Food Safety and Quality Specialist

ZipRecruiter; Elkwood (VA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading indoor farming company is seeking a Food Safety & Quality Specialist for its Elkwood, Virginia facility. The role involves ensuring compliance with food safety regulations, leading investigations, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. Ideal candidates have experience in quality management within the food industry and strong leadership skills. Join BrightFarms and contribute to improving the food supply chain while working in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a team or as a supervisor.
• Proficiency in English; Spanish is a plus.
• Desire to improve the environmental impact of the food supply chain.

Responsibilities

• Implement food safety & quality programs as per compliance.
• Lead investigations and corrective actions.
• Perform GMP & GAP audits and inspections.

Skills

Leadership

Decision-making

Troubleshooting

Communication

Education

5 years in quality management, preferably in food industry

Tools

Microsoft Office

Data tracking systems

Job description

Job DescriptionJob Description

BrightFarms is The Place to Grow!

At BrightFarms, we’re on a mission to revolutionize the way leafy greens are grown. But we don’t just want to grow great-tasting greens, we want them to do good as well: for the planet, for the health of people, and for the well-being of our employees. We give BrightFarmers the tools, training, support, and opportunities they need to do better for themselves and the world every day. Because when you do good for your people, they do good for the world.

BrightFarms is a leader in the booming indoor farming industry, transforming how produce is grown and delivered with its expanding network of high-tech, sustainable hydroponic farms. We currently operate six high-tech greenhouse farms, with four new regional salad greenhouse hubs breaking ground to begin opening in 2024. BrightFarms' fresh lettuce options, from classic greens to crunchy mixes and salad kits, are available in more than 3,700 retail stores across the East Coast and Midwest.

Our Food Safety & Quality department is looking to add a Food Safety & Quality Specialist to our team. The position is located at our Elkwood, Virginia (about 1 hour outside of DMV).

Specifically, you will:

• Implement food safety & quality programs to ensure compliance with FDA regulations, SQFI audit programs, and other relevant customer, State, Federal and industry requirements
• Lead investigations and implement effective and appropriate corrective actions
• Collect environmental and water samples per the sampling schedules and protocols
• Review and verify food safety and quality records completed by the operations team
• Manage and update weekly FSQ Key Performance Indicator (KPI) score cards and food safety culture whiteboard
• Perform quality sampling checks of finished products
• Work with chemical vendor to perform chemical titration checks to ensure correct usage of sanitation chemicals. Work on sanitation corrective actions with chemical vendor
• Order and maintain sanitation chemical inventory and sanitation resources
• Provide functional leadership and subject matter expertise to the sanitation team, including revising SSOPs as necessary
• Order laboratory supplies for environmental monitoring program
• Help drive a culture of safety and quality, including management and distribution of culture surveys
• Perform GMP & GAP audits and inspections
• Assist with the onboarding process of new hires and training of operators, leading in a manner consistent with BrightFarms leadership philosophies
• Work closely with peers to develop good team working relationship and cross shift team relationships
• Other duties as assigned
• Work with cross-functional teams to support in implementation of facility projects

The ideal candidate:

• At least 5 years combination of education and experience quality management, preferably in the food industry
• Bilingual English/Spanish is a big plus but not required
• A desire to be an integral part of a growing mission-based company
• Demonstrated leadership and influencing skills
• Some experience in a team lead role or as a supervisor with a team of employees
• Bilingual English/Spanish is a big plus but not required
• Proficiency with computer operations and programs such as Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel), Access or other data tracking systems
• Strong decision-making and troubleshooting skills
• Timely and communicate effectively with the farm team
• Candidates must sincerely care about leading the movement to improve the environmental impact of the food supply chain

Working conditions / Environment / Travel / Schedule required

• This position may require working in greenhouse and cold room locations, specifically the following environments for part or all of your shift and will dress accordingly:
  • you may be working in the Cooler (35F-40F)
  • you may be working in the Greenhouse (75F-95F)
  • and you may be working in Headhouse (60F-90F)
• Employees will have some exposure to seasonal conditions which may range from extreme heat and humidity in the summer to cold in the winter
• Often working near moving mechanical parts
• There will be exposure to cleaning chemicals
• The noise level of machines and cooling units can be loud
• This position may require working evening and/or weekends as needed to support the farm
• While performing the duties of this job, employees are expected to constantly use hands to finger, handle or feel, as well as talk and hear
• There is frequent standing, walking, reaching with hands and arms, as well as stooping, kneeling, crouching, and climbing
• The lifting requirements to occasionally lift up to 30 pounds, and on a rotating basis constantly lift up to 10 pounds
• The employee should have clear correctable vision at close and distance range, as well as peripheral vision to notice safety hazards
• Less than 10% travel is expected

Come grow with us - the future is BRIGHT!

BrightFarms is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer - All qualified applicants/employees will receive consideration for employment without regard to that individual’s , , , or creed, or ancestry, (including ), , , , physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, , citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law.