Food Safety & Quality Specialist

Position Title: Food Safety & Quality Specialist

Job Location: Hershey, PA

Summary:

This position facilitates development, revision, and review of Hershey's Product Excellence Program (PEP) Policies, Standards, and associated documentation through the Governance Working Group. Typical activities include facilitating program documentation development and review processes, ensuring the Quality Management System governance process is uniformly applied, implemented, and executed in compliance with the Regulatory Agency Rules (FDA, CFIA, etc.) and other pertinent local regulations across Hershey Internal Manufacturing Plants. The position collaborates with appropriate subject matter experts (i.e., Sanitation, Pest Control, Food Safety Culture) in the development, implementation, and execution of Policies and Procedures.

This QRC Specialist will also serve as the Technical Manager of the Product Excellence Program Manual of the SharePoint site, leveraging site capabilities for workflow, currency, and consistency. They will also develop a full understanding of corporate-wide Quality Systems, with the ability to discuss and advise on documentation contents and system capabilities as required.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Facilitate evaluation of PEP to ensure efficacy of program and scope of supply chain.
• Facilitates Governance Working Group in:
  
  
  
  • Developing, revising, and reviewing Hershey's PEP Polices, Standards, and Procedures
  
  
  
  
• Perform day-to-day administration of QRC Policy Manual and revision process
• Provide support to SMEs relative to documentation format, program alignment, and execution of Governance Process
• SharePoint site Technical Manager
• Provide support and guidance for adherence to Regulatory Agency Requirements (FDA's Preventive Controls for Human & Animal Food, Prevention of Intentional Adulteration, CFIA's Safe Foods for Canadians, etc.) and other pertinent global regulations.
• Provide coaching and feedback on Hershey Manufacturing Plants' Food Safety and Food Quality Plans.
• Participate in the development of project management resources (guidance, tools, templates, best practices) to address Manufacturing Plants' identified needs.
• Support leadership team members in the development and execution of their plans & programs.
• Work in coordination and alignment with other SMEs (ie: Pest Control, Sanitation) to ensure consistency and adherence to Food Safety & Food Quality Programs.
• Facilitate process/procedure improvement sessions related to incident management, serious product quality issues, and overall quality system improvements.

Minimum knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform major duties/responsibilities:

• Project management skills; Food Safety and Quality background.
• Hires outside of the US must be fluent in English. Cultural business knowledge / acumen required
• Less than 25% travel is expected
• Ability to work flexible hours
• Ability to lead & influence change
• Team player able to bring diverse people and opinions together to provide optimal solutions
• Superior communication skills in verbal and written form. Advanced presentation and communication skills.
• Able to cultivate a wide range of internal networks and develop and extensive external network
• Ability to effectively interact with all levels of employees.
• Ability to explain complex concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Ability to develop, sponsor, and support the introduction of new and improved methods, products, procedures, and technologies.
• Ability to make business decisions considering strategic company objectives
• Advanced problem solving/trouble shooting skills
• Understanding of a production / manufacturing environment
• Function as both an individual contributor and overall manager of activities in a matrixed organization.
• Advanced proficiency in computer programs / software such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, Power Point, SharePoint.
• Knowledge of regulatory and quality system requirements - HACCP, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), etc.
• Knowledge of FSMA Rules

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

• B.S. in relevant field
• Knowledge of Food Safety and Quality Principles
• Working knowledge of Food Safety Regulations
• Advanced Project Management Expertise
• 5+ years of CPG manufacturing or related field experience preferred