Food Safety Specialist II

Overview

At Sprouts, our commitment to helping people live and eat better begins with ensuring the safety, quality, and cleanliness of our stores. As a Food Safety Specialist II‑Pest Control
, you will serve as the primary internal stakeholder and program coordinator for enterprise‑wide pest management, sanitation compliance, and environmental health initiatives across all retail locations.

In this role, you will own the pest management program, including escalation protocols, vendor relationships, and program governance. You will coordinate cross‑functional working groups, lead escalation response efforts, and drive continuous improvement in pest prevention and sanitation standards. You will collaborate closely with store operations, Store Care, Food Safety, Supply Chain, and external pest management vendors to ensure consistent execution and measurable results.

• Own It – working as a team to deliver excellence and celebrate our successes.
• Love Being Different – creating a unique experience for our customers through diverse team members and products.
• Care – for each other, our customers, and the planet.

Position reports into our Store Support Office in Phoenix with 50% travel to stores bi‑weekly.

• Own enterprise pest management strategy, escalation protocols, and program governance.
• Manage relationships with pest management providers, including SLA monitoring, SOW amendments, and service delivery accountability.
• Lead escalation response for Level I, II, and III pest incidents, coordinating daily/weekly pest calls, documentation, communication, and issue closure.
• Coordinate cross‑functional working group activities and prepare Steering Committee updates on pest trends, DOH reports, and program performance.
• Own Smart Sheet tracking for pest escalations and sanitation compliance; maintain Service Channel work order follow‑up.
• Generate and distribute updates for Level III escalations, weekly executive summaries, monthly trend analyses, and lead Quarterly Business Review preparation with the pest provider.
• Review and analyze Department of Health inspection reports; identify trends and coordinate remediation with store managers.
• Review third‑party food safety audit results related to pest and sanitation criteria; prioritize action items and track resolution.
• Trigger and coordinate emergency deep cleaning with contractors if needed; monitor sanitation compliance during escalation periods.
• Manage distribution center pest control program, including provider coordination, reporting, and audits.
• Advise on pest‑related store closures and food disposal protocols; coordinate Health Department notification responses.
• Author and maintain pest prevention guides for design/construction; define exclusion checklists for new stores and renovations.

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Public Health, Environmental Health, or related field (equivalent experience considered).
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in food safety, quality assurance, or regulatory compliance within a grocery, retail, or food service environment.
• HACCP certification required; CP‑FS certification preferred or willingness to obtain.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, FDA Food Code, and relevant local/state regulatory requirements.
• Strong understanding of in‑store operations, especially in perishable departments (produce, meat, deli, bakery).
• Proven problem‑solving and critical‑thinking abilities with effective time management in high‑demand environments.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills with the ability to support and influence operational teams.
• Ability to design and deliver effective training materials and SOPs using adult learning principles.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook); experience with audit or compliance software is a plus.

• Ability to stand, walk, and conduct physical audits in active retail environments.
• Must be able to travel regularly to stores; some overnight travel may be required.
• Able to lift and move objects up to 40 lbs.
• Willingness to work in varying environmental conditions including cold storage and food prep areas.

• Collaborative…