QA & Food Safety Specialist

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Description

Are you a quality professional with a strong educational foundation and hands-on experience in food manufacturing? We are seeking a Quality & Food Safety Specialist who is passionate about maintaining the highest standards of food safety, regulatory compliance, and product excellence.

In this role, you'll have the opportunity to apply your knowledge of quality systems, food safety programs, auditing, and continuous improvement while working alongside a team dedicated to producing safe, high-quality products. We're looking for candidates who bring a combination of relevant education, industry expertise, and a proactive approach to solving problems and driving results.

The ideal candidate will possess a bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Quality Assurance, or a related field, along with experience in food manufacturing quality systems, HACCP programs, regulatory compliance, and internal or external audits. Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to influence positive change across departments are essential.

If you're ready to take the next step in your quality career and make a meaningful impact in a growing organization, we'd like to hear from you.

The role of Quality & Food Safety Specialist will provide technical support to all functions and operations for the development of a quality and food safety culture.

Job title: Quality & Food Safety Specialist

Reports to: Quality & Sanitation Manager

Direct reports: N/A

Back up position: Quality & Sanitation Manager or QA Technician

Department: Quality Control

Work location: Evansville, Indiana

Exempt/non-exempt: Non-Exempt

Job Description date: October 2026

Implement and maintain all food safety and quality programs including but not limited to: HACCP program, Environmental monitoring program, Food Defense, allergen management, color coding, glass and brittle plastic policy, CAPA. Implement and maintain certifications such as: BRC, Organic, Hallal, Kosher, Gluten Free, Non-GMO, State License, FDA, Vendor approval support, Raw ingredient receiving inspection and release.

Prepare for customer and regulatory audits. Perform internal audits and manage subsequent corrective and preventive actions. Lead training for employees on quality, food safety, and sanitation topics. Maintain, create QA/Laboratory manual, calibrations, and PMs needed. Oversee laboratory equipment maintenance and calibration programs, and place orders or schedule maintenance work as needed. Maintain product data sheets, document review, FG's release, and COA creation. Coordinate deviations and findings of investigations and record/maintain CAPA log. Manage completion of action items for the QA department. Provide QA support to PGPI Woodland location.

Responsible for the implementation and monitoring of QA and Sanitation metrics, responds, troubleshoots, and solves customer complaints and production issues. Analyze manufacturing data to identify trends, anomalies, and opportunities for improvement.

Identify and implement continuous improvement methods for the Food Safety, QA, and Sanitation processes.

Requirements

1. HSE: Always promote a safe work environment through the adherence to all PGPI's Health & Safety and Environmental policies and procedures as well as to all relevant OSHA regulations to achieve ZERO workplace incidents and injuries.

2. Food Safety & Quality: Promote exceptional food safety and product quality standards through the adherence to, and improvement food safety, quality assurance and sanitation policies and standards to have highest quality product for external customers. Fully understand and implement relevant standards including but not limited to: BRC, Environmental monitoring program, Kosher, Organic, HACCP, Gluten Free, IP/Non-GMO so that Customer, PGPI and Legal requirements are achieved and maintained. Ensure food safety is soundly based on HACCP principles. Understand, develop, implement, review, verify, validate, and improve food safety, quality and sanitation systems associated with the production of food to the agreed safety and quality standards. Responsible for enforcing food safety, quality, and legality in the workplace. Ensure food safety, quality, and sanitation KPI's are relevant, monitored, and presented to allow identification of improvement plans. Provide practical support and drive to promote food safety and quality culture. Maintain and improve product quality by completing compliance and surveillance audits, investigating customer complaints. Collaborate with other members of management to develop new product, engineering, manufacturing, and training methods. Manage pest control program.

3. Personnel Management: Follow and enforce all PGP policies and procedures. Assure that team is trained and performs established production practices, quality, and sanitation checks. Promote and coordinate the cross-training of employees to ensure a versatile cross functional team. Lead, motivate, manage, organize and inspire the Quality and Sanitation teams in line with PGP Values to achieve personal development and continuous improvement.

4. Reporting/Record Management: Manage all documentation to the highest level of accuracy. Ensure traceability of materials through ensuring accurate production records. Oversee daily production location inventory accuracy/reconciliation, maintenance of Food Safety, QA, and Sanitation KPI's.

5. Problem Solving/Continuous Improvement: Provide leadership and support of the PGPI continuous improvement and cost saving Initiatives. Identify areas for improvement and develop and execute plans to address gaps. Identify areas for improvement and participate in CI projects with CI Manager. Support new product development/Innovation.

