Food Safety & Compliance Specialist

Company Overview

Kura Sushi USA is a publicly traded U.S. company established in 2008 as a subsidiary of Kura Sushi, Inc. We offer a tech‑interactive Japanese dining experience with premium ingredients, advanced technology, and affordable prices.

Food Safety & Compliance Specialist – hybrid role (office in Irvine, CA on in‑office days and as needed). The specialist works with the supervisor to oversee three major components of food safety: developing SOPs, ensuring compliance with all food safety curricula, and generating routine audits and reporting to meet local and federal standards.

• Promote and maintain a food safety culture, including SQF System, regulatory requirements, customer specifications, and safe food handling practices.
• Support and maintain all HACCP plans and create submittals for new markets and local modifications.
• Support restaurant facility sanitation program and equipment usage.
• Create training tools for food safety, handling, thawing, SDS, equipment usage, cleaning, chemical handling, and storage.
• Maintain tools tracker (pH meters, calibration solutions, thermometers, cleaning tools) and track costs for replacement schedules.
• Collaborate with Food Safety and Compliance Manager on HACCP plan for Sushi Rice Tracker.
• Audit biannually (or as directed) and conduct quarterly FDA state, county, and municipal jurisdiction audits to ensure all restaurants follow current procedures.
• Identify food safety hazards and work toward immediate and long‑term correction.
• Follow up on food safety concerns raised by management, quality, SQF practitioners, and local regulatory agencies.
• Produce monthly reporting and audits of all required food safety certifications (handling, alcohol, allergen, choke training, etc.).
• Participate in monthly Food Safety Meetings and facilitate as needed.
• Coordinate with Safety, QA, and Supply Chain on national recall and outbreak protocols.
• Research and implement new regulations and standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Support third‑party auditing initiatives.
• Schedule and proctor food manager exams independently.
• Update ARMGs, RFTs, and other departments on exam pass/fail status.

• Analytical
• Problem solving
• Interpersonal
• Oral communication
• Written communication
• Numerical data presentation
• Organizational support
• Adaptability
• Attendance/punctuality
• Initiative
• Judgment
• Planning/organizing
• Professionalism
• Quality focus
• Quantity focus
• Safety and security

• 2 years’ experience creating SOPs that comply with all local and federal food safety guidelines.
• Five or more years of food safety and compliance management experience in a restaurant or manufacturing environment (seafood experience preferred).
• Food Safety Manager certification – required.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite.
• Bachelor’s degree in food science or equivalent experience preferred.
• Expertise with HACCP, FDA, USDA, UL, and ETL equipment certifications preferred.
• Minimum 2 years of instructional/training/development/presentation experience preferred.
• Minimum 2 years of OSHA training and material handling certification preferred.
• HACCP certification and experience creating HACCP plans and food safety plans preferred.
• Minimum 2 years of creating curriculum and providing instruction preferred.
• Effective communication with management in English; knowledge of Japanese and/or Spanish preferred.

Moderate to loud noise level. Ability to travel up to 50% of the time may be required.

Pay range: $66,000 – $85,000/yr (max DOE).