Food Safety Quality Assurance Lead

Armstrong Group•Denver, CO

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Food Safety Quality Assurance Lead helps ensure Ziegenfelder products are safe and meet quality standards by overseeing food safety and quality systems, production support, testing, sanitation, documentation, and employee training. The role coordinates implementation, maintenance, review, and continuous improvement of SQF programs and serves as a primary resource for related requirements, including food safety plans, prerequisite programs, GMPs, sanitation, allergen controls, traceability, recall readiness, document control, training, internal audits, corrective actions, food defense, and food fraud prevention. The Lead also serves as a backup SQF practitioner and assists the QA Manager with third-party audits. The position supports production through mix making, equipment cleaning, product testing and sampling, chemical preparation, sanitation verification, and product release or hold management. It supervises the sanitation team, oversees daily cleaning of production lines and surrounding areas, and verifies cleaning using ATP testing. The role performs microbiological and chemistry testing, manages internal laboratory activities and sugar processes, verifies sugar truck certificates of analysis, and reviews and communicates quality and food safety data. It also coordinates documentation and employee training to support compliance with company programs and applicable federal, state, and local requirements. The role is based in Wheeling, West Virginia, and may require travel to other facilities. Work can involve cold, hot, wet, noisy, and outdoor conditions, with appropriate protective equipment provided for specified exposures.

Requirements

HACCP certification required.
PCQI certification required.
Experience and training in food safety, SQF, sanitation (SSOP and GMP), and/or other food safety systems required.
Quality assurance process improvement skills required.
Strong computer skills, including use of Microsoft Office products.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to perform the physical activities described, including standing for up to 12 hours per day; frequent climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, bending, twisting, reaching, grasping, and pushing or pulling; and exerting up to 50 pounds occasionally, 30 pounds frequently, and 10 pounds constantly.
Good spatial awareness while working around manufacturing equipment.
Visual acuity to perform tasks and ability to stay focused to complete work in a timely manner.
Willingness to travel to other facilities if necessary.

Nice To Haves

Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or a related field; experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
SQF practitioner certification.
SQF certification.
Food sanitation courses.

Responsibilities

Prepare raw material inputs, monitor production processes, and inspect finished products to ensure products are ready for delivery.
Analyze and document quality assurance processes and recommend improvements.
Coordinate implementation, maintenance, review, and continuous improvement of SQF programs, policies, procedures, records, and supporting documentation.
Serve as a primary resource for SQF system requirements, including food safety plans, prerequisite programs, GMPs, sanitation, allergen controls, traceability, recall readiness, document control, training, audits, corrective actions, food defense, and food fraud prevention.
Conduct or coordinate internal audits, inspections, mock recalls, traceability exercises, and verification activities.
Support production through mix making, equipment cleaning, product quality testing and sampling, and master sanitation schedule tasks.
Ensure chemicals are prepared or mixed properly and consistently.
Review, trend, and communicate food safety and quality data to identify risks, recurring issues, improvement opportunities, and corrective or preventive actions.
Supervise the sanitation team and ensure safe cleaning protocols for production equipment and surrounding areas.
Lead equipment cleaning before release back into production and verify cleaning using ATP testing and the master sanitation program.
Oversee daily sanitation of production lines and surrounding areas and document cleaning tasks.
Follow and assist with HACCP, SQF, GMP, SOP, and SSOP programs and coordinate documentation for compliance with applicable requirements and company directives.
Serve as backup SQF practitioner.
Perform microbiological and chemistry testing to ensure product safety.
Support internal laboratory functions, including microbial samples, document completion and control, comparing internal and external laboratory results, and product release or hold management.
Audit documentation regularly to ensure compliance with applicable requirements and company directives.
Receive sugar trucks and verify certificates of analysis against company specifications.
Conduct and maintain sugar orders and processes.
Develop, deliver, and document employee training on SQF, HACCP, GMPs, SOPs, sanitation, allergen control, food defense, and other food safety topics.
Partner with plant management and quality, production, sanitation, maintenance, warehouse, purchasing, and HR teams to promote consistent SQF and food safety practices.
Assist the QA Manager with third-party audits.
Train and qualify new employees in mix making, equipment cleaning, product testing and sampling, and master sanitation schedule tasks.