Safety / Food Specialist

Albertsons Companies•Phoenix, AZ

About The Position

The Safety / Food Specialist assists the Food Safety Manager with food safety and sanitation activities in an assigned division. The role supports compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and corporate and division policies and procedures, while maintaining standards for safe food and a healthful environment for customers, associates, and vendors. The specialist reviews audit and inspection results, helps stores correct deficiencies, tracks regulatory requirements and trends, supports recall processes, and assists with investigations of food-related illness claims. The role also develops and delivers food safety and sanitation training, prepares summary reports, and provides emergency support to stores when food loss, media attention, regulatory visits, or other potential emergencies arise. Frequent out-of-state and overnight travel is required. Work may take place in a temperature-controlled environment and may include evening and weekend work.

Requirements

Degree in environmental health, food science, another science field, or equivalent experience.
Ability to motivate others to achieve desired results.
Ability to deal effectively with a wide variety of people on a daily basis.
Strong analytical skills for data interpretation and analysis.
Excellent oral and written communication skills and ability to speak effectively before groups.
Ability to interface effectively with a wide variety of personnel and communicate concepts, systems, and procedures in a training environment.
Frequent out-of-state and overnight travel is required.

Nice To Haves

Prior management experience in a fresh department such as meat, produce, service deli, or bakery.
One to two years of experience or education in food handling, sanitation, or public health.
Familiarity with grocery retail experience.
Computer skills in word-processing and spreadsheet software.

Responsibilities

Review food safety audit results with key store personnel and assist in correcting deficient conditions.
Communicate inspection results to the Legal Department and/or division management for follow-up and support.
Provide emergency food safety training and store support during potential food loss, media attention, regulatory visits, or other emergencies.
Monitor and assist stores with compliance with local, state, and federal food safety and health standards, including personal hygiene, hand washing, temperature control, cross-contamination control, pest control, and chemical-use training.
Stay informed about regulatory requirements for food safety and store sanitation.
Monitor, update, and distribute regulatory inspections and provide direction to stores for resolving deficiencies.
Update the Manager/Director of Food Safety about regulatory trends and actions affecting the business.
Review health-hazard recall bulletins for accuracy and completeness, and ensure their distribution and adequate response through the Division Recall process.
Review store sanitation evaluation reports from pest-control and sanitation-supplies vendor representatives.
Implement plans to address deficiencies and ensure compliance with Company policies and applicable health regulations.
Assist with investigations of food-related illness claims and determine and implement corrective action.
Participate in division staff meetings, store director and department meetings, and career advancement program training meetings.
Prepare food safety and sanitation training topics as needed.
Introduce and administer individual store, district, and division food safety and sanitation training programs.
Assist in preparing food safety, sanitation, and pest-control summary reports for store, division, and corporate personnel.