Manager, Food Safety and Quality Assurance

The Food Safety Manager will provide leadership, direction and day-to-day support to operations management to drive compliance with the corporate Safe Quality Foods plan. The Food Safety Manager is directly responsible for the oversight and maintenance of the Food Safety & Food Quality system (FSS) activities at the assigned distribution facility - by providing guidance, communication and follow-up on FSS policies, procedures and documentation and coordinating the resolution of specific policy-related and procedural problems and incidences.

Act as the food safety subject matter expert at the selected distribution center, including acting as lead during all 3rd party and regulatory audits. Oversee the core Food Safety Team and all aspects of managing the food safety group at this location. This position may also be assigned an indirect assignment to support the FS team and one of our smaller facilities.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Directly responsible for the oversight and maintenance of the SQF Program at the assigned Mastronardi Produce, distribution center.
• Supervise food safety team members, approve time off, conduct performance evaluations, provide effective and continuous feedback to drive excellence
• Serves as the designated Safe Quality Foods (SQF) Practitioner and Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI)
• This position may also be assigned an indirect assignment to support the FS team and one of our smaller facilities. This would include providing supervisor support and assistance and helping to ensure the FS program is fully implemented and executed at any facility they are assigned.
• Responsible for overseeing collection of data for Food Safety and Quality KPI's
• Assist the management of the facility in achieving set Food Safety and Quality KPI's
• Acts as SQF Practitioner and PCQI back up, when necessary, to any other Mastronardi owned facility
• Conduct routine audits of internal food safety program, product specifications and organics program, providing reports to management for continuous improvement
• When necessary, take charge of critical food-safety & quality issues and promptly bring them to resolution while maintaining adherence to legislative and regulatory requirements
• Conduct routine checks to verify proper record keeping by Operations Staff for Food Safety System and Organics Compliance Plan
• Corrective Action and Preventative Measures – log and track of non-compliances and FSS incidences, do investigations, coordinate follow-up and bring outstanding issues to closure
• Supervise FSS Training – assist in development of training programs, conduct training classes, maintain training records
• Prepares, organizes, leads and conducts follow-up for third-party, government, and customer audits
• Acts as the emergency contact for the facility in Food Safety related issues including but not limited to recalls, power failures, potable water outages. Ensures issues are safely addressed.
• Maintain relevant FSS documents, databases, records, binders & filing
• Obtain, input, tabulate FSS data and provide reports to Management
• Acts as the subject matter expert for food safety at the assigned facility
• Participates and is part of the leadership team at assigned facility
• Other duties as assigned.
• As a leader in the food safety team, you will be required to be contacted and available after hours to address emergencies and technical issue for a 24 x 7 distribution operation.

Education/Background Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in food science, sciences (biology, chemistry etc.), agriculture or another related field is preferred.
• A minimum five to seven years' experience in a Food Safety/Quality Assurance/Management function, with specific knowledge of SQF Systems and FSMA implementation
• A minimum 2 years supervisory experience is preferred
• Ability to speak Spanish is a plus, but not required

Specific Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• Proven ability to lead and motivate teams
• Experience conducting traceability and recall exercises
• Must maintain current HACCP certificate, PCQI certificate and Implementing SQF training documentation
• Quality certifications considered an asset
• Auditing experience required, with required ability to read and interpret documentation for regulatory and audit standards
• Strong knowledge of food safety and quality systems, HACCP, ISO 9001, cGMP, SQF etc.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills at all levels inside the business and externally with suppliers, customers and regulatory agencies.
• Excellent analytical, time management and organizational skills
• Technical skills, including computer proficiency and data management
• Strong customer, quality and continuous improvement focus
• Ability to document preventative and immediate corrective actions
• Valid passport and driver's license must be maintained

Working Conditions:

• Standard office environment and,
• Time spent in an expansive refrigerated warehouse, where the temperature averages 50°F. The background noise approaches 70 dcbs.
• Capable of lifting at least 10 lbs.
• Position requires sitting, standing, walking and bending on a regular basis
• Climbing platform ladders is also a requirement.
• Must have manual dexterity to perform computer skills.
• Limited overnight travel may be required for this position.

Required

• Bachelors or better

Preferred

• ISO 9001:2000Lead Auditor
• PCQI Certificate
• HACCP - Level IV
• HACCP - Level II
• HACCP - Level I

Preferred

• Enthusiastic: Shows intense and eager enjoyment and interest
• Functional Expert: Considered a thought leader on a subject
• Team Player: Works well as a member of a group
• Detail Oriented: Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well
• Dedicated: Devoted to a task or purpose with loyalty or integrity