Retail Quality Assurance Specialist I

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.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
Principle Duties & Responsibilities
• This is a field position requiring daily retail supermarket visits 4-5 days per week.
• Conduct assessment on third party food safety inspections. Perform in-depth 'root cause' analysis of food safety and sanitation procedures for compliance and necessary follow-up. Build upon original inspection results including the effectiveness of the corrective action plans and processes. Provide technical direction/guidance for resolving imminent health hazards.
• Analyze food safety program data. Develop actionable solutions and presentations for district-level, store manager, and department manager meetings/conference calls on a routine basis.
• Provide education and training to business partners both 1-on-1 and in groups up to 100 people. Established confidence and skill level in delivering effective training. Conducts food safety training/certification sessions as an authorized trainer and exam administrator.
• 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.
• Develop contacts and relations with regulatory officials (health department, department of agriculture, 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 direct them as needed. Monitor program execution, assist in identifying opportunities and provide general guidance.
• Conduct effectiveness checks for all Class 1 product recalls. Answer regulatory inquiries into recalls involved in foodborne illnesses or USDA or FDA inspected products.
• Provide direction/advice/consultation to retail and assigned distribution center or eCommerce facilities. Focus on GMPs, sanitation, pest control support to ensure compliance with all regulatory and internal standards. Be a technical resource and provide supervision and leadership regarding food safety and sanitation issues within their respective areas.
• Assist as needed in other regulatory compliance issues and follow-up including but not limited to ingredient, allergen, customer complaints, Country of Origin Labeling, and weight and measure standards. Monitor and confirm with established standards.
• Analyzes, interpret and incorporate data/metrics to further minimize food safety risks. Ability to offer root causes and leading interaction with other functional areas to implement solutions.
• Provide field support for merchandising programs, special events, and food safety initiatives and assess execution levels.
• Capable of managing efficient schedule to support program effectiveness.
• 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.
• Complete other duties and responsibilities assigned by Supervisor or QA Director.
Basic Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in life science (food science, biology, microbiology, community health) or public health field; or a combination of education and experience.
• Fundamental knowledge of food safety, sanitation audits, pest control, food safety training, product recalls, weights & measures, Country of Origin requirements, regulatory food codes (FDA Food Code).
• A minimum of 1-3 years' food safety or quality assurance related work.
• Overnight travel, as necessary (approximately < 3%)
• Valid driver's license. Position requires driving daily. This is a field position.
Preferred Qualifications
• Registered Sanitarian, Environmental Health Specialist or state equivalent or Certified Professional-Food Safety (CP-FS) credentials.
• Bachelor's degree in public health or food science related field.
• Experience with auditing food establishments/facilities.
• Experience with Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
Skills & Abilities
• Field position requires long periods of standing and walking. Some lifting may be required.
• 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.
• Basic computer skills to operate MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and e-mail. Ability to interpret data, diagnose 'root' cause effects and provide sustainable and practical corrective actions.
• 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.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Maintain Certifications or Food Protection Manager Certification and CFPM Test Administrator qualifications

#LI-SM1 #IND

At Ahold Delhaize USA, we provide services to one of the largest portfolios of grocery companies in the nation, and we're actively seeking top talent. Our team shares a common motivation to drive change, take ownership and enable our brands to better care for their customers. We thrive on supporting great local grocery brands and their strategies.

We offer an experience where our associates are valued; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging are infused in our business and our employees are representative of the communities that we serve. We believe in total wellness, which encompasses a blend of physical, financial and emotional wellness.

We believe in collaboration, curiosity, and continuous learning in all that we think, create and do. While building a culture where personal and professional growth are just as important as business growth, we invest in our people, empowering them to learn, grow and deliver at all levels of the business.

Job Requisition: 439970_external_USA-VA-Lake-Ridge