Retail Quality Assurance Specialist I - Food Safety

Address: USA-MD-Hyattsville-8301 Professional Place Ste115
Store Code: Quality Assurance (2761526)

Ahold Delhaize USA, a division of global food retailer Ahold Delhaize, is part of the U.S. family of brands, which also includes five leading omnichannel grocery brands – Food Lion, Giant Food, The GIANT Company, Hannaford and Stop & Shop. Ahold Delhaize USA associates support the brands with a wide range of services, including Finance, Legal, Sustainability, Commercial, Digital and E-commerce, Technology and more.

Position Summary
Helps to ensure customer satisfaction & brand protection through education and verification of applicable product safety standards and procedures as they concern our stores, merchandising teams and associates. Support continuous improvement through training, coaching, auditing and mentoring. Interact regularly with the regulatory arena as official liaison.

Principle Duties & Responsibilities
· Conducts in-depth ‘root cause’ analysis of food safety and sanitation procedures for compliance and necessary follow-up/assessment. Build upon original inspection results including the effectiveness of the corrective action plans and processes.
· Provide education and training to business partners. Conducts food safety training/certification sessions (authorized trainer and exam administrator). Developing instructor skills and abilities to be self-dependent.
· Develop contacts and relations with regulatory officials (health department, department of agriculture, weights & measures, etc.). Actively participate in regulatory meetings through networking, educate and be advocate for company product safety standard practices/policies/programs.
· Monitor and follow-up with sanitation and pest control vendor activities daily. Work with the local pest control and sanitation vendors to ensure compliance with contractual arrangements and directs them as needed. Monitor program execution, assist in identifying opportunities and provide general guidance.
· Provide direction/advice/consultation to retail and assigned distribution center locations, supervision and leadership regarding food safety and sanitation issues within their respective areas. Monitor and confirm with established standards
· Provide food safety field support, direction and follow-up for emergency/crisis situations (power outages, fires, floods, claimed illnesses, recall audits, etc.). Ability to assess routine individual situations and provide practical and accurate guidance to mitigate risk and achieve regulatory compliance. Seeks guidance/direction for complex situations and provides support/follow-up on behalf of QA.
· Conduct regular food safety/sanitation assessments of assigned distribution center operations. Focus on GMPs, sanitation, pest control support to ensure compliance with all regulatory and internal standards, including FSMA regulations. Monitor and confirm with established standards.
· Assist as needed in other regulatory compliance issues and follow-up including but not limited to Country of Origin Labeling, WIC, weight and measure standards. Monitor and confirm with established standards.
· Provide field support for corporate food safety initiatives and assess execution levels. Capable of managing efficient schedule to support program effectiveness; active participant of team.
· Analyzes, interpret and incorporate data/metrics to further minimize food safety risks. Incorporates the use of data and general trending which influences retail follow-up and discussions.
· Interpret regulatory standards and identification of industry trends and best practices.
· Provide food safety field support, direction and follow-up pertaining to consumer complaints.
· Conduct environmental sampling of store equipment and facilities, interpret data and provide feedback and direction to the store and district management staff.

· This is a field position requiring daily retail supermarket visits 4-5 days per week.

Basic Qualifications
· Bachelor’s degree in life science (food science, biology, microbiology, community health) or public health field.
· Fundamental knowledge of food safety, sanitation audits, pest control, food safety training, weights & measures, Country of Origin requirements, regulatory food codes (FDA Food Code).
· A minimum of 3 years’ food safety or quality assurance related work.
· Overnight travel, as necessary (approximately <5%)
· Valid driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications

· Registered Sanitarian or state equivalent and Certified Professional-Food Safety (CP-FS) credentials.

· Master’s degree in public health or food science related field.

· Maintain Food Protection Manager Certification and CFPM Test Administrator qualification

Skills & Abilities

· A self-starter capable of managing an efficient schedule with excellent interpersonal skills.

· Excellent communication skills for both one-on-one and group interactions with all associates.

· Effective in delivering food safety training programs to adult learners.

· Excellent written skills.

· Ability to influence without authority.

· Must be results oriented, have ability to develop self and others.

· Ability to interact with all levels of associates and management.

· Must have ability to act as a team leader or team builder.

· Ability to actively participate within industry and regulatory associations.