Shoppers Retail Food Safety & Quality Assurance Partner (Finance)

Purpose:

The most important value at UNFI is "Do the Right Thing - Put Safety and Integrity at the Forefront of Everything We Do." The FSQA Partner - Retail position will aid the organization deliver on this critical value - day in and day out. The role is fast-paced and complex and has a responsibility for helping maintain a world class food safety culture in which UNFI associates are proactive and interdependent when it comes to food safety.

Responsibilities include integrating food safety, pest control, and sanitation programs across our retail stores to promote end-to-end confidence in food safety for our customers. Interacts with operations to ensure policies, procedures, audits, and training programs are understood and followed. This includes comprehensive support of any and all regulatory certifications.

Job Responsibilities:

• Coordinates food safety, sanitation, and pest control compliance efforts conducting food safety assessments at internal retail locations and franchise locations
• Conduct frequent and unscheduled food safety visits to stores with particular emphasis on those locations with below average third-party food safety survey results, evidence of pest problems, customer complaints, regulatory action, and history of non-compliance or referral by other company associates or management. Review visit findings with key store personnel and provide assistance to correct deficient conditions, communicating findings to Banner management for follow-up and support, as needed
• Teach and proctor the Certified Food Protection Manager certification course ensuring retail locations maintain compliance according to State and/or local health department regulations
• Monitor and assist stores to comply with local, state, and federal food safety and health standards, including personal hygiene and hand washing, temperature control of potentially hazardous foods, cross contamination control, pest control and chemical use training
• Monitor third-party sanitation and pest control providers in their day-to-day services to store. Implement plans to address noted deficiencies to ensure compliance with Company policies and applicable health regulations. Ensures regulatory standards are met by third party sanitation and pest elimination providers by conducting occasional joint surveys/visits
• Review findings with Retail leadership and ensure corrective action plans are detailed and completed with leadership support to improve food safety culture; Analyze third party food safety audit results and provide needed follow-up
• Maintain and stay current with all State, Federal, and local regulatory agencies to ensure compliance regarding local Retail Operations as well as adherence with the Food Code.
• Uses available metrics and reporting systems to track and measure food safety performance, identifying exceptions to outstanding performance and influencing leadership to resolve specific and cultural opportunities
• Support management of the GRP, and food safety programs, including document review of records, associate training, and oversight of corrective actions.
• Directs activities in maintaining and executing effective food safety, food defense, and recall plans, policies, and processes in retail operations; develop and deliver food safety trainings to associates as required by local, state regulations and/or company policy
• Collaborate with retail operations partners to ensure compliance during facility changes and/or new site developments participating in Banner meetings with stakeholders
• Assist and follow-up on Associate Hotline Calls and customer complaints as needed
• Investigates product quality and compliance issues (i.e. tampering, adulteration, mislabeling, etc.)
• Maintains active working relationships with all appropriate industry and regulatory bodies to provide in
• Performs other relevant job duties as required.

Job Requirements:

Education/ Certifications:

• Associate degree in Biology, Food Science, Public Health, Environmental Science or related field required
• HACCP, Preventive Controls Qualified Individual, certifications highly desired

Experience:

• 3+ years' experience in related food fields
• Experience with interpreting state and federal regulations, and maintaining working relationships with industry and regulatory officials
• Ability to coordinate planning and collaboration with other business functions in a way that is mutually beneficial and drives continuous improvement.
• Ability to analyze and independently resolve a variety of difficult situations and problems using timely decision making

Knowledge:

• Familiarity with FDA Food Code, Food Safety Modernization Act and Seafood HACCP requirements Familiarity with GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) schemes.
• Working knowledge of Federal Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHA) is beneficial

Skills/ Abilities:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to interact and influence effectively with all levels of management, employees, and customers and experience collaborating with unions.
• Ability to balance multiple priorities and ensure significant issues are communicated clearly to relevant stakeholders in timely manner
• Strong analytical skills required for data interpretation and analysis
• Computer skills in word-processing and spreadsheet software preferred
• Must be able to interface effectively with a wide variety of personnel
• Possess ability to communicate concepts, systems, procedures, etc., in a training environment
• Experience in training large groups is helpful
• Must possess leadership ability to inspire others to achieve desired results
• Flexible and adaptable to learning and understanding new technologies
• Proficient with Microsoft Word, Power point and Excel
• Adapts well to and initiates change in the organization.

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