Food Safety / Compliance Coordinator

Southern Specialties was founded in 1990 by Robert Colescott, President and CEO of the company. Our mission, then, was to provide the finest restaurants and hotels in the nation with the best service and highest quality specialty produce.

Today, we are proud to continue that mission while including the leading retailers and club stores in North America. Our Southern Selects line of value-added specialty produce, and our extensive private label programs provide consumers with delicious, nutritious, safe and convenient produce for the entire family.

The foundation of Southern Specialties resides in the quality of the people and businesses that make up our culture and enterprise. As a company, it's rewarding to have traveled so far and have such great visions for the future. We look forward to continuing our enduring partnerships, and providing the freshest and most delicious, quality assured fruits and vegetables to our valued customers for years to come.

The Food Safety / Compliance Coordinator will assist our Food Safety Director with the day-to-day requirements of the Food Safety Department for a mid-size produce packaging operation. The candidate will work in the production room and work in the office verifying quality control, monitoring that food safety procedures and documentation being followed, problem solving as relates to food safety issues, and assisting with compliance of HACCP, GMP, and SQF.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as the facility’s SQF Practitioner; manage and implement the Food Safety SQF Program across all areas.
• Oversee the Environmental Monitoring Program, including scheduled collection of swab samples and documentation of results.
• Maintain and archive all food safety documentation, including test results, records, manuals, training procedures, product specifications, and related materials.
• Enforce food safety programs and procedures, including GMPs, sanitation, and personnel hygiene policies.
• Conduct internal audits of GMPs and operating procedures; report and assist with correction of any unsanitary conditions.
• Assist in food safety meetings as required by the SQF Code and communicate expectations to the Facilities/Sanitation Department.
• Prepare for and support food safety audits by customers or regulatory agencies.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by management.

Qualifications:

• Must be proficient in English reading and writing.
• A minimum of 1-2 years’ experience in quality control in a produce facility.
• Must have strong communication skills and ability to lead meetings and follow up corrective actions.
• Must be able to work both independently and in collaborative settings.
• Must be familiar with HACCP, GMP’s, and food regulations.
• Must be able to identify gaps in process and communicate potential solutions.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
• Must be flexible with work hours and able to work weekends or holidays if required.
• Must be able to perform basic computer tasks including MS Office.