Food Safety and Quality Scientist

Food Safety and Quality Scientist

Classification: Exempt
Salary Range:$75,000 - $95,000
Reports to: Food Safety & Quality Compliance Manager- SFO
Date: Friday, March 28, 2025

Job Description

The Food Safety and Quality Scientist is responsible for inspecting food processing areas to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local governmental regulations. Must ensure the facility abides by FFG-required sanitation, safety, and quality standards. This position drives corporate policies and procedures at the local level to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, customer expectations, and third-party audit standards.

• Essential Functions
  Execute and observe the performance of food safety and quality control systems.
• Collect and analyze finished product samples. The finished product quality needs to be compliant with FFG specifications.
• Complete chef tables for hot and cold food items. Stop production if necessary due to major quality defects.
• Must be an effective leader who can share feedback with Operations and complete the necessary corrective actions to ensure continuous improvement.
  Knowledgeable in Ready-to-Eat food processing requirements; Understanding of operations from receiving to shipping.
• Comprehensive knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, SSOPs, and government/industry regulations.
• Stay up to date on new regulations and current events within the food industry
  Enter data into the KPI database system; Complete trend analysis as required
  Able to complete vendor inspections as required.
  Proven manager; capable of training, progressing, inspiring, and developing a team. Oversee
• Technicians within the department. Generate and maintain quality control operating costs (e.g. testing supplies and lab testing budget)
• Strong computer skills, (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Excellent communication skills both written and oral. Exhibits inductive reasoning and oral comprehension.
• Able to complete root cause analysis and preventative measures for failures.
• Requires minimal supervision and can work in an independent and team environment.

Accountabilities:

• Manage the facility's HACCP plan, GMPs, SSOPs, and other pre-requisite programs to meet regulatory and customer requirements and review and maintain all relevant documents.
• Lead, manage, and audit the program, including conducting leadership training (train-the-trainer).
• Compliance with applicable regulatory requirements (Federal, State, and Local).
• Lead and manage audits, customer audits, and regulatory inspections to make sure the facility receives passing and improving results.
• Apply and manage the FFG Vendor Management program as required
• Keep open conversations with all departments to report non-compliance and continuous development opportunities.
• Regular inspection practices assess performance and advise employees and department staff to ensure compliance.
• Assess reports regarding regulatory, customer, internal, and third-party audits, sanitation violations, customer complaints, and corrective actions to resolve deficiencies.
• Complete other essential job functions as assigned.

Skills and Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor of Science Degree from an accredited university; preference will be given to candidates with degrees in Food Science, Microbiology, Biological Science, or related discipline.
• 2-3 years of experience in the food industry; experience in a Food Safety or Quality Assurance position is a plus.
• Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred
• Supervisory experience preferred.
• Airline catering experience preferred.
• HACCP Certified, SERV Safe Manager, SQF Practitioner, FSPCA Certification preferred (must achieve certification within 6 months of start date).

Supervisory Responsibility
This position has supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment
This job operates in a professional manufacturing environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment.

Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit and stand for long periods; and reach with hands and arms.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time position.
Days and hours of work may vary depending on the needs of the business.

Travel
5%

Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

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