Compliance Specialist

Job Summary: The Compliance Specialist is responsible for ensuring compliance of materials and finished products with regulatory, food safety and customer requirements, developing and continuously improving food safety and quality programs, procedures, and systems.  Assists in managing the Document Control Program and is responsible for the release of Ingredients and Finished Goods. The Compliance Specialist has a full understanding of BRC GFSI scheme, HACCP principles, GMP’s. Assist in managing third-party certifications for the business.

Essential Functions:

Suppliers & Materials:

• Review supplier and material documentation for compliance with requirements as part of Supplier Approval Program. Communicate with suppliers on technical, food safety, or quality concerns.

• Collaborate with Purchasing, R&D, Quality teams, suppliers and customers on raw material document updates or identified issues.
• Build strategic relationships and maintain effective and professional communication with raw material suppliers in collaboration with cross-functional team.
• Coordinate and submit raw material & finished goods samples for testing/evaluation and track status and results with third party labs. Escalate out-of-spec results. Place finished goods on Hold in system.

• Assess Ingredient Hazard Analysis as part of Food Safety / HACCP Plan.
• Approve incoming COAs. Follow up with suppliers on receipt of materials with no COA.
• Complete Finished Good COAs with accurate information from quality records and outside lab results reports in a professional format for customer communications.
• Initiate and support completion of supplier and customer non-conformances.

Document Control:

• Develop and maintain documentation to comply with record keeping requirements.
• Responsible for the schedule of document reviews and maintaining accurate Document Register
• Timely distribution of latest revision level documentation to all appropriate users and ensure that obsolete documentation is removed from system library.

Systems:

• Implement solutions to improve quality and food safety through inspections, CAPA investigations, and internal and external audits.
• Maintain Identity Preserved Foods programs including but not limited to Kosher, Organic, Gluten Free, Non-GMO Project, Whole Grain Council, and Keto certifications.
• Support regulatory, customer, third-party and internal audit preparation and execution.
• Support Monitoring and Verification Program compliance.
• Assist with environmental monitoring sample submission.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Bachelor’s Degree in scientific discipline such as food science, chemistry, biology, chemical engineering, or related field required
• Minimum 3 years previous experience of QC/QA department in the food processing industry required.
• Industry knowledge of HACCP, FDA, GMP, GFSI, FSMA, and federal, state, and local compliance regulations.
• Technical competence in analytical chemistry or microbiology.
• Food safety and food labeling compliance expertise
• HACCP and PCQI certification

• Experience in record keeping. Physical and online records management and retrieval
• Experience conducting internal audits
• Understanding of FDA labeling requirements and compliance
• Understanding of QA / process management of:
  • Product specifications in-process testing and evaluation.
  • Food Safety and Pre-requisite programs
  • Ingredients / formulation compliance to avoid adulterated products
  • Chemical and microbiological testing and specification limits.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including technical writing
• Attention to detail, communication skills and strong interpersonal skills.

• High level of proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, SharePoint, Teams, inventory and document management systems and electronic logging systems

• Ability to communicate and understand work instructions in English.

The successful candidate will also have the following:

• Well-organized and detail-oriented with strong technical skills, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and proven ability to multitask
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively collaborate with others in a dynamic team environment; ability to also manage yourself and workload independently
• Capable of supporting multiple projects simultaneously in a deadline-driven environment

• Adaptability, flexibility, independence, attention to detail and the ability to notice and catch errors, strong problem-solving skills
• Ability to quality control check information and documentation

Working Conditions/Physical Factors:

• Able to conduct work in adherence to BRC and Bridgetown Natural Foods policies
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 pounds
• Ability to safely maneuver through a production and warehouse environment
• Position requires sitting for long periods of time working in an office environment
• Able to work in an environment containing tree nuts, peanuts, milk, soy, sesame, eggs, wheat and other grains.
• Work schedule generally follows office hours, however occasional weekend or overtime will be required

Other Duties as Assigned: 

This job description is not intended to be all inclusive, but to serve as a guideline.  Management retains the right to determine additions or changes to job responsibilities.