Assistant Thermal Process Specialist — Food Safety

SOPAKCO Inc.; Bennettsville (SC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

SOPAKCO Inc. in Bennettsville, SC seeks an Assistant Thermal Process Manager to lead design, validation, and optimization of thermal and aseptic processes for safe products.

You will develop expertise in regulatory compliance, data analysis, and documentation while supporting plant operations. Responsibilities include conducting heat penetration studies, assisting with process validation and deviations, operating retorts, and training Thermal Processing staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science or a related field.
• Working knowledge of food safety, food microbiology, and food chemistry.
• Must complete Better Process Control School (BPCS) certification.
• Must complete Thermal Process Determination training and certification.
• Mechanical aptitude and willingness to learn thermal processing equipment and operations.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to learn and use thermal processing software CALSOFT, DataTrace, Ellab, and NumeriCAL.

Responsibilities

• Assist with the design, execution, and evaluation of heat penetration and temperature distribution studies for retorts, products, and packaging systems.
• Develop knowledge of thermal processing principles, calculations, microbial risks, critical factors, heat transfer, and commercial sterilization technologies.
• Assist with process validation, verification, process deviations, spoilage investigations, and product dispositions.
• Operate and troubleshoot retorts; assist with retort setup, recipes, and processing procedures.
• Collect, analyze, maintain, and document thermal processing data and records to meet regulatory and customer requirements.
• Identify processing or equipment issues that could affect product safety or quality and communicate findings and recommendations to management and maintenance.
• Maintain and secure thermal processing data collection equipment.
• Develop and maintain working knowledge of applicable FDA, USDA FSIS, and South Carolina Department of Agriculture requirements, including 21 CFR Parts 113 and 114 and applicable 9 CFR requirements.
• Support regulatory and customer audits and explain thermal processing equipment, procedures, and controls.
• Provide direction and training to Thermal Processing Records Reviewers, Retort Operators, Retort Clerks, and Thermal Processing Technicians.
• Provide support in related Food Safety and Quality functions, including GFSI, HACCP, Food Defense, label review, specifications, and special claims.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Communication

Organizational skills

Mechanical aptitude

Software literacy

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science

Better Process Control School (BPCS) certification

Thermal Process Determination training/certification

Tools

CALSOFT

DataTrace

Ellab

NumeriCAL

Job description

SOPAKCO Inc. in Bennettsville, SC seeks an Assistant Thermal Process Manager to lead design, validation, and optimization of thermal and aseptic processes for safe products.

You will develop expertise in regulatory compliance, data analysis, and documentation while supporting plant operations. Responsibilities include conducting heat penetration studies, assisting with process validation and deviations, operating retorts, and training Thermal Processing staff.