Safety / Food Specialist

Albertsons•Phoenix, AZ

About The Position

The Safety / Food Specialist assists the Food Safety Manager in administering food safety and sanitation activities in an assigned division. The role helps ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and corporate and divisional policies and procedures, and maintains standards for safe food and a healthful environment for customers, associates, and vendors. The specialist reviews food safety audits and regulatory inspections, supports stores in resolving deficiencies, monitors compliance with food safety and health standards, and communicates inspection results and regulatory trends to division management and the Legal Department as appropriate. The role also supports food-safety emergencies, recall response, food-related illness investigations, training, and reporting.

Requirements

A degree in environmental health, food science, or 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, including the ability to speak effectively before groups.
Ability to interface effectively with a wide variety of personnel.
Ability to communicate concepts, systems, and procedures in a training environment.
Frequent out-of-state and overnight travel is required.
Must be able to sit, stand, or walk for extended periods; stooping, bending, twisting, and reaching may be 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.
Computer skills in word-processing and spreadsheet software.

Responsibilities

Review food safety audit results with key store personnel and help correct deficient conditions.
Communicate inspection results to the Legal Department and/or division management for follow-up and support.
Provide emergency food safety training and support to stores 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 and hand washing, temperature control, cross-contamination control, pest control, and chemical-use training.
Stay current on regulatory food safety and store sanitation requirements.
Monitor, update, and distribute regulatory inspections and direct stores in resolving noted deficiencies.
Provide regular updates to the Manager/Director of Food Safety about regulatory trends and actions affecting the business.
Review health-hazard-classified 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 food safety and sanitation training programs for individual stores, districts, and the division.
Assist in preparing food safety, sanitation, and pest-control summary reports for store, division, and corporate personnel.