Food Safety Specialist jobs in Valdosta, GA

Summary:  The Quality Assurance Specialist tests, inspects and adjusts products at various stages of the production process to ensure product is consistent with martin’s standards and mission to “bake the best products.” Audits and evaluates food safety and quality programs to maintain food safety, and product quality conformance to programs and regulations.  As a person of integrity and respect, the Quality Assurance Specialist will treat people with respect, keep commitments, inspire the trust of others and work with integrity to ethically uphold organizational and Quality & Food Safety values.  The Quality Assurance Specialist will be a proactive thinker in continuing to embrace the mindset of thorough planning and continuous improvement.

 Essential Duties and Responsibilities: include the following. Other duties may be assigned

• Supports and assists in review of food safety and quality programs, and assisting management in the identification and addressing of issues.
• Conduct sensory and texture evaluation of product to ensure adherence to specifications.
• Assists in coordinating and leading quality meetings with production teams.
• Conduct verification and effectiveness audits of the food safety and quality management systems.
• Assists management with R&D activities such as testing new ingredients, suppliers, formulations, and processes.
• Assist management with testing new technologies and procedures related to food safety and quality objectives.
• Reviews data related to food safety, quality control, and quality assurance activities to identify trends and opportunities for improvement in food safety and quality initiatives.
• Assists Production in product troubleshooting efforts to ensure product is meeting optimum specifications.
• Assists in maintaining recipes efficiencies while achieving superior product specification compliance.
• Audits and supports production in developing and maintaining effective equipment settings such as oven profiles, SBD settings, etc. for superior product quality.
• Adjust recipes to ensure product is meeting optimum specifications.
• Inspects, measures, and takes samples of product to verify conformance to specifications.
• Assists in the development and implementation of Food Safety and Quality training programs.
• Assists in root cause analysis of food safety and quality internal issues and customer complaints.
• Executes training programs regarding food safety and quality policies and programs.
• Adheres to safety, food safety, and Good Manufacturing Practices regulations and programs.
• Reports food safety or quality issues to personnel with the authority to initiation corrective actions.
• Any other tasks assigned by management in order to assist in meeting company objectives.
• Visits and performs food safety and quality audits of suppliers.
• Participates in food safety and quality internal audit teams.

 Supervisory Responsibilities:

 There are no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:                                                            

·         Bachelors’ Degree or higher

·         Minimum of 3 years relevant food manufacturing experience.

·         Experience in quality inspection, auditing and testing preferred.

Language Skills:                                                          

 Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.  Ability to write simple correspondence.  Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.

 Mathematical Skills:                                                                 

 Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.  Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret graphs and control charts and statistical process control measures.

 Reasoning Ability:                                                      

 Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions.  Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

 Computer Skills:        

·         Proficient in Microsoft Office                                                      

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

·         None Required

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:   

·         Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control.

·         Knowledge or principles and processes for providing customer and personal services to include:

o    Customer needs assessments

o    Meeting quality standards for services

o    Evaluation of customer satisfaction

·         Knowledge of conducting tests and inspections of products, services or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Physical Demands:

 The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is frequently required to walk and taste or smell. The employee is occasionally required to stand; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee must regularly lift and/ or move up to 15 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

 Work Environment:

 The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles; hazardous materials and risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO)