Food Safety and Quality Specialist

Flying Food Group; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Career growth opportunities

Holiday Pay

Referral Bonus

Scholarship opportunities for FFG and其

Employee mobile service discount

401(k) with Match

Online courses and development

Job summary

Flying Food Group in Hawthorne, CA is seeking a Food Safety and Quality Specialist to inspect processing areas and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. You will supervise Food Safety and Quality Technicians and ensure adherence to FFG sanitation, safety, and quality standards.

The role reports to the Food Safety and Quality Scientist and requires a Bachelor’s degree in a related field with 1–3 years of industry experience; bilingual English/Spanish is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; preference for Food Science, Microbiology, or related discipline.
• 1–3 years of experience in the food industry; food safety/QA a plus.
• Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred.
• Supervisory experience preferred; airline catering experience a plus.

Responsibilities

• Maintain food safety and quality control systems; perform daily facility walkthroughs.
• Collect finished product samples; create shipping labels and package samples for 3rd party analysis.
• Provide feedback to production to address major quality defects.
• Supervise Food Safety and Quality staff; manage weekly schedules for Techs and Clerks.
• Apply HACCP, GMPs, SSOPs and regulatory requirements.
• Enter data into KPI and Jolt databases; maintain labels in the Jolt system.

Skills

Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Supervisory experience

Airline catering experience

HACCP/SERV Safe/FSPCA certifications

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Food Science or related field

Job description

Food Safety and Quality Specialist

Classification: Exempt | Salary Range: $65k-$70k | Reports to: Food Safety and Quality Scientist | Date: June 2025.

The Food Safety and Quality Specialist is responsible for inspecting food processing areas to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local governmental regulations. Must ensure the facility abides by FFG-required sanitation, safety, and quality standards. This position reports to the Food Safety and Quality Scientist. This position has direct reports that include Food Safety and Quality Technicians.

Essential Functions

• Ensure the performance of food safety and quality control systems. Complete daily walkthroughs of the entire facility. If necessary, make corrections with staff and re-train employees.
• Collect finished product samples. Create the shipping labels and package samples for analysis by a 3rd party laboratory. The finished product quality needs to be compliant with FFG specifications.
• Participate in chef tables for hot and cold food items. Provide feedback to production if necessary due to major quality defects.
• Must be able to supervise staff within the Food Safety and Quality department. Must be able to create the weekly schedule for Food Safety and Quality Technician(s) and Clerk(s).
• Knowledgeable in Ready-to-Eat food processing requirements; Understanding of operations from receiving to shipping.
• Comprehensive industry knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, SSOPs, and government/industry regulations.
• Responsible for entering data into the KPI and Jolt database system. Need to maintain the labels within the Jolt system. Add and remove items within the Jolt system.
• Strong computer skills, (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Good communication skills both written and oral. Exhibits inductive reasoning and oral comprehension.
• Able to assist with root cause analysis and preventative measures for failures.
• Requires minimal supervision and can work in an independent and team environment.

Accountabilities

• Assist with the management of facility's FSM System. This FSM System includes the HACCP Plan, GMPs, SSOPs, and other pre-requisite programs to meet regulatory and customer requirements.
• Organize review and file all relevant documents.
• Assist with audits and training of employees (train-the-trainer).
• Compliance opportunities addressed with all applicable regulatory requirements (Federal, State, and Local).
• Participate in audits, customer audits, and regulatory inspections to make sure the facility receives passing and improving results.
• Keep open conversations with all departments to report non-compliance and continuous development opportunities.
• Regular inspection practices assess performance and advise employees and department staff on how to ensure compliance.
• Assess or complete reports regarding plant responses to regulatory, customer, internal, and third-party audits, sanitation violations, customer complaints, and corrective actions to resolve deficiencies.
• Complete other essential job functions as assigned by FSQ Scientist.

Skills and Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university; preference will be given to candidates with degrees in Food Science, Microbiology, Biological Science, or related discipline.
• 1-3 years of experience in the Food Industry; experience in a Food Safety or Quality Assurance position is a plus.
• Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred.
• Supervisory experience preferred.
• Airline catering experience preferred.
• HACCP Certified, SERV Safe Manager, FSPCA Certification preferred (must achieve certification within 6 months of start date).

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional manufacturing environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit and stand for long periods; and reach with hands and arms.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work may vary depending on the needs of the business.

Travel

0%

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package PTO. Paid Holidays & Vacation Medical, Vision and Dental Coverage Flexible Spending Accounts Life Insurance Disability Insurance Retirement Savings Employee and Family Assistance Program (EAP) Support link (online care)
• Career growth and opportunities for promotions
• Holiday Pay
• Referral Bonus Incentive
• IFSA scholarship opportunities for FFG employees and their children
• FFG and AT&T have teamed up to offer all our employees a discount on mobile services. ( Voluntary Benefit
• Pet insurance coverage available as a voluntary benefit.
• 401(k) w/ Match
• Growth: online courses, virtual and on-site development experiences

Schedules and Availability

Schedules are based on our needs, we are a 24/7 facility and candidates will need to be able to work any schedule, any day including holidays and weekends.