Job Title: Group Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) Specialist
Reporting To: Director of Food Safety & Quality Assurance
Work Schedule: Generally, M-F 7 am to 4 pm PST
Location: Morgan Hill, CA, Madisonville or Dallas, TX, or Loudon, TN
Our simple vision is to be the best integrated mushroom company in North America by efficiently delivering superior value to our customers and consumers. We do that by creating long-term value for customers, teammates, suppliers, and the communities in which we operate. We work intentionally toward that vision with a collaborative team foundation. Our principles of trust, respect, integrity, shared vision, empowerment, teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement spur our actions every day as we work to achieve our purpose.
At the heart of our culture is a group of individuals who dedicate themselves to their work and each other day in and day out. That’s why we invest in enhancing the lives in the communities around Monterey Mushrooms locations. In our hearts, we’re humble farmers. We’re proud of our continent-wide reach from Monterey Mushrooms locations across North America — from coast to coast and Mexico — focused on our company purpose of Enhancing People’s Lives. For more information, please visit our website. www.montereymushrooms.com.
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Why Join Monterey Mushrooms?
As the Group FSQA Compliance Specialist, you will oversee and support group, farms, packing facilities, and processing operations in the U.S for mainly document control and Food Safety Management Systems. This position ensures compliance with FDA, State Health Department, and Monterey Mushroom Group Food Safety requirements for fresh mushroom and processed products (including Fresh and Nutra). In this role, there is oversight of GFSI third-party audit expectations and the programs that comprise our internal food safety system. The role also serves to ensure that customer-specific food safety and quality requirements are met. The National Organic Program compliance also falls under this role.
What do we expect?
Corporate FSQA Systems & Documentation
- Administer, maintain, and continuously improve all Corporate FSQA programs, systems, tools, software, and documentation used across corporate, farms, packing facilities, and processing operations.
- Maintain Corporate FSQA master documentation, including standard operating procedures (SOPs), document control, and federal and state registrations.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for escalated customer, supplier, consumer, sales, and corporate FSQA documentation requests, ensuring timely responses and coordination with the appropriate departments.
Supplier & Customer Compliance
- Manage the Supplier Approval Program by maintaining current supplier documentation, certifications, and controlled system access for facility users.
- Coordinate customer approvals, documentation requests, product specifications, and certifications, ensuring all information is accurate, complete, and submitted within established timelines.
Regulatory Compliance & Food Safety
- Ensure compliance with applicable FDA regulations, PCQI, HACCP, GFSI, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), Hazard Analysis, and Preventive Controls for Human Food requirements.
- Partner with FSQA managers and supervisors across all facilities to ensure consistent implementation and compliance with Corporate Food Safety and Quality programs.
Quality Assurance Program Oversight
Provide corporate oversight and support for the following Food Safety and Quality programs:
- Supplier Approval
- Organic Certification
- Finished Product Specifications
- Customer Complaints
- Sanitation and Environmental Monitoring
- Product Traceability
- Product Recall
- Third-Party GFSI Audits across farms, packing facilities, and processing operations in the United States and Mexico.
Audit, Training & Continuous Improvement
- Coordinate facility audit readiness and ensure non-conformances are effectively addressed through documented root cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
- Develop and maintain GAP, GMP, and other food safety training materials to support facility compliance.
- Coordinate and facilitate monthly Corporate QA meetings and conference calls while promoting continuous improvement across the organization.
What are we are looking for?
- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Agricultural Science, or a related field required.
- Minimum of five (5) years of experience managing food safety and quality programs within a food production, agricultural, or farming operation.
- Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, and maintaining HACCP and Preventive Controls programs.
- Strong knowledge of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and applicable food safety regulations.
- Working knowledge of FDA regulations, HACCP, GFSI, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), and Preventive Controls for Human Food requirements.
- Experience with National Organic Program (NOP) requirements and Organic Certification compliance.
- Excellent written and verbal communication, critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to lead, influence, motivate, and collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams.
- Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Proficiency with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft 365.
