Food Safety Systems Manager

Job Summary:

The Food Safety Systems Manager will serve as the technical resource for food safety standards to stakeholders in plant operations, live operations, quality assurance, maintenance, sanitation, and new product development. This position is responsible for the development, execution, and oversight of key food safety systems and pre-requisite programs across the Bell & Evans’ enterprise and will serve as the project manager for cross-functional projects associated with food safety initiatives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve enterprise food safety programs, including pathogen interventions, sanitation programs, environmental monitoring, water reuse and reconditioning, food defense and food fraud, GMPs, and foreign material prevention.
• Ensure compliance with enterprise food safety systems and programs by evaluating existing monitoring activities and performing internal audits of program implementation and execution. Drive ownership and accountability with business area owners.
• Identify and drive projects related to food safety improvements in collaboration with area stakeholders. Act in the capacity of project manager by identifying key resources, driving accountability of actions, and creating organizational visibility to projects.
• Monitor key performance indicators for critical food safety systems. Evaluate data for emerging trends and provide awareness to key stakeholders. Support investigations into negative trends with area owners.
• Oversee the Bell & Evans laboratory services, ensuring compliance with GLPs and 3rd party certification standards. Ensure key performance indicators and budget goals are met.
• Establish the expectations for a finished product shelf life program in collaboration with key stakeholders. Include expectations for storage conditions, sampling and testing protocols, and acceptable criteria, to include microbial and organoleptic results.
• Act as the Chairperson for the Food Safety Culture Committee. Drive improvements in food safety culture through team member engagement events and internal communications. Develop and execute the strategy for the utilization of Intertek Alchemy for food safety training topics.
• Support New Product Development (NPD) and Management of Change (MOC) processes by providing food safety guidance for all products, processes, suppliers, and copackers.
• Responsible for the coaching and development of direct reports by defining individual performance objectives and providing consistent feedback.
• Establishes key performance indicators for areas of ownership in order to measure success against organizational objectives and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Take a proactive role in assuring safe, quality products are produced by immediately addressing any safety or quality concerns. Participate actively in all company meetings.
• Provide support to the Food Safety and Quality Assurance department by developing a knowledge of the business to participate in projects, internal and external audits, and other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• 2 Direct Reports: Laboratory Supervisor (Exempt)

Food Safety Specialist (Exempt)

• 5 Indirect Reports: Senior Laboratory Technician (Non-exempt)

Laboratory Technicians (4) (Non-exempt)

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Poultry Science, or related technical field and 7 years’ experience in food safety/quality assurance management in the food industry; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Preference given to candidates with meat or poultry experience.
• Advanced knowledge of food safety, microbiology, HACCP systems, and regulatory requirements.
• Certifications in Advanced HACCP and/or PCQI for Human Food required.
• Experience with GFSI standards required; prior experience as an SQF Practitioner preferred.
• 5 years of leadership experience