Quality Assurance Specialist

J.M. Smucker Co•Emporia, KS

10d•Onsite

About The Position

Your Opportunity as the Quality Assurance Specialist The Quality Assurance Specialist plays a hands‑on, highly visible role in protecting food safety and sanitation standards across the facility. This position will involve being on the floor, understanding how sanitation systems work in a manufacturing environment, and doing critical work the right way, every day. In this role, you will be directly involved in the execution of sanitation and food safety programs that keep the plant running safely and compliantly. You will write and maintain procedures, verify sanitation effectiveness, support daily and weekend operations, and ensure documentation is accurate and audit‑ready. Your work will have a direct impact on product safety, regulatory compliance, and smooth production start‑ups. This role also offers meaningful exposure to how sanitation systems evolve over time. You will help support a planned transition in sanitation responsibilities, gaining experience in procedure development, training support, verification, and change management in a real manufacturing environment. This role provides a strong foundation for continued growth within Quality Assurance or Food Safety. Location: 1525 Industrial Rd, Emporia, KS 66801 (Hostess Manufacturing Plant) Work Arrangements: 100% on-site. Day Shift. Thursday-Monday 8am-5pm, supporting weekend operations. Flexibility required. Willingness to work off shift (including nights, weekends, and/or holidays) and flow to the work as needed.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED
At least 1 year of experience in sanitation, quality, or a related operational role within manufacturing
Working knowledge of sanitation, GMPs, SSOPs, MSS, environmental monitoring, and sanitation planning
Experience in creating and following procedures, completing detailed documentation, and executing work consistently and accurately
Ability to identify issues, escalate risks appropriately, and support corrective action follow‑through
Strong attention to detail, organization, and time management skills
Ability to communicate clearly and work effectively with cross‑functional teams
Willingness and ability to work a Thursday–Monday schedule and support weekend operations
Basic proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint

Nice To Haves

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, or a related technical field is preferred but not required
Experience with Kleanz by Hygiena software and SharePoint data management system
Familiarity with digital productivity tools, including Microsoft Copilot or similar AI‑enabled tools
Experience writing, updating, or maintaining Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs)
Experience executing or verifying a Master Sanitation Schedule (MSS)
Familiarity with environmental monitoring programs and sanitation verification activities
Working knowledge of FSMA, BRC, and food safety audit expectations
Experience ordering and managing sanitation‑related tools, equipment, or supplies
Experience using quality or documentation systems such as Prodika or SharePoint
Interest in continued development within Quality Assurance or Food Safety roles
Ability to communicate effectively in Spanish is a plus

Responsibilities

Write, update, and maintain Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs) so they are clear, accurate, and aligned with how work is actually performed on the floor
Execute, verify, and document the Master Sanitation Schedule (MSS), ensuring required activities are completed effectively and on time
Execute sanitation schedules and coordinate details with Maintenance, Engineering, and Operations based on priorities set by the QA Assistant Manager
Prepare and execute sanitation‑related downtime plans in alignment with direction from the QA Assistant Manager to support food safety, sanitation effectiveness, and reliable production start‑ups
Perform sanitation and pre‑operational inspections, documenting findings and escalating issues that could impact food safety or quality
Execute environmental monitoring activities and verify sanitation effectiveness through sample collection, documentation, visual inspections, record review, and awareness of sanitation and environmental trends
Execute and track assigned sanitation‑related corrective actions, ensuring timely completion, accurate documentation, and escalation of barriers when needed
Order and manage sanitation‑related tools, equipment, and supplies to support effective program execution
Support weekday and weekend sanitation execution and verification to ensure clean, compliant starts to the production week
Provide weekend QA coverage by assisting with product holds, food safety concerns, and other quality‑related issues that arise outside the standard workweek
Support investigations by gathering data, completing documentation, and assisting with root cause analysis
Reinforce GMP, food safety, and sanitation expectations through regular floor presence, observation, and feedback
Prepare records and support internal, corporate, regulatory, and third‑party audits as assigned
Support the Quality Assurance department as needed to maintain continuity of food safety and quality system execution across all shifts
Support execution of the planned transition of food‑contact equipment cleaning responsibilities from sanitation to production, including procedures, training support, verification, and documentation
Partner with the QA Assistant Manager to identify execution gaps and opportunities to improve sanitation and food safety system performance