, suggestions and complaints, review each for appropriateness and further action.
• Assists the Director of Food Safety and Environmental Affairs with environmental oversights, Divert compliance, Food Donation protocols and other variety of initiatives.

Qualifications: The following are preferred :

Education Level:

• Degree in public health, environmental health, food science or equivalent preferred.

Experience Level:

• Experience in grocery retail is preferred.
• Must obtain all professional licenses required by local law or regulation.
• Must be willing to actively work towards obtaining CP-FS certification.
• Knowledge of federal and state food safety regulations required.
• Previous training and auditing experience preferred.

Skills and Experiences:

• Must be able to drive a vehicle and maintain a valid driver's license to make site visits on a regular basis with potential for overnight travel.
• Ability to plan, schedule, and work under minimal supervision and have self-initiative to perform job functions.
• Collaboration with team members to receive and provide feedback and guidance to seek solutions to maintain compliance with regulations.
• Possess excellent communications skills, including oral and written plus the ability to speak effectively before groups.
• Must possess ability to motivate others to achieve desired results.
• Strong analytical skills required for data interpretation and analysis.
• Computer skills in word-processing and spread sheet software preferred.
• Must be able to interface effectively with a wide variety of personnel. Possess ability to communicate concepts, systems, procedures, etc., in a training environment.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT:

• Work may be performed in a temperature-controlled environment.
• Must sit, stand, or walk for extended periods of time.
• May spend extended periods of time at a desk or computer terminal.
• May use calculators, keyboards, telephone, and other office equipment during the workday.
• Stooping, bending, twisting, and reaching may be required in completion of job duties.
• The workday is fast paced; some evening and weekend work may be required.
• Position requires weekly travel to various site locations throughout a given geographical region. A Specialist must be able to drive a vehicle, have their own transportation and be available for overnight travel. A Specialist must be able to move freely about the facility including second-story offices, back rooms, production areas, building exteriors.
• Requires analytical ability and mental alertness to ensure accurate and thorough completion of work activities and for data interpretation and analysis. Possess the ability to concentrate and deal with frequent interruptions throughout the workday.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: 90% of the time is spent traveling.
The salary range is $67,724 to $110,100 annually. Starting salary will vary based on criteria such as location, experience, and qualifications. There may be flexibility for exceptional candidates. Benefits may include medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, sick pay (accrued based on hours worked), Flexible Time Off, paid holidays (8-9 days annually), bereavement pay, and retirement benefits (such as 401(k). Associates in this position are also eligible for a quarterly bonus.
Disclaimer:
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by associates assigned to this job classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and skills required of personnel so classified. The Company is committed to complying with all local, state, and federal regulations.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER