Food Safety & EHS Manager

Food Safety & EHS Manager Dakota Dry Bean Overall Responsibility: Maintain the established food safety program and employee safety program Position Alternate Tasks: Must be able to take on the roles of other management in the event of absences.
Management roles may include the president to ensure regulatory compliance is upheld (Food Safety & OSHA).
Key Areas of Responsibility: Regulatory Compliance: Work with management to ensure that plant operations are compliant to food safety regulations (domestic and global) and occupational safety regulations (FDA, OSHA, EPA, etc.
).
Work with the president to ensure that Dakota Dry Bean maintains current registration with the FDA as required by the Bioterrorism Act.
Keep current on industry best practices and changes in regulatory requirements (domestic and global) to ensure safe and legal product.
Register with applicable governmental websites and trade associations to receive e-mail updates for industry news, product recalls or regulation updates.
Coordinate the food safety & OSHA safety program risk assessment process.
Work with the safety team to conduct annual assessments; carry out corrective actions as appropriate to maintain safe and legal products and a safe working environment.
Make sure that all production employees adhere to company procedures and policies.
Work with management to proactively seek out new technologies for more proficient processing or for the design of new products.
Food Safety / OSHA Safety Program Management: Maintain all procedures and policies relating to food safety and employee safety.
Periodically verify that established food safety program and OSHA safety program procedures and policies are compliant to regulatory and industry requirements.
Work with management to implement new standards deemed necessary to maintain safe and legal food products.
Coordinate annual food safety program reviews and work with the safety team to update the food safety program.
Coordinate quarterly employee safety committee meetings and work with the safety team to update employee safety program policies.
Work with management to periodically assess plant security measures and crisis management protocol as required for food defense.
Oversee internal and external food safety audits (customer, regulatory, SQF, etc.
).
Verify that food safety documents are accessible for 2nd and 3rd party auditors (i.
e.
, certificates of conformance, specifications, processing reports, maintenance records, etc.
).
Work with the safety team to follow up on food safety or OSHA safety audit non-conformances.
Obtain and verify annual water quality reports as required for food safety.
Work with the recall team to oversee the trace /recall program and coordinate with plant management to conduct actual (or mock) recalls ensuring compliance with the FDA Reportable Food Registry (RFR).
Work with the food safety team to ensure that proper handling, storage, and segregation practices are utilized to ensure control of product cross-contamination risks (i.
e.
, allergens, product type, organic, etc.
).
Effectively communicate and work with other management regarding food safety or employee safety issues; perform root cause analysis as necessary to resolve any issues.
Consult with management and supervisors to periodically verify that processing control procedures are effective.
Perform trend analysis as necessary to make improvements to the food safety program (i.
e.
, pest control, product testing, etc.
).
Maintain the foreign material control program.
Work with the food safety team to regularly inspect and maintain control of necessary wood, glass, brittle plastics, ceramics, and sharp metals.
Verify that the chemical control program is effective (proper storage, inventory control, handling, etc.
).
Ensure that chemical safety data sheets (SDS), technical data sheets and labels are maintained for employee safety.
Oversee the sanitation program; update procedures and policies as necessary to maintain safe and legal product.
Work with management and pest control contractors to ensure that established pest control strategies are effective.
Verify that calibration records are current for food processing and product testing equipment.
Work with maintenance and management to ensure that processing equipment is maintained according to manufacturer specifications or regulatory requirements.
Employee Training: Train employees on updated food safety procedures (HACCP, Allergens, GMP policies, etc.
) and employee safety procedures (LOTO, Hot safe work, fall protection, etc.
).
Ensure that all employees receive annual refresher training on all OSHA and food safety program areas as applicable to their jobs.
Make sure that employees are well informed of information needed to carry out their tasks appropriately.
Make sure employees are made aware of the procedure changes which are applicable to their jobs.
Train contractors and temporary workers on job specific tasks prior to work.
Label Compliance: Verify product label compliance as necessary to maintain integrity of products (i.
e.
, allergens, organic, etc.
).
Vendor Assessments: Perform vendor approvals on all products and services' that may have an impact on food safety.
Verify that certificates of compliance are retained for products and services that may affect food safety.
Conduct annual assessments on pest control contractors to ensure that the established pest control program is effective.
Ensure that food safety / regulatory compliance documentation is on file for chemicals or other materials utilized on food processing equipment.
Product Testing / Laboratory Compliance: Verify that approved 3rd party laboratories are accredited (ISO, A2LA, etc.
).
Update lab policies and procedures as necessary to support food safety and occupational safety (good laboratory practices).
Periodically validate the analytical testing program and microbiological testing program.
Work with management to validate and approve new laboratory test methods as advanced technologies become available.
Verify that raw materials and finished products meet food safety testing requirements as established by the analytical and microbiological testing programs.
Work with senior management, plant management and sales management to review / update internal product specifications.
Work with management to periodically verify that the lab is operating proficiently.
Provide feedback to senior management and plant management as necessary when commissioning new laboratory equipment.
Review the inspection approval documents as necessary for validation of the commissioning process.
Work with plant management to review and verify adequate completion of food safety documentation prior to the products release Customer Compliance: Provide customers with necessary information for their supplier assessment programs to maintain our ingredient supplier status.
Complete supplier assessments and provide corresponding documents (certificates, letters of guarantee, etc.
).
Investigate customer complaints and work with the complaint team and customers to resolve complaints in a timely manner.
Participate in product specification reviews and sample match up exercises to determine whether a proposed specification can be met and effectively communicate product abilities and limitations.
Work with management and customers in pursuits of new product development.
Qualifications: Good organization of time and resources Strong documentation skills and proficient in food safety and OSHA safety regulations.
Must be self motivated and able to work with minimal supervision.
Computer skills (Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, etc.
).
Ability to communicate with other management, contractors, auditors, and customers Consistent management of personnel and ability to delegate tasks appropriately Provide support to employee respect, teamwork, and productivity Education Requirements / Experience: Must have a 4-year degree in science (food science, microbiology, chemistry, or related field) and preferably 5 years in food manufacturing operations.