6. Training & Development: Participate in all training related to his/her job to gain knowledge/skills/abilities needed for excellent performance. Together with the QA & Sanitation Manager, identify training needs, prepare training plans, and assign employees to proper training.

Internal: Interface with other internal management personnel - Sales Dept., R&D, Logistics, Production, Maintenance, QA Staff Members, Site Management, etc.

External: Customer inquiries, technical information, suppliers, consultants, Technical Contacts

Job Requirements (Required and Preferred):

Education: B.S. in Food Science, Food Engineering, Biological Sciences, or related degree.

Related Experience:

• Minimum 2 years Quality Supervisor/ QA Specialist/ QA Professional experience in the food industry.
• Experience in Non-GMO, Halal, Kosher, Gluten Free, Organic, BRC, State of Indiana Certifications, Allergen Program, Environmental Monitoring Program, HACCP Program and Sanitation.
• Chemical & Micro lab Experience a plus.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office products, i.e., Excel, Word, Outlook.
• Expert knowledge in the areas of SSOP's, GMPs, FDA/USDA regulations, microbiology, etc. Ability to maintain HACCP and Food safety Programs.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Must be able to read, understand, interpret, and follow-through accurately and thoroughly customer requirements and questionnaires.
• Must understand the legal implications of customer documentation, and company liability with minimal supervision.
• Strong communication skills: read, write articulate, etc. complex concepts to ensure appropriate interpretation.
• Strong technical capabilities and problem resolving skills.

Competencies:

• Leadership: Able to effectively lead and motivate site team to deliver on objectives.
• Team Building: Able to build a cohesive team that works together effectively to deliver the team objectives.
• The personal presence and professional credibility necessary to have an immediate impact with internal contacts and central functions.
• Highly developed persuasion and influencing skills enabling the individual to manage and influence all levels of the business.

Technical Skills:

• Problem solving: A focused, pragmatic approach to solving problems. Able to use root cause analysis to identify, assess and select the most appropriate course of action to resolve issues.
• Ability to work under pressure: Able to remain calm under extreme pressure and to effectively manage a team in such situations.
• Numeracy: Able to analyze and interpret shift data and formulate solid actions plans to improve performance.
• Excellent decision-making and clarity of thinking skills.
• Quality, Food Safety, and Sanitation management experience. Ability to champion delivering a health & safety, food safety culture, improving production processes.
• ERP transactions, touch screen tablets/PLC, basic math skills, use of pneumatic and small hand tools, basic mechanical troubleshooting.
• Microsoft Office Software (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, etc.) - required
• Advanced Excel knowledge - preferred
• Experience leading and building strong, professional relationships with their team and other teams who interact with the site.

Certifications, Licenses, Registrations:

• HACCP
• PCQI
• Internal Auditor
• BRC or GFSI training
• Plant Sanitation

Language(s):

• English required, Spanish preferable

Other Qualifications:

• Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)
• Leads by example, demonstrate consistent compliance with company values and standards. Able to take initiative and go above and beyond expectations.
• Actively seen to be living, promoting, and embedding the PGP International Values.
• Positive, energetic, and enthusiastic in all activities and interactions. Seen to be willing to get "hands dirty" to help the team deliver.
• Actively seen to develop and coach both own team and others. Seen to praise good performance as well as to address performance issues.
• Ensures effective communication is in place throughout the site. Conscientious, reliable and dependable: On time, meets deadlines, delivers on commitments.
• Develops a positive climate where all employees are able and encouraged to contribute.
• Empathy: Needs to demonstrate a degree of empathy without losing focus on business demands.

Work/Employment Conditions and Other Requirements:

Work Environment: This job operates in a combined office/manufacturing/warehouse environment. This role routinely uses manufacturing equipment. The environment is hot, cold, wet, dusty, and loud. Must be able to wear personal protective equipment on the manufacturing floor (hearing protection, hard hat, safety glasses, beard/hair nets, safety shoes).

Physical and Sensory Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand; walk; use hands to handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms overhead and grip; climb stairs; talk or hear, work from heights up to 40 feet. The employee must occasionally lift or move products and supplies, up to 55 pounds.

Position Type and Working Schedule:

RFT - Regular Full Time, working schedule based on production demands.

Required to attend mandatory meetings and trainings as per business needs.

Travel Requirements: n/a

Other Duties: Please note, this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Salary Description

Starting at $30/hour depending on experience