QA EMP Specialist

Watershed-Foods; Gridley (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PPO or HSA medical

Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, Disability

401K with company match

8 Holidays, Vacation accrual, PTO

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Uniform and Boots provision

Employee Assistance Program

Chaplain Program

Smart Dollar

Company Events and Luncheons

Paid Volunteer Days

Referral bonuses

Job summary

Watershed Foods in Gridley, IL seeks an EMP Specialist to lead environmental monitoring, sanitation oversight, and staff training to assure GMP and food safety compliance across the production environment.

You will manage sampling sites, track microbiological trends, coordinate audits with FDA/USDA and SQF, and drive continuous improvement while maintaining documentation, incident investigations, and cross-functional teamwork. This is a full-time role with benefits.

Qualifications

• Associates degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or Nutrition, or 4+ years of related experience in a GFSI facility.
• Strong knowledge of FDA and GFSI requirements for food manufacturers.
• Ability to work cross-functionally to address issues with relevant teams.
• Strong HACCP and GMP understanding.
• Detail-oriented with strong written communication.

Responsibilities

• Oversee post cleaning and sanitation activities of production lines, areas, and equipment.
• Develop and maintain environmental monitoring sampling locations based on trends and EMP requirements.
• Collect environmental swabs to monitor microbiological activity in the environment.
• Own the micro testing workflow for out-of-spec results and follow-ups on cleaning and swabbing.
• Report findings and work cross-functionally to manage out-of-spec results.
• Serve as primary contact for regulators (FDA/USDA) and auditors (SQF).
• Coordinate environmental swabbing and EMP validation with QA.
• Coordinate water, air, and compressed air testing per procedures.
• Maintain centralized document systems and deviations for investigations.
• Support mock-recall events as needed.
• Ensure adherence to FDA, GMP, and customer standards.
• Assist/Lead daily GMP walkthroughs and training on GMPs.

Skills

Regulatory knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

HACCP understanding

GMP experience

Attention to detail

Education

Associate degree in Food Science/Technology/Nutrition

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

Outlook

Tracking systems

Job description

Job DetailsLevel: ExperiencedJob Location: Gridley, IL - Gridley, IL 61744Position Type: Full TimeSalary Range: $60,000.00 - $85,000.00 Salary

Job Summary:

Ensures food safety and regulatory compliance by leading monitoring microbial control, review sanitation practices, equipment cleanliness, and trains staff on appropriate hygiene protocols to prevent contamination and maintain a safe production environment. The Quality Assurance and Environmental Monitoring Plan Specialist will also report microbiological trends for testing results completed. They will be instrumental in monitoring environmental conditions in all areas of the facility. This role ensures full compliance with industry regulations, customer requirements, and best practices to ensure the production environment is well controlled from a microbiological standpoint. This individual will also support continuous improvement initiatives for overall Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) to ensure reduction in any possible environmental contamination.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee post cleaning and sanitation activities of production lines, areas, and equipment.
• Develop and maintain the environmental monitoring sampling locations based on environmental trends, the EMP procedure, customer requirements, and other applicable requirements
• Collect environmental swabs to monitor microbiological activity in the environment
• Own the micro testing workflow for out-of-specification results and follow ups on cleaning and swabbing.
• Report any findings to the appropriate groups, and work cross functionally to manage any out of specification results
• Serve as the primary point of contact for regulatory inspectors (FDA/USDA) and third-party auditors (SQF) looking at environmental testing and results.
• The EMP Specialist, with assistance from the QA Manager or designee, for conducting environmental swabbing, documenting results, and tracking for the annual EMP validation
• Responsible for coordinating and conducting water, air, and compressed air testing in accordance with established procedures and requirements
• Maintain centralized document systems, sample locations, swab locations, re-swabbing locations, and any associated deviations for investigational purposes
• Support mock-recall events as needed
• Ensure adherence to FDA, GMP, and customer standards
• Support/Lead daily GMP walkthroughs by providing feedback to the appropriate cross functional teams
• When necessary, teach employees proper hygiene, handwashing, and GMPs when issues are identified on the production floor or GMPs are not being adhered to
• Maintain documentation and support facility walkthroughs as needed to support audits from regulatory agencies, third parties, and customers
• The back-up for this role is the Quality Manager or other Quality Designee

Skills & Qualifications:

• Associates degree (Food Science/Food Technology/Nutrition preferred) or 4+ years food manufacturing/regulatory affairs experience in a GFSI certified facility
• Strong knowledge of and experience with FDA/GFSI requirements for food manufactures
• Can work well cross-functionally to inform, educate, and follow up with appropriate teams to get buy-in on any issues that need to be addressed
• Strong understanding of HACCP principles and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
• Adept at working in a fast-paced organization that is growing and changing
• Organized and able to work diligently to complete tasks
• Strong written communication and reporting with attention to detail
• Ability to track information and trend
• Highly proficient using MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and tracking systems
• Experience with good manufacturing principles (GMP), microbiological swabbing
• Committed to modeling and preserving the key components of Watershed Foods culture (Humility, Trust, Service, Five-Way Win, Strategy, Stewardship, Teamwork, Innovation, Development, Excellence)

Benefits:

• PPO or HSA medical benefits with Employer Contributions.
• Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, Disability insurance.
• 401K with a competitive company match.
• 8 Holidays, Vacation accrual, PTO program, Parental Leave.
• Attendance, Safety, Service Awards.
• Tuition Reimbursement Program.
• Uniform and Boots provision.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Chaplain Program.
• Smart Dollar.
• Company Events and Luncheons.
• Paid Volunteer Days.
• Referral bonuses.