Qa & Food Safety Specialist

Job Description Summary:
The Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist is responsible for the effective implementation and maintenance of the Quality and Food Safety Management System which includes having an established Food Safety Plan and the supporting prerequisite programs. The QA Specialist will be expected to maintenance these programs in a manner that ensures compliance with applicable Food Safety regulations (FDA), cGMP's and FSSC22000 requirements. This Specialist will be expected to stay current on applicable Food Safety regulations to provide accurate guidance to the plant on matters related to product safety. The Specialist will be responsible for preparing for and participating in all regulatory, certifying, and customer audits. This position reports to the Director of Quality Management.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Performs facility inspections to ensure established Food Safety standards are met.
• Works with cross-functional teams, including corporate management and operations, to identify and mitigate quality and Food Safety risks.
• Conducts root cause analysis for product defects, non-conformities, recall or other quality failures.
• Work closely with plant management to track and close all Quality and Food Safety non-conformance reports.
• Leads the plant's Food Safety and HACCP team(s).
• Maintains the plant Food Safety Plan (HACCP / HARPC).
• Provides continuous improvement guidance and support for operations or other areas where needed.
• Investigates and responds to customer complaints and provides information to Corporate Quality.
• Independently solve moderately complex issues with minimal supervision, while escalating more complex issues to appropriate staff.
• Conducts verification inspections and/or maintenance of the Food Safety and Quality Management Systems, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), prerequisite programs, manufacturing processes, plant environment, and finished product to ensure compliance.
• Approve final products based on records and test result review to assure compliance to product specifications.
• Learn to perform all finished product analysis and troubleshoot equipment, as needed.
• Provide Food Safety training to the plant team.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Quality or designee.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of FDA and USDA regulations and management methods.
• Knowledge of quality and Food Safety programs.
• Understand FSMA, HACCP, cGMP, GLPs and audit processes.
• Strong planning skills with excellent oral and written communication.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry or other related fields.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in Food Safety, Plant Quality Control or Food Production Operations.
• Proficient use of Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams
• Ability to travel upon request, 10-20% of the time.
• Valid driver's license required.

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

• The employee must occasionally lift and/move up to 50 lbs.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to work near mechanical parts.
• The employee may be exposed to dusty conditions.
• The employee is regularly exposed to high noise environments.
• The employee is regularly exposed to outside weather in all conditions.
• The employee may be exposed to chemicals used in the process.

Equal Opportunity Employer
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Other duties may be assigned.
Green Plains Inc. offers competitive pay: a generous benefit package including business casual work environment, health, dental, vision, life insurance, paid holidays, Paid Time Off (PTO) and a 401(k)-retirement plan with immediate vesting and company safe harbor matching. All potential employees of Green Plains Inc. will be required to successfully pass a pre-employment drug screening and background check prior to employment.
Company Description:
Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE) is a leading biorefining company focused on the development and utilization of fermentation, agricultural and biological technologies in the processing of annually renewable crops into sustainable value-added ingredients. This includes the production of cleaner low carbon biofuels, renewable feedstocks for advanced biofuels and high purity alcohols for use in cleaners and disinfectants. Green Plains is an innovative producer of Ultra-High Protein and novel ingredients for animal and aquaculture diets to help satisfy a growing global appetite for sustainable protein.