Quality and Food Safety Coordinator

This opportunity is located within our AFB International business, the global science and technology leader in pet food palatability. We develop and produce a full range of liquid and dry palatability enhancers using high-quality ingredients proven to optimize companion animal response and consumption.

Job Description

Summary Provides leadership and coordination of food safety and quality activities to support the Aurora manufacturing facility. This includes oversight and execution of Food Safety Programs, CGMPs and continuous improvement activities that drive improved quality and performance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Monitor and maintain food safety and HACCP Programs in compliance with GFSI certification requirements.

Coordinates the environmental monitoring program at the Aurora facility including performing swabbing activities, collecting samples, ensuring proper testing is performed and tracking/trending results.

Assists with investigations and CAPA for food safety and quality issues and customer complaints to ensure root cause is found and sustainable corrective actions implemented.

Train and develop site employees on food safety and environmental programs and topics as necessary to drive food safety and quality culture.

Serves as support for maintaining pest control program at the facility through the contracted pest control company.

Supports the AFB Quality Management System (QMS) and collaborates with other facilities and Corporate Quality Assurance to ensure all practices are executed in accordance with these standards.

Lead cross-functional food safety team, ensure food safety audits are conducted at specified frequencies with timely and sustainable corrective actions implemented.

Develop, review and revise SOPs related to Operations, Food Safety, and Quality as required.

Implement food safety policies and quality programs as needed.

Responsible for ensuring GMP requirements are adequately met and maintained at the plants.

Generate and distribute comprehensive reports for but not limited to Food Safety, and Environmental Monitoring.

Participates and/or assists in preparation for internal and external Quality audits, including customer audits, certification audits, regulatory audits, and corporate compliance audits.

Actively support and participate on cross-functional teams as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities No supervisory responsibilities: does include leadership expectations for cross-functional teams, which includes responsibility for the overall direction, coordination, and delegation of these team members by carrying out leadership responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include planning, assigning, and directing work, addressing complaints and resolving problems among team members.

Qualifications To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience Bachelor's degree (B.S.) in a Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Food Science or related field required. Three (3) years of progressive, professional level industry experience in quality and/or food safety required. Knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, and Food Safety required. Knowledge of ISO and SQF Certification preferred. Prior Lean Six Sigma knowledge is highly desired; Black Belt or Green Belt in Lean Six Sigma preferred but not required. Experience in a food production environment desired.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities To perform this job successfully, an individual should have the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Strong working knowledge of HACCP, GMPs and Food Safety
• Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal relations skills.
• Advanced computer skills in Windows and Internet applications, as well as MS Office applications such as Word, Excel, and Power Point.
• Ability to maintain accurate records relating to jobs as they are planned performed and completed. Skill to use electronic means for recording data.
• Expert organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Travel is not required.

Core Company Skill Sets

Communication - Anticipates information that is needed and meets the need with highly credible and insightful material; delivery is clear and concise. Expresses ideas enthusiastically and is an active listener. Successful candidate is an individual who is a visionary, adjusts communication style to stimulate feedback and prepares/delivers high impact presentations.

Job Expertise - Extremely well-qualified; able to apply knowledge to champion individual projects to successful completion. Recognized by the industry and highly respected by peers as an expert in the field; often sought after for mentoring role inside the company or as an outside speaker. Well-rounded in other business areas, the successful candidate is an individual who is very current in field of expertise, leading developments and transferring skills and knowledge.

Planning & Execution - Always establishes SMART goals, anticipates the unforeseen and develops viable contingency plans; conducts outstanding meetings that result in powerful decisions and actions; tenaciously follows through on commitments. The successful candidate leaves no stone unturned in achieving goals and often over-delivers against expectations; demonstrates a consistently high level of commitment and energy that inspires and motivates the rest of the organization.

Customer Focus & Competitive Advantage - Understands customer needs exceptionally well, identifying/implementing solutions that meet or exceed those needs; engaged with customer visits

AFB International is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, national origin, or veteran status.