Sr. Specialist, Food Safety and Quality Assurance at Van Drunen Farms in Momence, Illinois

Job Description:

The Van Drunen Family of Companies is growing!



JOB OVERVIEW:



The main responsibility of the Senior Specialist Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA) will be to support company facilities in reporting food safety concerns to vendors and other facilities via the Corrective Action Report (CAR) program. They will need to communicate effectively with vendors, co-manufacturers, and internal staff members to outline concerns and/or finding and provide accurate details to facilitate meaningful investigations and responses that will lead to effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) while driving continuous improvement. This role will also be responsible for capturing and recording CAR information, track and trend quality metrics, and report information to various internal departments on a routine basis. CAR information gathered will be used to identify incoming product or vendor risks and help other teams formulate mitigation strategies or develop vendor programs to align with company requirements. In addition to managing CAR, the Senior Specialist will work with Product Line, Purchasing, Plant Quality Managers and the broader Quality team, to address food safety concerns, and develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and policies to define and improve Quality programs. Vendor and internal facility auditing will be required.


This position requires exceptional communication and organizational skills, a problem-solving approach, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced work environment.



DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work with internal production facilities to gather information regarding food safety and quality concerns and communicate information to vendors.


• Review vendor responses and determine if meaningful investigations have been completed and if proposed CAPA will be effective and if they have been implemented.


• Partner with vendors to address on-going product, processing, or manufacturing site concerns.


• Record CAR information and use information to track and trend risk and work with other teams to drive identify concerns and help drive continuous improvement.


• Report CAR information to internal groups.


• Conduct or support on-site vendor inspections to review on-going concerns.


• Internal auditing of company facilities to help understand processes and areas for improvement.


• Write or edit existing Quality SOP and policies.


• Virtual and/or physical travel required to conduct vendor audits

JOB EXPERIENCE
:



5+ years of quality assurance experience in food manufacturing or food manufacturing supply chain management



KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

• Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, SharePoint and PowerPoint, e-mail.


• Working knowledge of GFSI certification requirements (BRC preferred), FDA and FSMA regulations


• Food facility auditing experience


• Working knowledge of food safety plans (PCQI or HAACP), certifications preferred


• Experience working with co-manufacturers


• Working knowledge of 21 CFR 111 and/or 21 CFR 117


• Previous experience developing Standard Operating Procedures preferred


• Well developed listening, verbal, and written communication skills.


• Exceptional organizational skills


• Must be flexible and adaptable to changing priorities.


• Must be a problem-solver who uses good judgement.


• Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, e-mail.


• Well-developed listening, verbal, and written communication skills


• Strong data gathering and presentation skills

EDUCATION:



Bachelor's degree in chemistry, food science, biology, or closely related field



WORKING CONDITIONS:



Office-based work with occasional visits and interactions within manufacturing locations


In the Van Drunen Family of Companies, commitment to excellence is in everything we do! As a global ingredient and nutritional supplement supplier to the world's best companies, we thrive on nourishing others with our products and our care for people. If you are looking to make an impact and grow with a family-friendly, values-driven company, you'll fit right in with the Van Drunen Family of Companies!


We are committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion. Our employees are the most valuable asset we have. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, creativity, innovation, unique capabilities and talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture, but our Company's achievement as well.


The Van Drunen Family of Companies is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.


If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance or an accommodation during the application process, please contact us at recruiting@vandrunen.com.


Van Drunen Family of Companies does not accept unsolicited resumes. Any resumes, CV's, and other unsolicited assistance from search firms that do not have a submitted request and written search agreement for a position-specific requisition will be deemed the sole property of Van Drunen Family of Companies and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by our Company. Apply Now