Food Safety and Quality Assurance Specialist

Penn State University • University Park, IL

1d • $65,508 - $94,980

About The Position

Penn State Housing and Food Services is seeking a Food Safety and Quality Assurance Specialist to lead and maintain food safety, allergen management, food defense, and quality assurance programs supporting Penn State Bakery and Warehouse operations. The specialist will help ensure products are safe, consistently produced, compliant with regulatory requirements, and meet customer expectations. The role works closely with bakery production, warehouse operations, purchasing, and leadership to develop, implement, and continually improve food safety and quality systems.

The position covers food safety and regulatory compliance, quality assurance and product labeling, allergen management, sanitation and environmental monitoring, auditing and recall readiness, supplier and ingredient quality, and employee training. The specialist may also provide operational and supervisory support to Bakery and Warehouse operations and act as a liaison among quality assurance, production, warehouse operations, and leadership.

Employment requires successful completion of background checks in accordance with University policies. Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment visa; applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. The listed salary range is $65,508.00–$94,980.00. Penn State offers full-time employees medical, dental, and vision coverage, retirement plans, paid holidays, vacation and sick time, and a 75% tuition discount for employees and eligible spouses and children.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Animal Science, Microbiology, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and four years of relevant experience.
• ServSafe Certification.
• Experience developing, implementing, and maintaining food safety and quality management systems.
• Experience conducting audits and managing corrective and preventive action programs.
• Knowledge of FSMA Preventive Controls for Human Food requirements.
• Knowledge of food allergen regulations and labeling requirements.
• Experience with food labeling, ingredient declarations, and nutritional compliance.
• Strong analytical, documentation, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to train, coach, and influence employees at all levels.
• Ability to collaborate across production, warehouse, culinary, purchasing, and leadership teams.
• The minimum qualifications section specifies a bachelor's degree and 3+ years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.
• Successful completion of required background check(s).

Nice To Haves

• ServSafe Instructor Certification.
• Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) Certification.
• Experience in bakery, food manufacturing, food production, or warehouse operations.
• Experience with environmental monitoring, microbiological testing, and food defense programs.
• Experience managing Certificates of Analysis (COAs) and supplier quality programs.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain HACCP plans, Preventive Controls programs, and food safety documentation.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local food safety regulations and communicate the operational impact of regulatory changes.
• Establish and monitor Good Manufacturing Practices, sanitation standards, allergen controls, and food safety procedures.
• Conduct food safety inspections and maintain required records and documentation.
• Support regulatory inspections, third-party audits, and compliance reviews.
• Develop and maintain Food Defense and Food Security programs, including vulnerability assessments, access controls, visitor management, mitigation strategies, and training.
• Establish and maintain finished-product specifications and quality standards.
• Investigate quality concerns, perform root-cause analyses, and oversee corrective actions.
• Create, review, and maintain compliant product labels; verify ingredient statements, allergen declarations, nutritional information, and other required labeling elements.
• Evaluate formulation, ingredient, supplier, and packaging changes for food safety, regulatory, and quality impacts.
• Support new product launches and process improvements.
• Develop and oversee allergen control programs and procedures to prevent allergen cross-contact.
• Verify cleaning, sanitation, and product changeover procedures and collaborate with production teams on allergen-conscious scheduling.
• Maintain ingredient specifications and allergen information in menu management systems and deliver allergen awareness training.
• Develop and monitor sanitation procedures, schedules, and verification programs.
• Oversee environmental monitoring and testing and verify cleaning and sanitizing effectiveness for facilities, equipment, and food-contact surfaces.
• Monitor temperature controls, cold-chain management, and storage requirements; investigate temperature deviations and coordinate corrective actions.
• Manage pest control programs and verify preventive measures are completed.
• Develop audit schedules, inspection tools, and compliance tracking systems; conduct internal food safety and quality audits.
• Maintain documentation for regulatory compliance and audit readiness.
• Develop and test traceability and recall programs, conduct mock recalls, and evaluate system effectiveness.
• Support product holds, recalls, investigations, and disposition decisions.
• Support supplier evaluation and approval; review Certificates of Analysis, supplier documentation, specifications, and food safety records.
• Monitor ingredient and packaging quality, resolve supplier quality concerns, and coordinate supplier corrective actions and follow-up.
• Develop and deliver food safety, quality, sanitation, allergen, and GMP training; maintain training records and support employee development.
• Coach employees and supervisors on food safety and quality expectations and serve as a subject matter expert.
• Provide operational and supervisory support for Bakery and Warehouse operations as needed.
• Coordinate and communicate across quality assurance, production, warehouse operations, and leadership.

Benefits

• Medical coverage.
• Dental coverage.
• Vision coverage.
• Retirement plans.
• Paid holidays, vacation, and sick time.
• 75% tuition discount for employees and eligible spouses and children.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level