Food Safety & Quality Specialist

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Colombia.

📋 Description

• Develop and uphold food safety and quality standards within the established corporate framework.

• Convert regulatory, corporate, and customer requirements into actionable operational standards and technical controls.

• Outline and uphold technical specifications for HACCP, prerequisite programs, hygiene controls, allergen management, traceability, and food safety verification.

• Evaluate station food safety plans to ensure hazards and controls accurately represent current products, processes, and operational conditions.

• Set validation and verification priorities, including microbiological testing and shelf-life assessments.

• Specify quality control criteria for product and service specifications.

• Oversee the technical contributions of the Food Safety & Quality Coordinator and assess deliverables.

• Collaborate with HSSE and analyze cross-disciplinary risks impacting food safety or quality.

• Evaluate risks based on process data, inspections, complaints, incidents, and verification records.

• Prioritize interventions, establish remediation timelines, and implement corrective actions.

• Report significant risks, recurrent deficiencies, and unresolved issues to the QHSE Lead and operational leadership.

• Offer technical guidance to local food safety and quality representatives.

• Conduct inspections as per the corporate intervention plan and emerging risks.

• Record deficiencies, communicate corrective outcomes, and authorize the closure of technical inspection deficiencies within granted authority.

• Lead technical assessments of major incidents, complaints, and recurring deviations.

• Review root cause analyses and approve or disapprove corrective action plans within authorized limits.

• Verify the implementation and ongoing effectiveness of corrective measures.

• Define training materials and competency criteria; educate and mentor local representatives and operational teams.

• Enhance the skills of the Food Safety & Quality Coordinator through assignments, technical reviews, and feedback.

• Develop, review, and maintain food safety and quality standards, procedures, technical instructions, and training resources.

• Evaluate the impact of changes in products, ingredients, suppliers, equipment, processes, or facilities.

• Engage in corporate assessments and provide technical insights on criteria, evidence, and the effectiveness of corrective actions.

• Review customer food safety and quality expectations and confirm their implementation.

• Travel domestically and internationally as necessary.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in food engineering, Microbiology, or a related field.

• Formal HACCP training with practical application of Codex Alimentarius principles.

• Training in food safety management systems and prerequisite programs.

• Robust technical knowledge of food safety risks, preventive controls, HACCP, and prerequisite programs.

• Familiarity with relevant international food safety standards and guidelines, including Codex Alimentarius and the IFSA World Food Safety Guidelines.

• Capability to interpret and apply local regulatory, corporate, and customer standards.

• Ability to assess technical controls regarding design, implementation, and effectiveness.

• Practical knowledge of food microbiology, sampling, laboratory results, validation, and verification.

• Proficiency in converting product and service specifications into quality control criteria.

• Strong skills in investigation, root cause analysis, and evaluation of corrective actions.

• Competence in supervising technical work, coaching local representatives, and enhancing operational skills.

• Effective collaboration with Operations, Culinary, Maintenance, laboratories, and other specialists.

• Proficient verbal and written communication skills in English and Spanish.

• Expertise in technical reporting and digital tools for inspections, documentation, and tracking corrective actions.

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in food safety, quality assurance, or technical food operations.

• Proven experience in implementing and verifying HACCP and prerequisite programs in operational contexts.

• Background in conducting inspections, investigating incidents or complaints, and assessing the effectiveness of corrective actions.

• Experience in interpreting microbiological results and contributing to validation or shelf-life programs.

• Experience coordinating technical activities or overseeing technical staff.

• Background in catering, food production, food service, or similar operations is preferred.

• Experience working across multiple locations or with airline customer requirements is a plus.

• Willingness to travel up to 75% domestically and internationally.

🏝️ Benefits

• Fully remote work opportunity.

• Opportunities for professional growth and success.

• Engage in a dynamic, diverse, and multicultural work environment.