QA FOOD SAFETY SPECIALIST

FSQA Specialist – Food Distribution Center

Role Summary

The FSQA Specialist ensures that all incoming, stored, and outbound products consistently meet regulatory, customer, and company food‑safety and quality standards. This role directly contributes to the company’s success by building the capability to identify and resolve immediate quality issues.

Candidates must be strong communicators, effective team players, and demonstrate a high level of initiative. As the front‑line guardian of food safety and quality, you ensure that every product entering, stored in, or leaving the distribution center meets strict standards. The role blends technical food‑safety expertise, operational oversight, auditing, data analysis, and cross‑functional collaboration.

Position Type: Full‑time 

Schedule: Day Shift | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Essential Tasks and Responsibilities

Food Safety & Quality Program Management

• Regulatory Compliance — Ensure adherence to FDA, USDA, state/local regulations, and GFSI/SQF standards.
  Supplier Compliance — Review supplier documentation and escalate non‑compliances; support supplier corrective actions.
• Record Management — Maintain logs, forms, and digital records; ensure accuracy, completeness, and audit readiness.

Distribution Center Operational Oversight

• Receiving Verification — Inspect inbound trailers, seals, temperatures, product condition, labeling, and documentation; approve after‑hours receiving when required.
• Storage & Handling Controls — Monitor cold‑chain integrity, product rotation, product segregation, and sanitation.
• Outbound Verification — Validate product condition and labeling accuracy prior to shipment.

Testing, Monitoring & Investigations

• Temperature Monitoring — Perform routine temperature checks on trailers, pallets, and storage zones.
• Product Quality Checks — Conduct sensory evaluations, packaging inspections, and quality verifications.

Audits & Certification Support

• Internal Audits — Conduct facility audits, identify gaps, assign CAPAs, and track closure.
• GFSI/SQF Support — Assist with certification maintenance, documentation updates, and program verification.

Incident, Recall & Complaint Management

• Recall Execution — Support enterprise recall activities, product recovery, documentation, and communication.
• Complaint Investigation — Intake, investigate, risk‑rate, and close customer complaints; identify trends and drive corrective actions.

HACCP & Preventive Controls

• HACCP Support — Assist with HACCP plan updates, record verification, and monitoring activities.
• Preventive Controls — Support validation, verification, and monitoring of preventive control programs.

Training & Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Employee Training — Deliver training on GMPs, sanitation, temperature handling, and food‑safety SOPs.
• Operational Partnership — Collaborate with receiving, inventory control, transportation, procurement, and sanitation teams to resolve issues and improve processes.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Animal Science, or related field preferred.
• 1–3 years of FSQA experience, preferably in distribution, manufacturing, or protein/seafood operations.
• Food Safety Knowledge — Understanding of HACCP, GMPs, SQF/GFSI, and regulatory requirements.
• Data & Analytical Skills — Ability to analyze trends, manage logs, and interpret microbiological results.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 (data analysis, charts/graphs, sorting/filtering, pivot tables).
• Communication Skills — Clear written and verbal communication across all levels.

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to work in refrigerated and frozen environments.
• Ability to lift, push, and pull up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to walk, stand, twist, reach, bend, climb, and lift throughout the shift.

Availability Requirements

• Must be willing and able to adapt to changing schedules driven by operational demands, including flexible hours and weekend coverage.
• Ability to meet seasonal peaks, workload surges, and deadlines.
• Demonstrated dependability and commitment.

EOE/Vets/Disability