Impact-Driven Food Safety & Quality Leader

Penn State University; University Park (IL); On-site; USD 66,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

75% tuition discount

Job summary

Penn State University Housing and Food Services is seeking a Food Safety & Quality Assurance Specialist to lead comprehensive safety, allergen, defense, and QA programs for Penn State Bakery and Warehouse operations.

The role collaborates with production, warehouse, purchasing, and leadership to develop, implement, and continuously improve systems ensuring safe, compliant products and customer satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science or related field, or 4 years of relevant experience.
• ServSafe Certification.
• Experience developing, implementing, and maintaining food safety and quality management systems.
• Experience conducting audits and managing corrective and preventive action programs.
• Knowledge of FSMA Preventive Controls for Human Food requirements.
• Knowledge of food allergen regulations and labeling requirements.
• Experience with food labeling, ingredient declarations, and nutritional compliance.
• Strong analytical, documentation, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to effectively train, coach, and influence employees at all levels.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across production, warehouse, culinary, purchasing, and leadership teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain HACCP plans, Preventive Controls programs, and other food safety documentation.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local food safety regulations.
• Establish and monitor GMPs, sanitation standards, allergen controls, and food safety procedures.
• Conduct routine food safety inspections and maintain required records and documentation.
• Support regulatory inspections, third-party audits, and compliance reviews.
• Monitor changes in food safety regulations and communicate impacts to operations.
• Develop and maintain Food Defense and Food Security programs, including vulnerability assessments, access controls, visitor management, and mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate food defense training and maintain food defense plans.
• Establish and maintain finished product specifications and quality standards.
• Investigate quality concerns, perform root cause analyses, and oversee corrective actions.
• Create, review, and maintain compliant product labels.
• Verify ingredient statements, allergen declarations, nutritional information, and other labeling elements.
• Evaluate formulation, ingredient, supplier, and packaging changes for safety, regulatory, and quality impacts.
• Support new product launches and process improvements.
• Develop and oversee allergen control programs for Bakery and Warehouse operations.
• Implement procedures to prevent allergen cross-contact.
• Verify cleaning, sanitation, and product changeover procedures.
• Collaborate with production teams to develop allergen-conscious scheduling practices.
• Maintain ingredient specifications and allergen information within menu management systems.
• Deliver allergen awareness training to employees.
• Develop and monitor sanitation procedures, schedules, and verification programs.
• Oversee environmental monitoring and testing activities.
• Verify cleaning and sanitizing effectiveness for facilities, equipment, and food-contact surfaces.
• Monitor temperature controls, cold chain management, and storage requirements.
• Investigate temperature deviations and coordinate corrective actions.
• Manage pest control programs and verify completion of preventive measures.
• Develop audit schedules, inspection tools, and compliance tracking systems.
• Conduct internal food safety and quality audits.
• Maintain documentation required for regulatory compliance and audit readiness.
• Develop and test traceability and recall programs.
• Conduct mock recalls and evaluate system effectiveness; support product holds, recalls, investigations, and disposition decisions.
• Support supplier evaluation and approval processes.
• Review Certificates of Analysis (COAs), supplier documentation, specifications, and food safety records.
• Monitor ingredient and packaging quality and resolve supplier quality concerns.
• Coordinate corrective actions and supplier follow-up activities when necessary.
• Develop and deliver food safety, quality, sanitation, allergen, and GMP training programs.
• Maintain training records and support employee development.
• Coach employees and supervisors on food safety and quality expectations.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and resource for questions.
• Provide operational and supervisory support for Bakery and Warehouse operations as needed.
• Act as a liaison between QA, production, warehouse, and leadership.

Skills

ServSafe Certification

Food safety program development

Auditing & CAPA

FSMA knowledge

Labeling knowledge

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science or related field

Job description

Penn State University Housing and Food Services is seeking a Food Safety & Quality Assurance Specialist to lead comprehensive safety, allergen, defense, and QA programs for Penn State Bakery and Warehouse operations.

The role collaborates with production, warehouse, purchasing, and leadership to develop, implement, and continuously improve systems ensuring safe, compliant products and customer satisfaction.