Food Safety and Quality Compliance Specialist (Food Manufacturing)

The Fremont Company • Rockford, OH

just now • Hybrid

About The Position

We are a growing food manufacturing company with three production facilities across Ohio, committed to delivering safe, high-quality products to our customers. We are seeking an experienced Food Safety and Quality Compliance Specialist to serve as the cornerstone of our food safety and compliance programs across all three sites. This is a high-impact, cross-functional role that combines hands-on compliance oversight with strategic involvement in new product commissioning and facility start-up activities. Position reports directly to the President and our Quality Oversight Council.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Microbiology, or a related field; equivalent experience considered.
• Minimum 3–5 years of quality or food safety compliance experience in a food manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of FSMA, HACCP, and GFSI-recognized food safety standards (SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000, or similar).
• Experience developing and managing SOPs and food safety management systems.
• Proven track record working across multiple facilities or in a multi-site compliance role.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to present complex compliance topics clearly to all levels of the organization.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and quality management software (QMS).
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly to all three Ohio facilities. (NW Ohio, Cleveland, Western Ohio)

Nice To Haves

• PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) certification.
• SQF Practitioner certification or equivalent GFSI scheme certification.
• Experience with new product commissioning, production line start-ups, or capital project quality integration.
• Familiarity with allergen management programs and environmental monitoring (Listeria/Salmonella programs).
• Experience working with contract manufacturers or co-manufacturing quality oversight.

Responsibilities

• Ensure full compliance with all applicable food safety regulations, including FDA regulations, FSMA requirements, and applicable customer/third-party standards (SQF, BRC, GFSI, etc.) across all three Ohio facilities.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for regulatory inspections, third-party audits, and customer quality audits at all sites.
• Maintain and continuously improve the company's food safety management systems (HACCP, HARPC, allergen management, sanitation programs) to reflect best practices and regulatory requirements.
• Investigate and resolve food safety deviations, non-conformances, and customer complaints with documented root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA).
• Build, implement, and monitor food safety, quality assurance, and supplier monitoring programs, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards.
• Author, review, update, and standardize Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) across all three manufacturing facilities to drive consistency and compliance.
• Conduct regular facility audits and gap assessments to verify SOP adherence and identify opportunities for process improvement.
• Partner with plant supervisors and operators to ensure SOPs are practical, clearly communicated, and consistently followed on the production floor.
• Track and manage SOP revision cycles, ensuring all documents are current, controlled, and accessible to relevant personnel.
• Serve as the quality lead during new product development, line commissioning, and facility start-up projects, ensuring food safety and quality requirements are built in from the ground up.
• Collaborate with R&D, operations, and procurement teams to develop and validate food safety plans, quality control checkpoints, and product specifications for new products.
• Lead pre-production readiness reviews, including equipment qualification, sanitation validation, and ingredient/packaging approvals.
• Develop new product SOPs, quality monitoring plans, and training materials prior to production launch.
• Conduct post-launch reviews to confirm compliance performance and identify continuous improvement opportunities.
• Design and deliver food safety and quality compliance training programs for production staff, line leads, and management at all three facilities.
• Foster a culture of food safety, accountability, and continuous improvement across the organization.
• Serve as a resource and mentor for plant-level quality personnel.
• Maintain accurate and audit-ready compliance records, logs, and documentation for all three sites.
• Prepare and present compliance dashboards, KPIs, and trend reports to senior leadership on a regular basis.
• Manage mock recall programs, environmental monitoring programs, and supplier approval documentation.

Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Paid time off and company holidays.
• A collaborative, growth-oriented work environment where your expertise directly impacts product safety and company success.

What This Job Offers

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