Food Safety Coordinator

Russell Stover Chocolates; Abilene (KS); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Russell Stover Chocolates in Abilene, KS seeks a Food Safety Coordinator to oversee local site food safety programs and ensure compliance with FDA regulations, GMPs, and HACCP.

You will lead the food safety team, coordinate audits, manage corrective actions, and train staff across sanitation, quality, and operations within a lean, safety‑driven environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science or equivalent work experience.
• Two or more years in a food safety role leading people.
• Excellent communication skills and English fluency.
• Proficient knowledge of FDA regulations, GMPs, HACCP, allergens and pest control.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite and SAP/CRM.

Responsibilities

• Oversight and verification of food safety and quality programs (sanitation, CCPs, PRPs).
• Lead the Food Safety Team with annual program reviews and updates.
• Assist in writing and training on QUAs at plant and corporate levels.
• Audit programs including GMP tracking and self-inspections; report trends to local management.
• Support and/or lead third party audits; manage non-conforming reports.
• Lead root cause analysis and CAPA.
• Ensure compliance with GMPs to maintain product quality and safety.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

English fluency

Microsoft Office

SAP/CRM experience

Project management

Education

Bachelor of Science or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

SAP/CRM

Job description

At Russell Stover, not only do we love chocolate, but we love our jobs! Every day we go to work exhibiting our values of excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship, responsibility, and collaboration. Working at Russell Stover you’ll be part of the leading manufacturer of boxed, seasonal, and sugar‑free chocolates. For over 100 years, Russell Stover Chocolates, Whitman’s, and Pangburn’s have been crafted with the finest ingredients to bring happiness to generations. Today, we produce over 55 million pounds of chocolate annually, and our legacy brands can be found in 13 company‑owned stores and over 9,000 wholesale accounts. Join our team and let’s continue making chocolate lovers happy!

A day in the life…

As a Food Safety Coordinator, you are responsible for managing and leading all aspects of the local sites’ food safety monitoring and verification programs. You will work closely with internal business partners including but not limited to Sanitation, Quality, Operations, and Safety. You are responsible for ensuring ongoing compliance to internal and external food safety policies, procedures, SSOPs, laws and regulations.

What You Will Be Doing…

• Oversight and verification of food safety & quality programs such as but not limited to:
  • Sanitation verification processes.
  • CCPs and PRPs.
  • Supports site's food safety and quality document control program.
  • Environmental monitoring.
• Lead the Food Safety Team:
  • Annual reviews of programs.
  • Updates related to new products, equipment and/or building modifications.
• Assist in writing, implementing, and training on plant and corporate QUAs.
• Audit:
  • Report trends to local management -
    • Weekly Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).
    • Self Inspections.
• Support and/or lead third party audits.
• Manage and track Non‑Conforming reports.
• Lead and/or participate in root cause analysis and corrective and preventative measures.
• Verification of food safety and quality programs performed by the different departments and individuals at the site.
• Lead food safety and quality initiatives.
• Back‑up to the FSQA Manager.
• Adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to ensure product quality and maintain compliance with food safety standards.
• Complete and follow FSQA training and programs to comply with regulatory requirements, ensure consumer safety, and support the plant’s food safety and quality objectives.
• Promptly report and take appropriate action on any observed or potential food safety hazards, process deviations, or non‑conformities by notifying the designated plant supervisor, in accordance with your role and responsibilities.
• Actively contributes to the continuous improvement of the company’s Food Safety Culture through engagement and actions aligned with your role.

Lindt production Way (LPW)

• Participate in LPW pillars and teams and support continuous improvement initiatives as needed.
• Follow LPW methodology (TPM) in order to monitor and report production (PCS) and continuously improve processes to reduce defects, applying lean methodology using tools such as 5S, 5 Why, Kaizen, etc.

This job posting is not all inclusive and other duties may be assigned.

Do you have what it takes?

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science or equivalent work experience.
• Two or more years in a food safety role leading people.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to speak, read, and write English fluently, with or without an accommodation.
• Proficient working knowledge of FDA regulations, GMPs, HACCP, Food Allergens, Pest Control, and the Principles of Food Safety (intermediate level or above).
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite.
• SAP/CRM experience.
• Ability to manage multiple projects/initiatives at one time.
• Ability to stand or sit for extended periods of time.
• Flexibility of working hours is required, which may include weekends or after normal business hours.
• Comfortable working at elevated heights, including conducting regular roof inspections.
• Must be able to differentiate between colors and shifts in colors.

Do you stand above the rest?

Preferred Qualifications

• HACCP certified.
• PCQI certified with document control experience.

Experience Life at Russell Stover Plants!

• Safety First: Your well‑being is our top priority, and we’ve got you covered with protective gear. On day one, you’ll dive into Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) training, and we’ll keep you on your toes with daily safety tips to ensure you’re always in the know!
• Surroundings: Get ready to work alongside cutting‑edge equipment like automated packing machines, forklifts, electric pallet jacks, and those irresistible chocolate candy banks/steels – it’s a dynamic environment where every day brings something new!
• Active & Engaging Work: Whether you’re on your feet for extended periods, moving around, climbing ladders, or lifting up to 50 lbs, there’s never a dull moment. This is a place where you’ll stay on the move!
• Comfortable Climate: In most roles, you will be comfortable year‑round with our climate‑controlled environment.
• Appealing Smells: The air is filled with sweet aromas of chocolate, and by the time your shift ends, you might just leave smelling like chocolate!
• Dress to Impress (Food Safety Style): A simple yet important dress code ensures safety and hygiene, following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to keep everything running smoothly.
• Allergens: You will be exposed to a variety of ingredients that may be considered food allergens like nuts, milk, and more.

At Russell Stover Chocolates, we don’t just accept difference — we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, and our community. Russell Stover Chocolates is proud to be an equal‑opportunity workplace.

We provide equal employment opportunities to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition, genetic information, military service, veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.

Employment by Russell Stover Chocolates is contingent upon I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification, passing the urinalysis drug screen, education verification, and satisfactory reference and background checks.

Make Happy. Work Happy.