Senior Food Safety & QA Technologist

Smithfield Foods•Cudahy, WI

19h•Onsite

About The Position

This position is for a compliance-driven Food Safety and Quality Assurance professional who thrives in high-speed environments and has a passion for improving processes. The role involves ensuring products meet the highest standards of safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. Responsibilities include routine sanitation checks, enforcing HACCP and USDA regulations, tracking products, evaluating product quality, identifying deficiencies, and developing corrective actions. The role supports plant programs such as pre-op sanitation, temperature monitoring, GMPs, and leaker detection, while working cross-functionally to resolve issues and drive improvements. The dedication to food safety helps deliver trusted products to millions of consumers.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in meat science, food science, microbiology, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Solid knowledge of QA principles, food safety, USDA, HACCP, SSOP.
Strong technical expertise in quality and regulatory programs.
Able to read, write, and complete required documentation in English.
Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
Specific vision includes close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.
Frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear.

Nice To Haves

HACCP and SQF certifications preferred.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including regulatory and customer interactions.
Committed to upholding regulatory, company, and customer standards.
Proficient in problem-solving, decision-making, and conflict resolution.
Skilled in interpreting and writing technical documents, reports, and SOPs.
Able to interpret various instructions (written, oral, diagram, or schedule).
Experienced with monitoring equipment and data interpretation.
Competent in Microsoft Office and other standard business software.

Responsibilities

Ensure products meet all required specifications through regular inspections and in-process checks.
Take immediate action on out-of-spec findings, such as pulling product, notifying production, or supporting corrective measures.
Identify issues at the source and contribute to continuous improvement efforts by collecting data, reviewing procedures, and maintaining accurate documentation.
Support the implementation and day-to-day compliance of HACCP plans by monitoring critical control points, verifying records, and ensuring protocols are followed.
Identify trends in food safety data and assist in training team members on safe, compliant operations.
Ensure compliance with USDA regulations, perform pre-operational sanitation checks, and coordinate resampling and follow-ups.
Work closely with sanitation and QA teams to verify proper execution and follow-through.
Assist in reviewing and updating food safety programs to ensure alignment with current regulations.
Serve as a resource for newer team members by offering guidance and sharing knowledge of FS/QA processes.
Step in to help cover essential tasks or assist supervisor in delegating responsibilities when needed.