Food Safety Specialist

SkyChefs; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision starting Day 1

Employer-paid life insurance and AD&D

401(k) with company match

Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Free meals and parking

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

SkyChefs in Santa Ana, CA is seeking a Food Safety Specialist to ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, HACCP and our Global Quality Standards. You’ll monitor GMPs, conduct environmental swabs, and support training to keep the site audit-ready.

This role requires hands-on QA experience in food manufacturing, strong attention to detail, and the ability to lead or support audits. We offer benefits and growth within a global aviation services organization.

Qualifications

• Experience in food manufacturing, food safety, quality assurance, or regulatory compliance.
• Strong knowledge of FDA, USDA, HACCP, sanitation standards, and food safety practices.
• Confidence in delivering training, presentations, and cross-functional communication.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to lead or support audits and inspections.
• A collaborative mindset with the ability to influence and support teams at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and initiate all recordkeeping and KPIs for the Quality Department and GQS, including Food Safety and Regulatory Agencies.
• Daily monitoring of GMPs for compliance.
• Verify coolers and freezer room temperatures for compliance.
• Perform environmental swabs and microbiological sampling, and submittal to local laboratory for analysis.
• Obtain Chef Table samples to verify compliance to specification.
• Assist the Quality Manager in training and daily initiatives addressing quality, food safety, and sanitation issues to drive improvements.
• Conduct workstation inspections to verify compliance (gold standard verification, specs, sanitizer, food temperatures, HACCP documentation).
• Conduct portion control weight compliance to specifications.
• Conduct inspection checks (dispatch, galley, non-bonded, bonded, equipment).
• Verify HACCP logs and other documents daily.

Skills

Food safety

Regulatory compliance

Training

Audits

Sanitation

Job description

Job Title:Food Safety Specialist
Job Location:Santa Ana-USA-92626
Work Location Type:On-Site
Salary Range:$18.32 - 27.83per hour

About us

Since 1942, SkyChefs has taken culinary excellence to new heights. As a trusted partner to the nation’s leading airlines and retailers, we proudly deliver millions of meals and exceptional service experiences every year across 43 sites throughout the United States. Built on a legacy of operational excellence, culinary expertise, and continuous innovation, we are committed to setting the industry standard in aviation culinary, airline services, last-mile logistics, and retail commerce. From the kitchen to the runway, our teams work together to deliver quality, reliability, and service at every altitude. Our people are the heart of everything we do. At SkyChefs, a career is more than a job – it’s an opportunity to grow, lead, and make an impact in a fast‑paced, team‑driven environment. Join America’s first, foremost, and finest and take your career to new heights.

The Opportunity

As our Food Quality Specialist, you will play a key role in ensuring compliance with all major food safety and regulatory standards—including FDA, USDA, HACCP, and our company’s Global Quality Standards (GQS). You’ll help us maintain a safe, clean, and audit‑ready environment while training and supporting our team to follow best practices.

Why You’ll Love Working With Us

• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage starting Day 1
• Employer‑paid life insurance and AD&D benefits
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
• Tuition reimbursement
• Free meals and parking
• Career growth opportunities with a global organization

How You'll Make a Difference

• Maintain and initiate all recordkeeping and key performance indicators pertinent to the Quality Department and GQS to include, but not limited to Food Safety, Sanitation, Regulatory Agencies (County Health, State Health Dept. and FDA), internal customers (LHI) and airline customers
• Daily monitor of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) for compliance
• Verify of coolers and freezer room temperature for compliance
• Perform environmental swabs and microbiological sampling, submittal to local laboratory for analysis
• Obtain Chef Table samples to verify compliance to specification
• Assist the Quality Manager in specific training and daily initiatives addressing quality, food safety, and sanitation issues to drive process improvements
• Conduct work station inspections to verify compliance (gold standard verification, specs, sanitizer, food temperatures, HACCP documentation, phf set-up)
• Conduct portion control weight compliance to specifications
• Conduct inspection checks (dispatch, galley, non-bonded, bonded, equipment)
• Verify Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) logs and other documents are accurately completed on a daily basis
• Create charts, trending reports, training materials and visuals
• Maintain, monitor standards and train employees in compliance to the Regulated Garbage Standards to meet USDA requirements
• Supports the Jump-off (commissary) locations with oversight
• Train hourly employees as needed
• Perform other tasks as requested

What We Look For in a Candidate

• Experience in food manufacturing, food safety, quality assurance, or regulatory compliance
• Strong knowledge of FDA, USDA, HACCP, sanitation standards, and food safety practices
• Confidence in delivering training, presentations, and cross‑functional communication
• Strong attention to detail and ability to lead or support audits and inspections
• A collaborative mindset with the ability to influence and support teams at all levels
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment while maintaining accuracy and professionalism

SkyChefs is an EEO and Affluent Action Employer of Women/Minorities/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.