Food Safety Quality Assurance Technician Lead

Kowalski Companies; Hamtramck (MI); On-site; USD 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated Food Safety Quality Assurance Technician Lead to drive product development and ensure compliance with food safety regulations. This role involves managing quality programs, conducting audits, and collaborating with various teams to enhance product quality and safety. The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor's degree in Food Science or a related field, along with strong analytical and communication skills. Join a dynamic team where your contributions will directly impact the quality and safety of food products, ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal regulations while fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or related field with 3+ years of experience.
• Strong aptitude for data analysis and project management.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with food safety regulations and manage quality programs.
• Lead audits and maintain documentation for food safety and quality assurance.

Skills

Data Analysis

Project Management

Problem Solving

Interpersonal Skills

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science

Equivalent combination of education and experience

Tools

Office Suite

ERP Systems

Genesis

Job description

The Food Safety Quality Assurance and Research and Development Technician Lead will promote product development and continuous improvement as it relates to Quality and Food Safety and ensure compliance to local, state, and federal regulations; customer requirements, and third-party standards.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Management’s role in supporting our Food Safety Management System is to ensure that all policies, procedures, documentation, and behaviors are consistently executed by yourself and your direct reports through training, enforcement, and resource planning.
• Responsible for Executing R&D projects providing support for the development, implementation, and maintenance of FSQA (e.g., programs, procedures, specifications, and training materials).
• Ability to provide coverage for all other positions within the FSQA team environment.

Quality Management Systems

• Develop and maintain quality programs that support continuous improvement, internal auditing, CAPA, and FSP compliance.
• Work with Plant Management and Sales to identify opportunities for new or improved products.
• Work with Procurement to manage Supplier Approval and ingredient sourcing and requirements.
• Develop and maintain Label Database for USDA and FDA compliance. Stay current on labeling regulations and updates. Genesis experience a plus.
• Develop and maintain shelf-life and benchmarking programs and studies.
• Manage the plant’s internal auditing program and ensure plant is always audit ready.
• Develop internal and external audit schedule annually.
• Develop and maintain tracking systems for audit close-out resolution.
• Lead facility food safety team meetings and maintain required documentation.
• Lead certification audits and GFSI scheme status and requirements.

Local, State, and Federal Regulations

• Ensure facility programs are compliant with local, state, and federal regulatory requirements.
• Ensure timely corrections are made to all inspection observations and monitor effectiveness.
• Train site on proper inspection procedures and practices.
• Stay abreast with changes in regulations including federal, state, and local regulations.
• Strong working knowledge with regulations, ordinances or compliance guides governing the manufacturing of the products at the facility including Food Safety Modernization Act regulations (Preventive Controls for Human Foods, Sanitary Transportation, Intentional Adulteration, FSVP, Bioterrorism Act, etc.).

Develops and Improves Quality Assurance and Food Safety Programs

• Manage sites’ Supplier Approval Library, Raw Material and Finished Good specifications, and other regulatory and GFSI related documentation.
• Develop and implement procedures and policies, including training materials, that support proper implementation of sites’ FSP and QMS as it relates to new products.
• Ensure compliance to Policies, SOP’s and SSOP’s.
• Maintain records that support a robust product development, including all FSP, QA, and regulatory documentation.
• Manage FSP validations.
• Contribute to annual FSP re-analysis.
• Measure and drive continuous improvement, through the development of KPIs.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be 18 years or older.
• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Safety, or related field with at least 3 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. Supervisory experience a plus.
• Strong aptitude for data analysis and information reporting. Computer literacy: Office, ERP, Genesis.
• Ability to communicate to all members of the organization and the ability to create standardized methods and approaches for project management processes.
• Problem solving skills and team management skills.
• Ability to independently manage projects and ensure follow-up and completion.
• Possess good interpersonal skills and good oral and written communication skills.
• Technical knowledge of product, development, scaling, food quality/safety procedures and programs, regulatory requirements, FSP program development, sanitation and SSOP development.
• Working knowledge of GFSI certification standards.
• One year + industry experience in product development preferred.
• HACCP, PCQI, or other relevant industry certifications preferred.
• Experience with both USDA-FSIS and FDA regulations preferred.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

While performing the functions of this role, the employee will have exposure to heated, damp, and refrigerated environments. Use of required standard PPE: hairnets, gloves, safety glasses, lab coat, beard nets (if applicable), face masks and/or shields, and hearing protection (where appropriate).

WORK HOURS: This is a full-time position. Hours for this position start early in the morning. The demands of the business dictate flexibility in regard to schedule; therefore, Saturday work can be part of the position. (hours are subject to change).