Quality Assurance Specialist

Introduction Ahold Delhaize USA is a division of global food retailer Ahold Delhaize and part of the U.S. family of brands, which includes Food Lion, Giant Food, The GIANT Company, Hannaford and Stop & Shop. Associates support the brands with services including Finance, Legal, Sustainability, Commercial, Digital and e‑commerce, Technology and more. 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 ensure customer satisfaction and 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 corrective action plans and processes. Provide technical direction and guidance for resolving imminent health hazards. Analyze basic food safety program data to further minimize food safety risks. Offer root causes and lead 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 and direction for complex situations and provide support. Provide education and training for business partners both 1‑on‑1 and in groups up to 100 people. Establish confidence and skill level in delivering effective training. Conduct food safety training and 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.). Assess routine individual situations and provide practical and accurate guidance to mitigate risk and achieve regulatory compliance. Seek guidance and direction for complex situations and provide support. Emergency support may require on‑site store visits after‑hours or weekends. Develop contacts and relations with regulatory officials (health department, department of agriculture, etc.). Actively participate in regulatory meetings through networking; educate and advocate for company product safety standard practices, policies and 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 and metrics. Provide field support for merchandising programs, special events and food safety initiatives and assess execution levels. Manage efficient schedule to support program effectiveness. Interpret regulatory standards and identify 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. Requirements 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 and measures, country of origin requirements and regulatory food codes (FDA Food Code). A minimum of 1–3 years food safety or quality assurance related work. Overnight travel as necessary. Valid driver’s license. The position requires driving daily and 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 and 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 one‑on‑one and group interactions with all associates. Effective in delivering food safety training programs to adult learners. Excellent written skills. 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. Results oriented, able to develop self and others. Ability to interact with all levels of associates and management. Ability to act as a team leader or team builder. Active participation within industry and regulatory associations. Work independently and in a team environment. Maintain certifications such as Food Protection Manager Certification and CFPM Test Administrator qualifications. 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