Food Safety Manager

Job Title: Food Safety Manager

Salary Range: $83,774 – $104,000

Location: Santa Maria, CA

Department: FSQA

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW:

The Food Safety and Quality Assurance Department is responsible for ensuring that the Company meets legal requirements and supplies safe, high-quality produce. The Department does this by implementing a comprehensive approach to food safety and quality assurance from seed through its processing facilities.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Food Safety Manager will plan and manage food safety programs and processes for the Company’s growing, harvesting, processing, and shipping operations headquartered in Santa Maria, CA and in other growing regions. The successful candidate will help to develop, implement, and enforce security and food safety standards, policies, and programs including HACCP, GFSI, regulatory audits (CA/AZ LGMA, FDA, etc.), food safety training programs (GAP’s), standard operating procedures (SOP’s), product inspections, and standardized work instructions.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The core responsibilities of the Food Safety Manager position include, but are not necessarily limited to:

• Implement and monitor Company’s food safety programs, including all SOPs, GAPs, GMPs, HACCP, and other similar programs.
• Develop and provide training for food safety and quality requirements.
• Develop and maintain documentation such as SOPs and GAPs; as well as maintenance of manuals, policies, and procedures as they relate to any food safety concerns.
• Conduct facility, farming and harvesting food safety audits as well as manage third party audits.
• Monitor and verify activities to ensure that all products coming in and out of the facility meet food safety standards in addition to quality standards.
• Update existing food safety procedures and documentation to keep up with changing requirements.
• Assist buyers with training and educating potential suppliers to ensure compliance.
• Work closely with Management on any food safety or quality assurance issues.
• Oversee proper maintenance and sanitation of all facilities to comply with food safety requirements.
• .Ensure that all company food safety and quality assurance procedures are always followed and documented correctly

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

• Desired bachelor’s degree in science and/or comparable experience in Food Safety, Microbiology or Quality Assurance OR a combination of education, training, and applied knowledge in Agri-Business and Vegetable Production.
• A minimum of 3-5 years of food safety experience at management level, including experience in HACCP, USDA, or FDA.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, and as a part of a collaborative team. Ability to prioritize deadlines & projects, including coordinating the efforts of multiple contributors, and establish time frames for completion of projects and assignments.
• Willingness and ability to embrace and follow the Bonita Packing Co. Employee Handbook. Ability to interact constructively and employees at all levels, upper management, owners, and community members, with diverse personalities and cultures, exercising sensitivity, tact, and diplomacy with an emphasis on flexibility, customer service and professionalism.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, orally and in writing, including effective writing skills to prepare correspondence, various documents and reports, and email with knowledge of correct usage of English language, grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
• Willingness and ability to meet Bonita Packing and department standards for attendance.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Windows operating systems and related business and communication software and a demonstrated ability to learn and use various campus administrative computing systems and applications with the ability to update and expand skills as needed.
• Comprehensive knowledge of HACCP, GMP’s, and GAP’s. As well as previous experience with SQF, GFSI, Primus, BRC and/or USDA audits desirable.
• Must be able to travel as required to various suppliers and growing regions.

COMPETENCIES:

• High degree of professionalism, upholding reputation of the Company with all customers, suppliers, vendors, peers, and internal stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Strong computer knowledge and skills
• Valid CA Driver’s License and excellent driving record
• Strong interpersonal, teamwork, and communication skills to effectively communicate with and coordinate all other departments.
• Ability to develop and apply problem-solving techniques.
• Ability to deal effectively work with customers.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Employee must have the ability to walk, talk, hear, see, speak, concentrate, reach in all directions, stoop, bend, lift up to 60 lbs.
• Use a computer, telephone and other equipment needed for the position
• Possess the ability to reason and communicate clearly with or without reasonable accommodation.

BENEFITS:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 401K
• Profit Sharing

EEO STATEMENT:
The Company provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.