Processing Specialist

HACO Culinary•Manteno, IL

6d•Onsite

About The Position

This is a salaried position in Manteno, Illinois, reporting to the Manteno Quality Manager with close coordination with key COI personnel. The role involves maintaining customer portals, reviewing supplier documents, and ensuring timely disposition of non-conformances and customer complaints. The Processing Specialist will maintain the Quality Manual, update SOPs, and suggest improvements. They will also conduct periodic reviews of Safety Chain records for compliance, review formulas and processing procedures, and coordinate with COI counterparts on discrepancies. A key part of the role is working with the HACO US Team to identify, solve, and prevent problems affecting quality, food safety, customer, and regulatory compliance.

Requirements

Degree in a Technical Course (Food Science, Chemistry, Microbiology, etc.) or equivalent work experience.
5 years minimum experience in a food manufacturing environment and/or laboratory.
Skilled in statistical charts, trend data analysis, problem-solving, and product troubleshooting.
Good verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to work well with other departments, suppliers, and customers.
Must be able to multi-task, manage multiple assignments, be well-organized, and precise.
Strong attention to detail and good leadership skills.
Must be able to perform in a demanding, fast-paced environment.
High proficiency with computer systems, including MS Office, Adobe Acrobat, and web-based quality management portals (Safety Chain, Trace Gains, Safe Food 360, etc.).
Able to work flexible hours occasionally for inspections/audits to cover 3-shift production schedules.

Nice To Haves

Experienced in Quality Manual SOP and policy review and development.
Experienced with HACCP/Food Safety Risk Assessment.
Experienced with Annual audits: 3rd Party, regulatory, customer audits.
Experienced with internal audits.

Responsibilities

Develop detailed mixing instructions to ensure optimal and consistent product manufacturing that meets specifications.
Ensure alignment in processing procedures for both plant locations and conduct SOP verification at least annually or when changes impact product conformance.
Work with mixers and helpers during the first three productions of new products to ensure correct materials are used and verify recipes and mixing instructions.
Develop re-work orders for complicated products placed on hold (MRB) or non-compliance issues requiring product application confirmatory tests to validate re-work instructions.
Ensure the checklist for new product development is completed before product launch, with emphasis on batch checks, packaging specifications, and label details verification.
Create nutrition labels and ingredient statements in compliance with NLEA, ensuring compliance with nutrition label claims.
Create, maintain, and publish Finished Goods and Packaging Specifications.
Maintain an orderly record of documents required for supplier approval and specifications for raw materials needed for Manteno operations.
Conduct HACCP analysis on new raw materials and new finished products.
Conduct risk assessments on product deviations to ensure no impact on food safety and regulatory compliance.
Coordinate with customers and/or COI R&D and quality teams on new products, non-conformance issues, risk assessment results/verifications, and validation initiatives.
Develop label formats/templates per customer specifications, USDA labeling, and standard of identity compliance.
Ensure product formulations comply with regulatory and industry standards; study the microbiological, physical, and chemical properties of finished products and ingredients.
Ensure compliance with all Private Label customer specifications, including web-based spec updates and SCAR closing.
Work with Purchasing to identify and qualify alternate suppliers for cost-effective sourcing of new and existing raw materials.
Evaluate raw material substitutes for spec deviations due to shortages or supplier issues.
Complete actual product application and group sensory testing to validate potential spec deviations or permanent spec changes.
Evaluate competitive products to benchmark against existing products and create cost-competitive equivalents.
Participate in and/or lead continuous improvement activities.
Perform other duties as assigned.