Corporate Quality Specialist

OhioMeansJobs Highland County; Indiana (PA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Sugar Creek Packing Co. is a private, family-owned food company founded in 1966 and a major bacon processor serving the global market. This role supports the Corporate Quality Specialist Senior in implementing FSQA processes to promote food quality and safety at each plant.

Responsibilities include developing specifications, conducting audits, ensuring FSMA compliance, and driving cross-location improvements to meet customer requirements and government regulations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences/Agriculture, Food Science or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Experience: None required; 1+ year preferred.
• Knowledge of GMPs, HACCP, FSMA and regulatory expectations.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and especially Excel.
• Strong communication and collaborative problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement manufacturing specifications for major food items across plants.
• Establish best practices for plant equipment with tests, setup, and preventive maintenance.
• Conduct GMP and FSQA audits to ensure compliance.
• Understand FSMA regulations and track developments impacting the plants.
• Drive improvements to meet quality and safety standards across locations.

Skills

Microsoft Office

Excel

Food industry knowledge

GMP HACCP FSMA

Critical thinking

Time management

Team collaboration

Math basics

Effective communication

Education

Bachelor's in Animal Sciences/Agriculture or Food Science or related

Job description

Sugar Creek Packing Co., founded in 1966, is a flourishing privately held, family owned food company. Its commitment to making the highest-quality, best-value products has allowed Sugar Creek to grow into one of the largest independent bacon processors servicing the global market.

Description Summary

Assist Corporate Quality Specialist Senior in implementing FSQA processes and procedures to promote food quality and safety at each plant. Monitor and implement appropriate FSQA standards and procedures to ensure regulatory compliance. Work with other departments to promote consistent and efficient application of all quality and safety procedures on a company-wide basis.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and implement manufacturing specifications for all major food items for the different plants.
• Develop best practices for all major plant equipment, which will consist of daily and weekly tests, set-up and preventive maintenance schedules.
• Conduct good manufacturing practices (GMP) and FSQA plant audits.
• Develop a thorough understanding of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) regulations and stay current on any developments or trends regarding FSMA regulations.
• Improve customer specifications to include raw material to finished packaging.
• Drive improvement at each location to ensure that each plant’s FSQA team meets or exceeds SugarCreek’s quality and food safety standards, are operationally efficient, meet third party and customer requirements, and comply with government regulations.
• Develop a company-wide allergen compliance policy covering the entire lifecycle of each product and its ingredients.
• Conduct annual assessments and review of all relevant product labels with FSQA Department and work with plants to create strategies that mitigate audit deficiencies and risks.
• Assist in gathering all letters of guarantees from product suppliers.
• Ensure all export/import qualifications are being met for compliance purposes.
• Assist the plants in responding to regulatory items (recalls, licensing, food safety issues and concerns).
• Instill robust corrective action tracking and proactively identify gaps in quality system to minimize food safety and customer quality concerns.
• Monitor/audit all HACCP documents for all plants.
• Ensure that all printed packaging in use by Sugar Creek has USDA sketch and/or generic approval prior to packaging in use.
• Utilize the USDA web portal, LSAS, for sketch approvals.
• Analyze and negotiate resolution of food safety and quality issues.
• Comply with federal, state, and company policies, procedures and regulations.
• Support all safety, food quality and sanitation initiatives and policies.
• Follow SugarCreek safety rules and procedures.
• Perform other duties and tasks as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s Degree with a major in Animal Sciences/Agriculture, Food Science or other related field, or equivalent experience.

Experience: None required; 1+ year preferred

Certification or Licensure Requirements: None.

Abilities, Knowledge, And Skills Required

• Possess knowledge and passion for food industry.
• Possess proficiency with computer programs, specifically Microsoft Office.
• Working knowledge of food products and manufacturing processes.
• Know the standards and requirements of GMPs, HACCP, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
• Able to use critical thinking to identify strengths and weaknesses of various processes and make adjustments.
• Able to plan, organize, and manage time effectively.
• Ability to work in collaboration with others.
• Possess basic mathematic skills, specifically in arithmetic and algebra.
• Able to write and communicate effectively.
• Possess strong quantitative skills, especially on how to use Microsoft Excel.

Other Requirements

No unusual physical requirements. Physical requirements are consistent with typical quality assurance positions, including mostly sitting with some standing/walking required. Other light physical activity like using stairs or occasionally moving items weighing less than 15lbs may be required as needed. Some travel may be required in between plants.

Work Environment

Some travel to other locations is required.

Most work is performed in a comfortable, indoor, office-like facility. Some work is performed in an indoor, manufacturing facility with close proximity to heavy and hazardous machinery. Safety wear is required, including hard hat, hairnet, hearing protection, safety glasses, steel toe boots, coats and other necessary equipment. Very little work is performed outside of the manufacturing facility.

We are an equal opportunity employer.