Food Safety & Quality Specialist - Dehydrated Potato

Job Purpose

The Food Safety & Quality Specialist I is responsible for ensuring food safety and regulatory compliance throughout the dehydrated potato manufacturing process. This role performs laboratory testing, in-process inspections, finished product evaluations, and documentation. Participates in GMP compliance, HACCP programs, and continuous improvement initiatives. The position works closely with cross-functional teams to ensure all products meet internal specifications and customer requirements.

Job Purpose

The Food Safety & Quality Specialist I is responsible for ensuring food safety and regulatory compliance throughout the dehydrated potato manufacturing process. This role performs laboratory testing, in-process inspections, finished product evaluations, and documentation. Participates in GMP compliance, HACCP programs, and continuous improvement initiatives. The position works closely with cross-functional teams to ensure all products meet internal specifications and customer requirements.

Main Responsibilities

Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Enforce compliance with all food safety, food quality, regulatory, customer, and certification requirements, including support of food defense, food fraud, and Preventive Controls (PCQI) activities.
• Promote a strong food safety culture throughout the facility and escalate issues appropriately.
• Place products on hold when food safety or quality risks are identified and apply product dispositions at the direction of the department leadership.

• Perform GMP inspections, hygiene checks, and glass and brittle plastic audits to verify compliance with sanitation and food safety requirements.
• Execute environmental monitoring and sanitation verification activities including allergen, and environmental swabbing, and safe chemical handling and refilling.

• Conduct product sampling and analysis per approved procedures and product specifications.
• Verify incoming ingredients, materials, and packaging components meet approved specifications.

• Demonstrate proficiency in laboratory operations and documentation, including operating, monitoring, and troubleshooting lab equipment, performing and documenting calibrations and maintenance, and ensuring laboratory readiness, supply availability, and data integrity.

• Maintain strong operational knowledge of product process flow to identify risks and deviations.
• Immediately communicate process or product deviations to supervisors for prompt corrective action.
• Support root cause analysis and corrective action activities.

• Maintain accurate quality and testing records, manage sample retention programs, and ensure all documentation complies with Good Documentation Practices (GDPs) and applicable regulatory and certification requirements.

• Communicate quality, food safety, and compliance concerns with management and assist with onboarding and training of new employees.
• Provide cross‑coverage support as needed while demonstrating professionalism, teamwork, and effective communication across departments.

• Follow all company safety protocols and procedures while always maintaining safe work practices.
• Demonstrate flexibility to adapt to changing schedules and priorities and perform additional duties as assigned based on business needs.

• Education and/or
  
  Experience:
  
  This position requires a high school diploma or equivalent. Combination of associates degree and/or experience is preferred.
• Language
  
  Skills:
  
  Ability to read, comprehend, and follow complex instructions, policies, procedures and correspondence. Exhibit effective speaking and written communication skills in dealing with co-workers and management.
• Math
  
  Skills:
  
  This position requires quantitative skills and knowledge of math functions such as percentages and decimals.
• Reasoning Ability:
  This position requires a high degree of self-confidence and maturity to make decisions required in day-to-day activities.…