Food Safety Manager

The Manager, Food Safety (MFS) handles the management of the food safety systems at Pictsweet’s Clarksville production facility. The MFS is the food safety advocate for the plant, providing leadership for the system. As the on-site food safety and regulatory authority at the facility, it shares the responsibility of driving the food safety systems of the plant. The MFS develops, changes, and maintains the plant’s Food Safety Plan, SSOPs, and regulatory programs to ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements for the production of safe and wholesome foods.

The MFS, in partnership with the Manager of Quality Systems & Continuous Improvement (MQSP) handles the ongoing program management and oversight of the BRC Global Standards Certification and initiatives at the facility.

• Responsible for ensuring that all food safety systems and regulatory programs are in place for the production and storage of all products manufactured under clean, safe, and wholesome conditions.
• Perform a risk assessment of each process and develop the critical control points that will be monitored to assure the production of safe and wholesome food products.
• Develop and maintain the scientific documentation to support the decision-making process that occurs during the risk assessment.
• Manage the regulatory relations and act in concert with corporate management to resolve all regulatory issues or concerns.
• Works with corporate management to develop the methods and procedures to become cognizant of changes in the regulatory environment so the plant can remain on the leading edge of issues.
• Analyzes continuous and discrete food safety data to measure, access, control, and improve the reliability of safe food products.
• Lead the plant food safety team and train the employees in monitoring and verifying the critical control points (CCPs).
• Provide a food safety system and program that prescribes technically sound methods of operation for critical processes and generate sufficient records and evidence that provide confidence to customers.
• Develop, monitor, and lead corrective actions for environmental monitoring throughout the facility.
• Reduce recall liability and ensure loss prevention techniques to reduce frequency. Comply with the facility’s recall and traceability programs. Coordinates all mock recalls and traceability projects.
• Develop a complete SSOP program to ensure the plant is maintained in a sanitary condition.
• Interface with individuals in various roles throughout the organization to provide corrective actions to solve a process deviation or technical problem.
• Leads continuous improvement efforts and actively takes part with teams to further the improvement of food safety.
• Responsible for training all employees in the requirements of HACCP, SSOP, and food safety prerequisite programs and audit documentation to ensure compliance.
• Audits the food safety system and programs monthly and handles follow-ups.
• Adheres to all Pictsweet’s policies and procedures, which include SOPs, Employee Handbook, Food Quality Polices, GMP Handbook, HACCP, and Pictsweet’s Safety Procedures.
• Enforces company rules, such as attendance, food safety, production quality, safety, GMPs, and efficiency. Discipline subordinates when non-compliance occurs.
• Submits annual budget. Monitors and adheres to budget parameters (labor, inventory, maintenance, equipment, supplies, etc.).
• Ensures a safe workplace. Follows Pictsweet’s Hazardous Communication Plan, Lock-out/Tag-out Program, Process Safety Management Plan, and all applicable safety standards.
• Moderates all food safety meetings for the facility.
• Serves on the Emergency Response Team and takes part in all required meetings. Reports to the plant during an event of an ammonia leak and assists the team in response.
• All other duties as assigned.

EXPERIENCE: Must have a practical understanding of food processing, sanitation systems, HACCP, GMP, and personnel management. This is gained in 3-5 years of food production experience.

EDUCATION: Must have a B.S. degree in food science, microbiology, or a related field. The MFS must possess an understanding of management/leadership fundamentals. The MFS must have a basic mathematical reasoning ability and a basic knowledge of statistics.

SPECIAL SKILLS: Must possess excellent communication skills, verbal and written; bilingual, English/Spanish a plus. The MFS must be proficient in using computers for spreadsheets and word processing.

Must be able to process large volumes of information, decide under pressure, and provide leadership in difficult situations. The MFS must be a proficient trainer of subordinate personnel. Must be able to develop and mentor subordinate employees for future responsibilities. The MFS must work in a collegial manner with other departments to accomplish corporate objectives while achieving departmental goals.

Be willing to work flexible hours, including weekends and holidays. The MFS must meet the residency requirement and live within the immediate zones identified for the respective plant.

Physical Environment Factors:

This position will work in an office and plant environment. Occasionally, this position will be required to work in a refrigerated environment or freezer. Occasionally, this position will be required to travel to other locations, such as processing facilities, agricultural sites, or retail/service locations.