QA Food Safety Specialist

At Heritage Grocers Group, LLC, how we work is defined by shared values that include absolute integrity, respect, and collaboration. But it's more than that, it's smart and highly driven people united in purpose to serve one another.

Bring your energy and unique perspective and you'll have the opportunity to grow with us professionally, personally, and financially. You'll be part of a team that genuinely cares about helping you succeed, and you'll work alongside talented colleagues while making a difference in our communities.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Quality Assurance and Food Safety Specialist supports the Quality Assurance Team in ensuring that Heritage Grocers complies with all requirements of Regulatory Agencies for health, food safety, and quality. Ensuring food safety processes are followed in accordance with FDA regulations and verifying Food Safety activities. He/she assists the QA Director in manufacturing specification control documents; investigates, collects data, and implements solutions to quality issues.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The essential duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• May perform checks of production operations, including, but not limited to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMPs), packaging weights, labelling information & coding, Food Safety (HACCP), SOPs, record keeping, and general sanitation & housekeeping.
• Assist the QA team with recalls, evaluate the impact, and conduct company follow-up.
• Support stores to have all the necessary equipment to meet the Hazardous Communication Program.
• Support stores with Food Safety external audit activities, and corrective action plans (CAPs), and follow up with stores as needed.
• Assist the QA team with follow-ups for internal inspection findings requiring corrections.
• Collaborate with various Team Members throughout the organization and develop/create training guidelines for management and staff as needed.
• Assist the QA team with third-party laboratory analysis requests, nutritional facts, shelf-life studies, etc., as needed.
• Collaborate with internal field compliance auditors in compliance reviews as needed.
• Assist with the continuation and development of HACCP and Quality-Food Safety programs for all business units at the store level, warehouses, and manufacturing plants.
• Communicate with production managers, supervisors, and lead people on food safety issues.
• Support with temperature monitoring kits and troubleshooting.
• Supports the team to ensure that prerequisite programs are followed and documented.
• Follow up management for required food handlers/food managers certification for all business units as needed.
• Assists in manufacturing facilities as needed to inspect finished goods in compliance with specifications and perform inspections of incoming and outgoing trucks for Food Safety concerns.
• Travel to various store locations (approximately 75-90% of the schedule) as needed.
• Must be flexible in adapting to changing environments.
• Have a thorough understanding of FDA and /or USDA-inspected facilities.
• Awareness of GMP, SOP, and Food Safety (HACCP) Requirements.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School Diploma or GED Equivalent Certification, College degree preferred (professional certifications and licenses required).
• 2-5+ years of experience in a related position
• Bilingual English/Spanish
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common information, reports, and other documents.
• Must be flexible in adapting to changing environments.
• Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Detail-oriented and proven organizational and prioritizing skills.
• Confident working in a fast-paced, constantly evolving environment

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK CONDITIONS:

The physical demands and work conditions below represent those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Some requirements may be modified to accommodate individuals with disabilities:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, and use the hands to handle objects, tools, or controls.
• Successful performance requires vision abilities that include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• The work environment is typical of an office.
• Ability to lift up to 15 lbs.
• Demonstrate strong problem-solving skills and excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to analyze data and issues to make appropriate recommendations.
• Ability to handle and maintain strict confidentiality.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER NOTICE

The job duties, elements, responsibilities, skills, functions, experience, educational factors, and the requirements and conditions listed in this job description are representative only and not exhaustive of the tasks that an employee may be required to perform. The Employer reserves the right to revise this job description at any time and to require employees to perform other tasks as circumstances or conditions of its business or the work environment change.

Disclaimer:

Pay Scale $70,304K

The pay scale above is a good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage range that the employer reasonably expects to pay for the position. Within this range, individual pay is determined by multiple factors including, but not limited to, specific skills, relevant work experience, and relevant education and/or training. This information is provided to applicants in accordance with California Labor Code § 432.3 and state and local minimum wage standards.