Director of Food Safety & Quality

Title: Director of Food Safety and Quality

Salary Range: $163K - $221K

Status: Exempt


Days/Shifts: Monday - Friday and Weekends as needed

Location: Salinas, CA


Reports to: Exec. VP of Food Safety & Quality

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GENERAL DISCRIPTION / PRIMARY PURPOSE:

The Director of Food Safety and Quality is responsible for the maintenance of plant quality processes and food safety programs from raw arrival through shipment from Salinas. The position includes the management of the food safety and quality teams and will provide cross-functional coverage for all areas of management in the Food Safety and Quality Departments as needed. Regulatory and third-party auditor and vendor engagement will be required.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS / DUTIES OF THE POSITION:

• Manage Food Safety and Quality processes and conduct studies in the manufacturing facility including the verification of quality and food safety rules and compliance with regulations.
• Assist in food safety audit interactions as needed and as directed.
• Assist with plant trail work for product improvement and new product development. Work on the floor to validate product quality and connect quality attributes to qualify products or processes.
• Verify and validate the microbiological programs including environmental monitoring, product testing, water testing and air testing according to regulatory and audit compliance. Validate that processes are effective in microbiological regulatory compliance and verification of sanitation effectiveness.
• Maintain and modify food safety and quality training programs to ensure the entire workforce understands and owns food safety, is properly trained, knowledgeable, and able to identify and call out issues and perform assignments as directed.
• Continue the development and improvement of organicgirl food safety programs from supplier compliance through the building block components of the food safety program (GMP, SOP, SSOP, recall, HACCP, training, etc.).
• Work with the executive management team at organicgirl and industry experts and professionals to augment current GAP programs and develop innovative ways to monitor food safety compliance. Actively oversee and engage in food safety compliance in the facility.
• Initiate investigations and provide summary results regarding complaints and rejections. Analyze complaint data and provide connections to quality data that can be relevant in the development of capabilities and expectations of products.
• Provide coverage for cross-functional quality and food safety areas of management as needed. Coverage may include management or supervision of the field or the plant.
• Supervise quality assurance employees, food safety employees and the Shelf-Life Technician. Supervise field food safety employees as coverage requires. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees. Plan, assign and direct work. Provide performance reviews. Address employee complaints and resolve problems.

JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES:

• Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Proven ability to organize, motivate and direct people.
• Ability to work and make decisions in emergency situations
• HACCP Certification
• PCQI Certification
• Literate in English.
• Must be able to communicate scientific principles and food safety concepts to a broad audience ranging from agricultural workers to industry scientists.
• Must be an experienced writer in food safety documentation.
• Must be able to communicate quality and food safety policies and train individual employees to insure consistent adherence to organicgirl programs.
• Valid California Driver's License

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and peripheral vision. The position requires some travel and frequent weekend work

WORK HOUR & TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

• Monday - Friday and Weekends as needed

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:

• Minimum of bachelor's degree with a focus on food science, microbiology, process logistics, agriculture or food related. Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years' experience in managing food safety programs in the vegetable processing industry and/or agriculture.
• Minimum of five (5) years' experience in managing food safety personnel and guiding and developing personal growth paths for employees.
• HACCP and PCQI certification with experience in developing risk assessments and establishing basic foundation programs to address identified risks or potential hazards.
• Knowledge of FSMA and LGMA regulations and ability to connect processes and capabilities to these expectations.
• Ability to prepare corporate food safety documentation and a working knowledge of local, state and federal regulations and guidelines regarding food safety.
• Knowledge of industry microbiological requirements and issues surrounding micro testing.
• Demonstrated leadership capability and problem-solving skills.
• Working knowledge of Excel, Word, Power Point computer skills.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws:

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) English

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Spanish


Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) English

Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Spanish

Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)

Department: QA & Food Safety
This is a management position
This is a full-time position
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