Food Safety & Quality Assurance Specialist

Job Description Orca Bay Foods is seeking a Food Safety & Quality Assurance Specialist to support food safety, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and audit readiness at our seafood manufacturing facility in Seattle. This role plays a key part in ensuring products consistently meet customer specifications, regulatory requirements, and company standards while promoting a culture of food safety, quality, and continuous improvement throughout the organization. The Food Safety & Quality Assurance Specialist supports the implementation and maintenance of HACCP, GMP, sanitation, environmental monitoring, product quality, and regulatory compliance programs. This position assists with customer, third-party, social responsibility, and regulatory audits, including SQF, BAP, SMETA, Costco Social Compliance, customer audits, and regulatory inspections. Working collaboratively with Operations, Sanitation, Maintenance, Human Resources, and Corporate Quality, the Specialist helps maintain compliance, investigate quality concerns, implement corrective actions, and ensure the facility remains audit-ready. The ideal candidate will have 3 – 5 years of experience in food manufacturing, seafood processing, or a related FDA-regulated environment, with a strong understanding of food safety systems, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance. Experience with HACCP, FDA regulations, GMPs, root cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), and continuous improvement is highly desirable. Strong organizational, communication, and problem‑solving skills are essential. This position is based in Seattle and requires regular on‑site presence. Key Responsibilities Support the implementation and maintenance of facility food safety and quality assurance programs. Maintain compliance with HACCP, Seafood HACCP, GMPs, SSOPs, SQF, BAP, SMETA, Costco Social Compliance, and applicable regulatory and customer requirements. Assist with customer, third-party, and regulatory audits by preparing documentation, participating in inspections, and tracking corrective actions through completion. Investigate product quality issues, customer complaints, non-conformances, and food safety concerns, and assist with root cause analysis and corrective and preventive actions. Maintain accurate, organized, and audit‑ready food safety, quality, and compliance documentation. Partner with Operations, Sanitation, Maintenance, Human Resources, and Corporate Quality to support compliance initiatives and continuous improvement efforts. Monitor environmental, sanitation, and quality data, identify trends, and recommend corrective or preventive actions. Assist with employee training on HACCP, GMPs, food safety practices, quality systems, and regulatory requirements. Support product inspections, process verification, environmental monitoring, and other quality assurance activities as assigned. Join a growing seafood industry leader committed to delivering safe, high‑quality products while maintaining the highest standards of food safety, quality, regulatory compliance, and social responsibility. As a Food Safety & Quality Assurance Specialist, you will play an important role in protecting our products, supporting certification programs, and driving continuous improvement across the organization. Education/Experience Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, Quality Assurance, or related field preferred. 2+ years of food safety or quality assurance experience in food manufacturing, seafood processing, or related industries. Strong knowledge of HACCP, FDA regulations, SQF, BAP, GMPs, sanitation programs, and food safety systems. Experience leading customer, regulatory, and third‑party audits. HACCP Certification required or ability to obtain; SQF Practitioner and PCQI certifications preferred. Strong leadership, communication, problem‑solving, and organizational skills. Required Skills Intermediate proficiency with MS Office applications, specifically, Excel. Working knowledge and experience with ESHA Genesis R&D is strongly preferred. Familiarity with 3rd party web data sites. Excellent organizational skills. Food industry‑specific knowledge of ingredients, food allergens, ingredient functionality and product formulas. Experience working with and current understanding of nutrition, labeling, and regulatory concepts gained through technical reading, industry interaction, and/or attendance at appropriate seminars and educational courses. Certificates, Licenses, Registrations HACCP, PCQI and SQF Certifications preferred. Benefits 100% Employer Paid Medical and Dental 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan Paid Time Off (accrue up to 15 days annually at hire) 9 Paid Holidays Group Life Insurance Long Term Disability Employee Assistance Program Flexible Spending Account Pre‑Tax Commuter Benefit Voluntary Benefits (vision, disability, life insurance) Free Parking Salary Disclosure The typical base pay range for this role is $72,000 – $85,000 per year. Individual base pay depends on various factors, in addition to primary work location, such as complexity and responsibility of role, job duties/requirements, and relevant experience and skills. Equal Opportunity Employer Statement Orca Bay Foods is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to View email address on click.appcast.io. #J-18808-Ljbffr Orca Bay Foods, LLC