Quality Food Safety Specialist in Kalona, Iowa at Farmers Creamery

SUMMARY

The Quality Food Safety Specialist supports food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance across all facilities. This role conducts environmental and product testing, verifies food safety programs, supports audits, and partners closely with Production and Quality teams to ensure all products meet high standards for safety, quality, and consistency. This position also plays a key role in training, documentation, and continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen the company’s SQF, HACCP, and GMP programs.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Food Safety & Quality Verification

• Monitor, verify, and validate HACCP, SQF, and GMP programs to ensure compliance with regulatory, customer, and internal standards.
• Review, maintain, and verify production, sanitation, allergen, temperature, receiving, and environmental monitoring records.
• Conduct environmental, bacteriological, chemical, and physical testing of raw materials, packaging, in-process samples, and finished products.
• Complete daily product release logs and ensure finished goods meet safety and quality specifications.
• Prepare and submit samples to external labs as needed.
• Lead, support, and trend results for the environmental monitoring program and other verification/validation programs.

Documentation & Recordkeeping

• Ensure all food safety and quality records are complete, accurate, reviewed, and properly stored.
• Prepare reports, maintain data logs, and assist in SOP, SSOP, and process documentation updates.
• Assist with product investigations, customer complaints, and corrective action follow-up.

Training & Internal Support

• Assist with training for GMPs, HACCP basics, chemical safety, and food safety requirements.
• Assist with developing training materials aligned with regulatory, customer, and internal standards.
• Serve as a resource to cross-functional teams, providing timely guidance and support for quality-related questions or issues.

Audits & Compliance

• Participate in internal audits and help maintain compliance with state, federal, and certification body requirements (SQF, Organic, Kosher, etc.).
• Assist and support third-party audits, including SQF, customer audits, Organic, Kosher, and regulatory inspections.
• Serve as a backup to the SQF Practitioner.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify areas for process improvement related to food safety, sanitation, product consistency, and operational efficiency.
• Recommend updates to policies, procedures, and programs to strengthen food safety systems.
• Partner with leadership and production teams to troubleshoot quality issues and support root-cause analysis.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or related scientific/technical field.
• 2–3+ years of experience in food safety, quality assurance, laboratory work, R&D, or food processing preferred.
• Knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, SQF, and quality management systems.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to train and influence others.
• Able to work independently, prioritize tasks, and make sound decisions with minimal supervision.
• Able to manage quality issues with a sense of urgency and close attention to detail.
• Alignment with Open Gates’ mission, values, and culture of continuous improvement.

CERTIFICATE & TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

• PCQI certification (or ability to obtain).
• HACCP certification (or ability to obtain).

PHYSICAL & WORK REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, and lift occasionally as required.
• Work may involve exposure to production environments, including cold, humidity, chemicals, and moving mechanical equipment.
• Must be able to adjust focus and differentiate color for testing