Food Safety Assurance Specialist

SUMMARY: The purpose of this position is to conduct food safety related audits at all Mennel production locations. This role is to help ensure full compliance with all applicable regulations and standards as well as to achieve Mennel’s goal of Operational Excellence. This position will sustain the Mission and Motto and Food Safety and Quality Statement of the Mennel Milling Company.

PRIMARY WORK SHIFT: Works shift as assigned.

Monday through Friday 8AM – 5PM. Will vary, depending on workload. This position can accommodate a remote (home) working location as this role will require significant travel (greater than 75%) to the food production facilities. This position may also accommodate a less than full-time working schedule.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without accommodation.

• Follow all food and personal safety rules and regulations in respect to GMP’s, OSHA, HACCP, the Global Food Safety Initiative, the US FDA Food Safety Modernization Act as stated in the FS&Q Statement, and sanitation guidelines as set forth by the company as listed in Corporate Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) and attend all required training sessions. Maintain the department/facility in an everyday audit ready condition.
• Serve as the key corporate resource to the food production sites in maintaining compliance with all BRC and Food Safety standards, including providing guidance on the implementation of all necessary programs, policies, and SOP’s.
• Other duties may be assigned.
• Assist the Area Managers in the response to audit activities and ensure the required CAPAs are completed in a successful and timely fashion.
• Schedules and conducts internal audits and Food Safety Plan verifications to assure consistent application of Mennel’s Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory program across all food production sites.
• Active contributor within the Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory team, acting as a resource to help improve the strategies, policies, and procedures of the program.
• This position may require additional responsibilities as defined by the Director of Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory.
• Serve as the primary contact for any applicable 3rd party, customer audits, or federal/state/local agency audits, including unannounced visits.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position has no supervisory duties.

QUALIFICATIONS:

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required to perform this job.

• A Bachelor’s degree in food science, chemistry, quality assurance, manufacturing, operations, or related discipline is preferred.
• Must possess ability to learn and analyze new concepts quickly.
• Ability to train others on Food Safety & Quality standards.
• Demonstrated ability working with GFSI auditing requirements is desired.
• Must have solid communication skills and be able to interact and productively communicate with all levels of the organization.
• Detailed level of understanding of Food Safety & Quality Standards, Food Safety Plans, Preventative Controls and Prerequisite Programs is required.
• Must be able to complete PCQI training certification.
• Must have excellent technical writing, speaking, and presentation skills.
• Active Third-Party GFSI Auditor Certification is preferred. Those with inactive certifications will be considered.
• Must be a self-starter and have the capability to effectively work independently.
• 10+ years of experience in a food/beverage or consumer goods manufacturing environment is required. Experience in Quality Assurance, EHS or Regulatory Compliance is preferred.
• Must possess excellent computer skills.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, memos, procedures, and plans. Ability to write reports, complete checklists and other basic documentation and correspondence. Ability to effectively present information or data in one-on-one and small group situations to co-workers, supervisors, and managers.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

REASONING ABILITY:

Must use solid judgment when making decisions. Must have ability to quickly recognize and plan for changing work duties and events.

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 stand; walk; use hands to perform maintenance tasks, reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, twist, crouch, or crawl, and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds or more. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to conditions that are typical to an office environment.