Food Safety and Quality Assurance Specialist (Manufacturing Plant)

Portillo’s•Aurora, IL

15d•$20•Onsite

About The Position

JOB SUMMARY: The Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) Specialist supports the FSQA and plant operations team by performing food safety and quality assurance tasks. This role helps ensure compliance with Portillo’s food safety and quality policies as well as ensuring GFSI, USDA, and FDA FSMA standards are met in building areas including production and warehousing operations. The FSQA Specialist executes inspections, testing, and documentation to support compliant food production.

Requirements

2+ years of food safety or quality assurance experience in a manufacturing or food production environment (5 years preferred)
Bilingual (Spanish) preferred
Strong computer skills with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel)
Knowledge of government regulatory requirements in food (USDA, FDA, FSMA)
Knowledge and experience with GFSI, SQF, GMP’s, Sanitation, pest control, food safety, and HACCP systems
Strong attention to detail with ability to follow procedures consistently
Troubleshooting and basic investigative skills
Effective communication and organizational skills
High School diploma or GED required

Nice To Haves

HACCP certification preferred
PCQI certification a plus

Responsibilities

Assist with implementation of food safety and quality assurance programs and ensure they are followed
Perform audits such as glass and brittle plastic inspections
Support preparation for internal, USDA, and third-party audits
Assist USDA inspector when needed
Manage product holds and non-conformances, including documentation, reporting, and destruction
Collect environmental and microbiological samples and submit to third-party labs as required
Conduct sanitation verifications, including ATP testing and clean-up inspections as required in the Master Sanitation Schedule
Execute environmental program swabbing in required zones, evaluate test results, support vector swab follow up, and ensure proper cleaning
Conduct pest control checks, KPI reporting, and monthly GMP inspections
Work with the FSQA team on SCAR submissions
Support with deviations, change management, and CAPA
Monitor HACCP temperature program and escalate issues as needed
Support equipment calibration activities (thermometers, metal detectors, micrometers, scales, etc.)
Conduct daily routine quality checks (weights, thickness, labels, oxygen, packaging, etc.)
Maintain and update FSQA documentation, ensuring timely completion and compliance
Generate maintenance work requests related to food safety and/or quality
Inventory chemicals and support the ordering process
Conduct boot, locker room, and cafeteria inspections
Perform sanitation pre-operational inspections and finalize daily pre-shipment reports
Communicate issues clearly to the FSQA Supervisor and plant management
Ensure all safety requirements related to sanitation are met including proper chemical storage, SDS, PPE and proper procedures
Other duties as assigned

Benefits

Career advancement opportunities
Quarterly Portillo’s gift cards
Perks and discounts - access to hundreds of discounts from movie tickets to gym memberships and more
Daily Pay: Access your pay when you need it!
Your choice of health insurance from among three medical plans (including a PPO), two dental plans, and a vision plan
Time off
Our 401(k) with company match
Flexible Spending Accounts - healthcare and dependent care
Beef Stock – our Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Voluntary Benefits like pet insurance, critical illness coverage, and identity theft insurance