The Seattle Division has an opening for a Food Safety Specialist. This position will be based out of the Bellevue, WA District Office or Central Washington and will support Seattle Division stores within an assigned geographical area.

Position Purpose:

The Food Safety Specialist administers all food safety and sanitation activities in our retail stores to ensure compliance with established laws, regulations, policies, and procedures; and communicates the standards for safe food practices to ensure clean, safe stores for our associates and community at large.

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Conducts frequent and unscheduled visits of assigned stores to assess food safety and sanitation, with particular emphasis on those stores with higher risk, unusual cleaning supply movement, evidence of pest problems, history of guest complaints, any non-compliance on food safety audits or regulatory health inspections, or recent management concerns.

• Maintains recordkeeping schedule to ensure proper follow-up of facilities with high-risk violations from a variety of different audits.

• Reviews all types of audits (Local Health Departments, Ecolab, etc.) with key store personnel and provide support to correct deficient conditions.

• Assists the Food Safety Director with monitoring all third-party chemical and pest control partners for compliance and execution to the standards of the Company.

• Assists the Food Safety Manager in communicating and ensuring vary classifications of recall are completed within a timely manner.

• Provides regular updates to the Director of Food Safety of all regulatory trends and actions that impact the business.

• Schedules, Proctors, and facilitates Certified Food Safety Managers Certification Testing (CFPM) when needed.

• Prepares Food Safety and Sanitation discussion topics for the weekly sales messages and district meetings within given geographical area.

• Develops and maintains active professional relationships with local, state, and federal health officials.

• Actively participates in regulatory meetings in all assigned jurisdictions.

• Continually maintains knowledge of updates of new local and state changes to the food code.

• Assists as requested with investigations of food-related illness claims to determine and implement corrective actions.

• Assists with in-store Ecolab training, and District training during store walk meetings and District/Division walks.

• Maintain channel of communication, encouraging store and division personnel to express new ideas, suggestions and complaints, review each for appropriateness and further action.
  

Qualifications: The following are preferred:

Education Level:

• Degree in public health, environmental health, food science or equivalent.

Experience Level:

• Experience in grocery retail is preferred.

• Must obtain all professional licensure required by local law or regulation.

• Must be willing to actively work towards obtaining CP-FS certification.

• Knowledge of federal and state food safety regulations required.

• Previous training and auditing experience preferred.

Skills and Experiences:

• Must be able to drive a vehicle and maintain a valid driver’s license in order to make store visits on a regular basis with frequent overnight travel.

• Ability to plan, schedule, and work under minimal supervision and have self-initiative to perform job functions. Position with not have direct supervision in the same geographical location and video conferencing is required.

• Collaboration with team members to receive and provide feedback and guidance to seek solutions in order to maintain compliance with regulations.

• Possess excellent communications skills, including oral and written plus the ability to speak effectively before groups.

• Must possess ability to motivate others to achieve desired results.

• Deal effectively with a wide variety of people on a daily basis.

• Strong analytical skills required for data interpretation and analysis.

• Computer skills in word-processing and spread sheet software preferred.

• Must be able to interface effectively with a wide variety of personnel. Possess ability to communicate concepts, systems, procedures, etc., in a training environment.

The salary range is $ 65,000 to $85,000 annually. Starting salary will vary based on criteria such as location, experience, and qualifications. There may be flexibility for exceptional candidates.

Benefits may include medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, sick pay (accrued based on hours worked), PTO/Vacation Pay (accrued based on hours worked) or Flexible Time Off, paid holidays (8-9 days annually), bereavement pay, and retirement benefits (such as 401(k).

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT:

• Work may be performed in a temperature-controlled environment.

• Must sit, stand, or walk for extended periods of time.

• May spend long periods of time at desk or computer terminal.

• May use calculators, keyboards, telephone, and other office equipment in the course of normal workday.

• Stooping, bending, twisting, and reaching may be required in completion of job duties.

• Workday is fast paced; some evening and weekend work may be required.

• Position requires weekly travel to various store locations throughout the division. Incumbent must be able to drive a vehicle, have their own transportation and be available for overnight travel. Incumbent must be able to move freely about the stores including second-story offices, back rooms and production areas.

• Requires analytical ability and mental alertness to ensure accurate and thorough completion of work activities and for data interpretation and analysis. Possess ability to concentrate and deal with frequent interruptions.
  

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: 90%+ of the time is spent traveling.