Food Safety Specialist I

Printpack•Grand Prairie, TX

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Printpack is seeking a Food Safety Specialist for its manufacturing operation in Grand Prairie, Texas. The position ensures that the Quality and Food Safety Management System consistently provides products and services that meet customer and brand requirements, and that the food safety management system meets applicable requirements of customers, consumers, regulators, and registrars. The specialist serves as the plant Lead Auditor and manages internal and external customer, FSSC, and ISO audits. The schedule is Monday through Friday, or as needed to fulfill the Food Safety Team Program, with flexibility to work second and third shifts for training and to verify food safety practices. The role supports plant leadership, oversees the plant Food Safety Management System, directs the Food Safety Team, and leads monthly meetings. It involves plant audits and inspections, training, regulatory and standards awareness, management of documentation and corrective actions, coordination of audits, and administration of environmental microbial testing and swabbing. The specialist also manages related programs such as traceability exercises, locker inspections, HACCP, chemical and raw material reviews, and Mixed Copy audits.

Requirements

Experience administering a formal, standardized quality management system, or equivalent education.
Strong administrative and computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office.
Excellent communication skills for interacting with cross-functional teams, regulatory agencies, customers, and external auditors.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to assess food safety risks, investigate incidents, and implement corrective actions.
Attention to detail and accuracy in record-keeping and documentation.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team, including under pressure in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Experience coordinating initiatives, leading teams, and facilitating meetings.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience administering food safety programs and preventive controls within a food safety regulatory framework.
DMAIC mindset and knowledge of Six Sigma methodologies.
Knowledge of FDA regulations and Good Manufacturing Practices standards.
Prior experience with food safety laws and regulations.
Third-party auditing experience and understanding of audit processes.
FSSC experience.
Experience with reporting and documentation.
A college degree in a related field such as food safety, quality management, or sciences, or equivalent work experience.

Responsibilities

Support the Plant Leadership Team and participate in company-wide food safety and/or quality teams.
Oversee the plant Food Safety Management System, direct the Food Safety Team, and lead monthly meetings.
Conduct daily plant audits, report food safety findings to the Plant Leadership Team, and follow up on corrective action requests.
Interpret applicable laws, food safety standards, certifications, company policies, and Good Manufacturing Practices in consultation with corporate offices.
Provide food safety awareness and in-depth training, ensure Food Safety Team members have relevant training and competencies, and coordinate food safety-related training in Workday Learning.
Work flexibly across second and third shifts to provide training and verify food safety practices.
Manage and organize the cross-functional Food Safety Team.
Generate reports and complete documentation to identify trends and provide information to employees, corporate leaders, customers, and government agencies.
Conduct audits and inspections of plant activities and train others to conduct them.
Inform the plant manager of conditions that could lead to violations of laws, certification requirements, or company policies and procedures.
Serve as the primary contact and liaison for internal and external on-site and virtual audits covering Quality ISO 9001 and Food Safety ISO 22000, TS 22002-4, and additional requirements; manage updates, schedules, payment preparation, and audit and payment follow-up.
Complete locker inspections (twice per year), HACCP reviews, and chemical and raw material reviews.
Hire and manage contractors and consultants as needed to complete food safety activities on time and within budget.
Manage the plant environmental microbial testing and swabbing program.
Maintain working knowledge of customer food safety requirements and version updates; review food safety procedures and instructions to keep them current and aligned with Operating Procedure Manual procedures.
Enter and verify completion of root cause analyses and corrective actions for food safety audit findings in Printpack’s eQMS.
Follow position standard work and verify tasks are completed on time.
Complete traceability exercises according to Mock Recall procedure requirements.
Complete Mixed Copy audits and verify program execution and adherence.