SQF Practitioner - Safe Quality Food

ProAmpac; Catoosa, Northern (OK, KY); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

ProAmpac is seeking an SQF Practitioner to act as the primary QA resource, supporting the Quality Manager in maintaining SQF certification and the food safety system at the Catoosa, Oklahoma site. The role emphasizes GMP adherence, audits, corrective actions, and supplier performance management.

The candidate will develop, implement, review, and maintain SQF programs, train staff, and lead pre-/post-audit meetings to ensure continuous quality improvement and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• 3 years of experience in quality control or lab work in a manufacturing environment is preferred.
• Basic understanding of scientific methods, quality control concepts, lab procedures, and chemistry.
• MS Outlook and Excel skills are demonstrated.
• Willingness to obtain HACCP Certification and SQF Practitioner Certification.

Responsibilities

• Uphold safety, quality, and food safety policies within the facility.
• Support SQF Certification and maintain the SQF System, GMPs, and food safety plans.
• Audit quality and food safety systems to verify compliance with SQF requirements.
• Prepare and submit corrective actions for audit findings.
• Monitor supplier performance and maintain supplier documentation.
• Train staff on SQF requirements and procedures.
• Lead or participate in SQF and Food Safety Management teams.

Skills

Quality control experience

Laboratory experience

MS Outlook

Excel

HACCP Certification

SQF Practitioner Certification

Chemistry knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred (science)

Tools

Laboratory equipment

Job description

Description

The SQF Practitioner serves as the primary Quality Assurance resource for the Quality Manager, supporting improvement and Food Safety and Quality Management System compliance. In this role, the SQF Practitioner supports our SQF Certification. The SQF Practitioner is also responsible for specific duties as documented in the Tasks & Responsibilities section of this job description. The SQF Food Safety Code for Manufacture of Food Packaging requires that every site have a suitably qualified SQF practitioner to oversee the development, implementation, review, and maintenance of the SQF System, including the Good Manufacturing Practices and food safety plans.

TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES

Primary Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Upholds all ethical standards associated with safety, quality, and food safety policies and procedures within the facility, including the ProAmpac Code of Conduct and Values.

• Complies with all the standards that are followed in the Catoosa plant, including, but not limited to, Safety, Quality, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Safe Quality Food (SQF), and any other processes established within the Catoosa plant.

• Immediately report potential food safety or product quality issues to the management staff.

• Responsible for reporting all safety, quality, and food safety problems to personnel with authority to initiate action.

• Assures that safety, quality, and productivity are given priority, in that order, to achieve positive results.

• Confer with Q.A. Manager to determine work status, priorities, and potential problems.

• Maintain, manage, and continuously improve the facility’s SQF System, ensuring all required programs, plans, procedures, records, audits, corrective actions, and documentation are effectively implemented and maintained in compliance with SQF requirements.

• Conduct quality and food safety system audits to verify and validate compliance with our SQF certification.

• Create and maintain an AIR for all identified food safety non-conformances.

• Presenting / lead ProAmpac representative for all SQF / quality audits conducted by external sources.

• Lead pre-audit and post-audit management meetings.

• Create and submit corrective actions for audit findings.

• Monitor and evaluate supplier performance.

• Maintain supplier documentation.

• Maintain a neat and orderly work area.

• Perform other duties as requested or assigned.

Specific Duties:

• Work with the Quality Manager on creating procedures, work instructions, and training required for SQF certification.

• Maintain and keep current all SQF training materials.

• Train fellow employees responsible for performing quality and SQF requirements.

• Assist/conduct SQF training for new hire orientation.

• Utilize the Design, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control (DMAIC) approach on improvement and problem-solving projects.

• Lead SQF and Food Safety Management teams as needed.

• Participation and involvement in associated committees or activities is highly encouraged.

• Maintain environmental testing program related to Food Safety.

• Keep swabbing plan current and maintain records.

• Assure environmental swabbing and other related testing (water and compressed air) is conducted as required.

• Serve as the backup to the Quality Manager in their absence.

Expectations:

• Performs responsibilities to expected outcomes.

• Follows through on commitments in a complete and timely manner.

• Participates actively in the management of the business through team involvement.

• Identifies and participates in learning activities that promote personal and professional growth.

• Experiments with new processes and ideas to create innovation and continuous quality improvement.

• Takes risks and learns from resulting successes and mistakes.

• Communicates openly, truthfully, and compassionately with respect for individual differences.

• Listens actively to understand before being understood and strives for win-win solutions.

Working Conditions:

• This job operates in a professional office, lab, and manufacturing environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines, as well as various analytical test equipment.

• While performing duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, and occasionally lift office products up to 40 pounds.

• This position may have minimal exposure to hazards such as dust, high noise levels, solvent fumes, and medium heat.

• Overtime may be required.

• Minimal travel may be required.

Qualifications

Experience

Preferred

• 3 years: Preferred 3 years of experience in quality control or lab work in a manufacturing environment will be considered in lieu of a Bachelor’s degree. Basic understanding of scientific methods, quality control concepts, lab procedures, and chemistry or science. Demonstrated MS Outlook and Excel skills Willingness to obtain HACCP Certification, SQF Practitioner Certification

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor. Job Category: Quality Full-Time