Quality Assurance Specialist

Position Summary A minimum of one to three years retail food safety/quality assurance experience and proven ability to act as a technical expert. Help to ensure customer satisfaction & brand protection through education and verification of applicable product safety standards and procedures as they concern our stores, merchandising teams and associates. Support continuous improvement through training, coaching, auditing and mentoring. Interact regularly with the regulatory arena as official liaison. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis. Responsibilities This is a field position requiring daily store visits 4-5 days per week, normally Monday-Friday. Conduct assessment on third party food safety inspections. Perform 'root cause' analysis of food safety and sanitation procedures for compliance and necessary follow‑up. Build upon original inspection results including the effectiveness of the corrective action plans and processes. Provide technical direction/guidance for resolving imminent health hazards. Analyze basic food safety program data to further minimize food safety risks. Ability to offer root causes and leading interaction with other functional areas to implement solutions. Develop actionable solutions and presentations for district, store manager, and department manager meetings/conference calls on a routine basis. Monitor and follow‑up with sanitation and pest control vendor activities daily. Work with the local pest control and sanitation vendors to ensure compliance with contractual arrangements and direct them as needed. Monitor program execution, assist in identifying opportunities and provide general guidance. Seek guidance/direction for complex situations and provide support/follow‑up. Provide education and training for business partners both 1‑on‑1 and in groups up to 100 people. Established confidence and skill level in delivering effective training. Conduct food safety training/certification sessions as an authorized trainer and exam administrator. Provide food safety field support, direction and follow‑up for emergency/crisis situations (power outages, fires, floods, claimed illnesses, recall audits, etc.). Ability to assess routine individual situations and provide practical and accurate guidance to mitigate risk and achieve regulatory compliance. Seek guidance/direction for complex situations and provide support/follow‑up. As needed, emergency support may require on‑site store visits after‑hours/weekends. Develop contacts and relations with regulatory officials (health department, department of agriculture, etc.). Actively participate in regulatory meetings through networking; educate and be advocate for company product safety standard practices/policies/programs. Conduct effectiveness checks for all Class 1 product recalls. Answer regulatory inquiries into recalls involved in foodborne illnesses or USDA or FDA inspected products. Assist as needed in other regulatory compliance issues and follow‑up including but not limited to ingredient, allergen, customer complaints, country of origin labeling, and weights and measures standards. Monitor and confirm with established standards. Analyze, interpret and incorporate data/metrics Provide field support for merchandising programs, special events, and food safety initiatives and assess execution levels. Capable of managing efficient schedule to support program effectiveness. Interpret regulatory standards and identification of industry trends and best practices. Provide food safety field support, direction and follow‑up pertaining to consumer complaints. Complete other duties and responsibilities assigned by Supervisor or QA Director. Basic Qualifications Bachelor's degree in life science (food science, biology, microbiology, community health) or public health field; or a combination of education and experience. Fundamental knowledge of food safety, sanitation audits, pest control, food safety training, product recalls, weights & measures, country of origin requirements, regulatory food codes (FDA Food Code). A minimum of 1-3 years' food safety or quality assurance related work. Overnight travel, as necessary (approximately Valid driver's license. Position requires driving daily. This is a field position. Preferred Qualifications Registered Sanitarian, Environmental Health Specialist or state equivalent or Certified Professional-Food Safety (CP-FS) credentials. Bachelor's degree in public health or food science related field. Experience with auditing food establishments/facilities. Experience with Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Skills & Abilities Field position requires long periods of standing and walking. Some lifting may be required. A self‑starter capable of managing an efficient schedule with excellent interpersonal skills. Excellent communication skills for both one‑on‑one and group interactions with all associates. Effective in delivering food safety training programs to adult learners. Basic computer skills to operate MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and e‑mail. Ability to interpret data, diagnose 'root' cause effects and provide sustainable and practical corrective actions. Ability to influence without authority. Must be results oriented, have ability to develop self and others. Ability to interact with all levels of associates and management. Must have ability to act as a team leader or team builder. Ability to actively participate within industry and regulatory associations. Ability to work independently and in a team environment. Maintain Certifications or Food Protection Manager Certification and CFPM Test Administrator qualifications Salary MD Salary Range: $72,880 - $109,320 Actual compensation offered to a candidate may vary based on their unique qualifications and experience, internal equity, and market conditions. Final compensation decisions will be made in accordance with company policies and applicable laws. #J-18808-Ljbffr