Food Safety Specialist

Scope:

The Food Safety Specialist supports the organizations Food Safety initiatives and all the elements that ensure safe food manufacturing. This includes oversights of HACCP, validations, and supports the other prerequisite programs to support the HACCP Program. The Food Safety Specialist integrates on Innovation and Renovation projects, to perform risk assessments on materials and products to ensure the scale up and commercialization activities are compliant with Food Safety requirements and that all activities are completed, documented and assures effective knowledge transfer to operations.

Essential Duties and Key Responsibilities:

• Maintains a work environment committed to sustainable safety by enforcing safety rules, setting a safe example, and coaching and communicating to associates the reasons for safe operations.
• Support Heartland Food Product Group’s Food Safety Program and ensure that the program is effectively implemented in each of our operations.
• Monitors the performance of the facilities’ HACCP system, Food Safety Plans, and Quality Manufacturing scheme – via audits of employee practices and other means of verification.

• Investigates and escalates food safety complaints to appropriate personnel and ensures responses and samples are appropriately retained.
• Updates corporate standards, procedures, templates related to food safety to ensure uniformity and appropriate critical limits and corrective action plans.
• Assists with Crisis Management exercises and assures Business Continuity training is current and complete.

• Lead other professionals to assure associate training plans and qualifications are maintained.
• Participate in projects as assigned (new product lines, continuous improvement efforts)
• Responsible for employee food safety training content and continuous education opportunities focused around food safety.
• Drives awareness of new and emerging threats to food safety within Heartland Food Products.
• Supports risk assessment activities for new materials and packaging in the facility to ensure compliance with relevant food safety regulations.
• Supports the development and implementation of new Food Safety Plans for innovated and renovated products.
• Actively participates in validation activities including but not limited to IQ/OQ/PQ of both product and process and ensures food safety scope is considered..
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Microbiology or related field with >3 years’ experience is required; consideration will be given to equivalent experience.

• GMP and Food Manufacturing experience required with strong knowledge of low and high acid aseptic and thermal processing experience.
• Food Microbiology experience
• HACCP, PCQI Certification
• Excellent attention to detail
• Strong auditing skills
• Familiar with FSMA requirements
• Previous leadership experience
• Process improvement skills (e.g. Six Sigma)
• Proficient command of English and strong communication skills required – both verbal and written.

• Must work well in a team environment and have strong communication skills
• Must have the ability to perform under pressure and communicate well with all departments
• Must have good computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Word

Physical Demands:

• Must be able to physically perform the functions of climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions
• Must be able to work seated using a computer and phone for long periods of time.
• Must be able to work extended hours, such as daily overtime and an occasional weekend
• Must possess visual acuity to document company records
• Continuous walking throughout plant and distribution center.
• Lifting up to 40 pounds

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