Regional Food Safety Manager

The Regional Food Safety Manager (RFSM) reports to the corporate Vice President of Food Optimization and will assist with developing and leading implementation of programs, policies, and procedures involving food safety certification, food optimization, and general warehousing practices at multiple facilities. This person will review processes, policies, and procedures to ensure effectiveness and direct changes for monitoring and verification documentation. The RFSM will oversee company food safety and sanitation efforts by working with facility management to maintain compliance with Federal, State, and local health regulations, while directing the development and execution of process monitoring and verification processes.

This position can be remote and will support our Southeast operations in VA, LA, and GA.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensures continued compliance with Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) standard audit requirements (i.e. Safe Quality Foods [SQF] certification) and Good Distribution Practices (GDP) audit system standards.

• Reviews and approves corrective action plans for resolution of audit non-conformance reports.

• Conducts periodic internal audits to verify compliance with established program requirements.

• Maintains active working relationships with all appropriate industry and regulatory bodies.

• Directs all aspects of the Company regulatory compliance with FSMA.

• Periodically monitors and audits facility personnel to ensure all established warehouse food safety operating procedures are being followed.

• Facilitates the development, implementation, and maintenance of SQF and GDP audit compliance systems and ensures their integrity through validation and verification.

• Assists in distribution center food safety audit preparation and compliance processes.

• Assists in the development and execution of verification programs required to validate regulatory requirements.

• Manages various process improvement initiatives.

• Ensures adherence to food safety and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) programs and their attendant intervention systems.

• Helps to define risk categories and ensures their prioritization in the development of processes.

• Assists in the development of general food safety and regulatory compliance standards for highest risk categories.

• Facilitates the food safety risk assessment at each facility to prioritize food safety support.

• Facilitates Food Optimization within the warehouse, including but not limited to:

• Food Safety performance

• Optimizing food quality programs designed to minimize or eliminate qualitative changes to food stored in our buildings.

• Enhancing Value Added Services, including but not limited to:

• Blast Freezing

• Tempering

• Re-Boxing & Re-Labeling

• Import & Export Activity

• Works with Corporate and safety department personnel as well as with facility management.

• Advises facility and operations management to plan corrective actions for ongoing compliance.

• Manages activities in establishing and executing effective food defense plans within the organization by collaborating with facility management and asset protection teams. Acts as a qualified consultant on all food safety related matters.

• Oversees various process improvement initiatives to better ensure ongoing compliance.

• Manages procedures for the execution of product recalls.

• Investigates product safety and compliance issues (i.e. tampering, adulteration, etc.)

• Assists facility operations related to customer food safety and quality assurance complaints.

• Oversees a comprehensive facility training system for use by warehouse management and support personnel.

• Conducts training sessions to ensure companywide standardization.

• Communicates compliance matters to senior leadership.

• Provides information on upcoming scheduled audits.

• Provides periodic reports to Corporate leadership on companywide audit performance and recommended avenues for improvement.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES)

• Four-year college degree or 10 years industry experience in a related field.

• Minimum of five years of experience in mid- or upper- level management.

• Able to become HACCP Certified.

• Ability to obtain a Food Defense Coordinator Level II Certification.

• Become a subject matter expert on State and Federal Regulatory programs (USDA, FDA and State specific) including Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and National Organic Program (NOP).

• Food Safety experience in a manufacturing or warehouse setting.

• Strong communication skills. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.

• Strong problem-solving abilities.

Why Lineage?

This is an excellent position to begin your career path within Lineage! Success in this role enables greater responsibilities and promotions! A career at Lineage starts with learning about our business and how each team member plays a part each and every day to satisfy our customers' requirements. Beyond that, you'll help us grow and learn on our journey to be the very best employer in our industry. We'll ask you for your opinion and ensure we do our part to keep you developing and engaged as we grow our business. Working at Lineage is energizing and enjoyable. We value respect and care about our team members.

Lineage is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to compliance with all federal, state, and local laws that prohibit workplace discrimination and unlawful harassment and retaliation. Lineage will not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, age, national origin, religion, physical or mental disability or any other protected status under federal, state and local law.

Benefits

Lineage provides safe, stable, reliable work environments, medical, dental, and basic life and disability insurance benefits, 401k retirement plan, paid time off, annual bonus eligibility, and a minimum of 7 holidays throughout the calendar year.