Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Food Safety Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

Are you passionate about upholding the highest standards of food safety and quality? This role requires a dedicated and proactive Food Safety Coordinator to join our team. In this pivotal role, you will be the on-site champion for our food safety culture, responsible for the implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of all food safety programs. You will work cross-functionally with Production, Sanitation, and Warehouse teams to ensure our products are safe, wholesome, and meet all regulatory and customer requirements. This position is critical to protecting our brand, ensuring consumer safety, and driving our commitment to excellence.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Quality Assurance (QA) Technician
Food Microbiologist / Lab Technician
Production Supervisor with a strong quality focus

Advancement To:

Food Safety Manager or QA Manager
Corporate Quality Assurance Specialist
Plant Manager or Operations Manager

Lateral Moves:

Quality Control (QC) Supervisor
Regulatory Affairs Specialist
Supplier Quality Engineer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, implement, and rigorously maintain the facility’s food safety plans, including HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) and FSMA-compliant Preventive Controls programs.
Act as the designated Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI), overseeing the validation, verification, and reanalysis of all food safety procedures and documentation.
Lead and coordinate all internal, third-party, and regulatory audits (e.g., FDA, USDA, SQF, BRC, customer audits), managing all preparations and follow-up corrective actions.
Manage the Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) program, ensuring timely investigation, root cause analysis, and effective resolution of food safety deviations and non-conformances.
Oversee the Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP), including swabbing schedules, sample collection, trend analysis, and implementation of corrective actions for any adverse findings.
Conduct comprehensive food safety and quality training for all employees, from new hire orientation to annual refresher courses on GMPs, allergen control, and HACCP principles.
Maintain and organize all food safety-related documentation and records, ensuring they are current, accurate, and readily accessible for audits and regulatory inspections.
Administer the supplier approval and verification program, including the review of supplier food safety documentation, conducting risk assessments, and maintaining an approved supplier list.
Investigate and respond to customer complaints related to food safety and quality, performing thorough root cause analysis and implementing measures to prevent recurrence.
Develop, review, and enforce Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs) and collaborate with the sanitation team to verify cleaning effectiveness through pre-operational inspections.
Monitor and verify all Critical Control Points (CCPs) and Preventive Controls as outlined in the food safety plan, ensuring all critical limits are met and documented.
Lead the facility’s food defense and food fraud vulnerability assessments and manage the implementation and maintenance of mitigation strategies.
Manage and participate in the mock recall program, executing traceability exercises to test the effectiveness and efficiency of the product recall plan.
Serve as the primary liaison with regulatory agencies (FDA, USDA, State/Local Health Departments) during inspections and for ongoing communication.
Review and approve specifications for new raw materials, packaging, and finished products to ensure they meet all food safety and quality standards before implementation.
Oversee the integrated pest management (IPM) program, working closely with the third-party pest control provider to review service reports and ensure program effectiveness.
Uphold and champion Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) throughout the facility, conducting regular walkthroughs and coaching employees on compliance.
Compile, analyze, and present key food safety performance indicators (KPIs) and trend data to the management team to drive continuous improvement initiatives.
Stay current with emerging food safety legislation, industry trends, and best practices to ensure the facility’s programs remain robust and compliant.
Facilitate and document food safety management review meetings to discuss program performance, resource needs, and strategic objectives with senior leadership.

Secondary Functions

Support the Research & Development team by providing food safety risk assessments for new products and processes.
Collaborate with the maintenance department to ensure that equipment repairs and preventative maintenance activities are conducted in a manner that upholds food safety standards.
Assist in managing the facility's allergen control program, including segregation, labeling, and cleaning validation.
Participate in continuous improvement projects and Kaizen events focused on enhancing quality, safety, and operational efficiency.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

HACCP Certification: Formal training and certification in developing and managing HACCP plans.
PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) Certification: Required for managing FSMA-compliant food safety plans.
GFSI Scheme Knowledge: In-depth experience with a Global Food Safety Initiative benchmarked standard such as SQF (Safe Quality Food) Practitioner or BRC (Brand Reputation Compliance) Professional.
Auditing Expertise: Proven ability to conduct internal audits and experience leading or managing third-party/regulatory audits.
Regulatory Knowledge: Strong working knowledge of FDA Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR 117) and/or USDA regulations.
Root Cause Analysis: Proficiency in methodologies like 5 Whys, Fishbone Diagrams, or FMEA to investigate non-conformances.
Environmental Monitoring: Experience designing and managing environmental monitoring programs for pathogens like Listeria and Salmonella.
Technical Writing: Ability to write clear, concise, and accurate procedures, policies, and reports.
Microsoft Office Suite: Proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook for data analysis, reporting, and communication.
Sanitation Principles: Solid understanding of cleaning chemistry, sanitation verification methods, and sanitary equipment design.

Soft Skills

Attention to Detail: Meticulous in reviewing documentation, monitoring processes, and identifying potential risks.
Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to train employees, liaise with management, and interact with auditors.
Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills to effectively troubleshoot and resolve complex food safety issues.
Leadership & Influence: Ability to lead by example and influence others to adopt a strong food safety culture, even without direct authority.
Time Management & Organization: Adept at prioritizing tasks, managing multiple projects simultaneously, and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Interpersonal Skills: Capable of building strong, collaborative relationships with team members across all departments and levels.
Resilience & Composure: Ability to remain calm and make effective decisions under pressure, especially during audits or crisis situations.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in a relevant scientific discipline.

Preferred Education:

Master's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or a related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Food Science
Microbiology
Biology
Chemistry

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2-5 years of progressive experience in a Quality Assurance or Food Safety role within a food manufacturing environment.

Preferred:

Direct experience implementing and maintaining a GFSI-certified food safety system (SQF or BRC).
Experience serving as a PCQI and leading regulatory (FDA/USDA) and third-party audits.
Supervisory or team leadership experience is a significant plus.