Sr. Food Safety Specialist

Versova•Canby, OR

1d•$85,000 - $100,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Food Safety Specialist is responsible for administering and leading the production facility’s quality assurance and food safety programs across all aspects of food production. Working under the direction of the Food Safety Manager, this role provides direct oversight of facility food safety systems, regulatory compliance, and quality programs to ensure products meet company, customer, and regulatory standards. The position drives continuous improvement, promotes a strong food safety culture, and ensures effective execution of quality and compliance processes within the facility.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or related field preferred (or equivalent experience)
6+ years of experience in food safety or quality assurance within USDA or FDA regulated environments with at least 1 year of supervisory or team leadership experience
Strong knowledge of food safety systems, HACCP principles, SQF standards, and regulatory compliance requirements
HACCP Certification, PCQI certification, and Advanced SQF Practitioner certification required
Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and quality documentation systems

Nice To Haves

Experience driving employee engagement and ownership of compliance programs
Bilingual English/Spanish skills

Responsibilities

Lead and maintain facility food safety and quality programs to ensure compliance with SQF, HACCP, USDA, FDA, state regulations, and customer requirements
Supervise daily QA and food safety activities, including oversight, training, and development of the quality team
Monitor production, laboratory, and microbiological results to verify product specifications and authorize product release
Conduct validations, verifications, internal audits, and record reviews to ensure ongoing compliance and program effectiveness
Prepare for and lead third-party, regulatory, and customer audits, including corrective action management and documentation
Partner with operations leadership to investigate nonconformities, resolve customer complaints, and implement preventive and corrective actions
Maintain supplier documentation and perform ingredient and process risk assessments
Develop and deliver food safety and quality training programs for QA and operations personnel
Support new product launches, equipment changes, and process improvements from a quality and regulatory perspective
Track and analyze KPIs, compliance metrics, and performance trends to drive continuous improvement
Serve as facility PCQI, HACCP Lead, and SQF Practitioner while promoting a culture of food safety aligned with company values
Perform other duties as assigned