Food Safety & Quality Specialist

Location: Minneapolis, MN Region (Territory: Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Western Wisconsin)Job Type: Full-Time, Remote with travelCompensation: Base salary plus commissions with potential earnings of $100,000+Benefits: Comprehensive benefits, company-matched 401(k), paid time off, competitive compensation, company-issued vehicle, and much more!

About Us:Since 1947, Nelson-Jameson has been a trusted supply chain partner to the nation’s top dairy and food manufacturers. We provide high-quality products and innovative solutions that help businesses maintain top standards in quality, safety, and compliance. As a family-owned company, we believe in accountability, teamwork, and growth—for our people and the business. We take pride in our close-knit, supportive culture where every team member has a voice and the chance to grow. If you're looking for a rewarding career with a team that works hard and stays optimistic, we’d love to have you join us!

Job Summary:While most industrial suppliers simply deliver products, Nelson-Jameson delivers solutions. Through our comprehensive product offering and expertly curated food safety programs, we provide customers with the tools they need to produce safe, quality food.

Nelson-Jameson is seeking a Food Quality & Safety Specialist to support our customers and internal teams with subject matter expertise in food safety and compliance. In this role, you’ll play a vital role in helping customers solve complex challenges by offering knowledgeable support, accurate recommendations, and practical solutions. Success in this role requires strong communication skills, technical curiosity, a collaborative mindset, and the ability to translate complex information into practical solutions. This role is a great fit for experienced Quality Assurance, Quality Control, or Food Manufacturing professionals who want to make a direct impact on the safety of the food supply chain.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide Technical Support: Serve as a technical resource for customers and Strategic Account Managers regarding food safety, sanitation, and quality assurance.
• Collaborate with Sales: Work closely with Strategic Account Managers to understand customer needs, develop tailored solutions, and promote product sales in assigned categories.
• Drive Sales & Growth: Promote products to new, casual, and core accounts, aiming to maximize sales and gross margin.
• Customer Service Excellence: Ensure high levels of customer satisfaction by providing timely, effective, and consistent technical support.
• Identify Opportunities: Continuously seek opportunities to expand product offerings and solutions to customers, contributing to overall account growth.
• Training & Education: Stay current on product knowledge and provide ongoing education and training for customers and internal teams to ensure optimal use of products and services.
• Collaborate Across Teams: Partner with Sales, Product Management, and Marketing to enhance customer experience, promote products, and achieve business goals.

Why Nelson-Jameson?At Nelson-Jameson, we offer more than just a job; we provide an opportunity to grow and succeed within a family-owned company that values innovation, collaboration, and hard work. You’ll be part of a trusted industry leader, working alongside passionate professionals who are dedicated to making a difference.

As a golden rule company, we strive to maintain a culture of honesty, integrity, and kindness. Our organization is committed to operating ethically and respecting people, our community, and the environment. With us, you’ll become part of a hard-working team that takes pride in providing safe, high-quality food to communities around the world.

With Nelson-Jameson, you’ll receive:

• Comprehensive Health Benefits with your choice of benefits to match your unique needs
• 401(k) with company match
• Competitive Compensation: Base salary plus commissions with potential earnings of $100,000+
• Established sales territory
• Paid time off at time of hire
• Annual allowance for company-branded clothing
• Annual Wellness Stipend & other wellness programs
• Company-provided vehicle, cell phone, credit card, and remote work set-up
• Autonomy & freedom to manage your own schedule
• And much more!

Qualifications & Skills:

• Required:
  • Education: Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or equivalent experience.
  • Experience: Minimum 3 years of experience in Quality Assurance, Quality Control, food safety, or a related technical field.
  • Travel: Ability to travel up to 75% of the time for customer visits, supplier meetings, internal collaboration, and industry events, primarily regionally across assigned territory but also to other regions of the U.S. Must possess a valid driver’s license, maintain an acceptable driving record, and hold all required documentation for domestic air travel.
• Preferred:
  • Spanish-English Bilingual ability is highly desired.
  • Industry Experience: 5+ years in a combination of Quality Assurance (QA), Quality Control (QC), sales, dairy safety practices, cheese cultures, enzymes, sanitation protocols, or related experience.
  • Sales Experience: Previous experience in technical sales or business development within a relevant industry is highly desirable.
  • Distributor or manufacturer experience selling to industrial food or other sanitary manufacturing facilities.
  • Proficient in ERP, CRM, and Google Suite tools.
  • Additional certifications or courses related to Food Safety, Quality Assurance, or HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) are highly beneficial

How to Apply:If you’re ready to apply your food safety expertise beyond the plant floor to help protect the food supply through practical, customer-focused solutions, apply today on our career site!

Nelson-Jameson, Inc. and NEXT Logistics, LLC. are Equal Opportunity Employers. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourage applicants from all backgrounds, including but not limited to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, and veteran status.