Food Safety Coordinator

Department: Food Safety

Reports To: Food Safety Director

Location: Corona, CA

Job Summary:

The Food Safety Coordinator is responsible for maintaining, updating, and implementing national food safety and quality programs, as well as developing plant-specific programs. This role involves coordinating, implementing, and maintaining the GFSI Food Safety Standard for USDA & FDA distribution of food products. The coordinator manages organic and regulatory compliance, the Supplier Approval Program, customer audit and compliance requirements, environmental monitoring and HACCP verification, equipment calibration programs, and certification renewals, while supporting internal audits and cross-functional coordination with growers, vendors, and customers.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Organic Compliance

• Participate in Organic Fraud Prevention Team meetings to support program integrity
• Maintain organic label compliance across applicable products
• Maintain and update the approved vendor list
• Prepare and manage co-packer compliance packets

Document Control

• Maintain and update controlled food safety documentation, including the Food Safety folder for Operations

Pest Control Program

• File and review weekly pest control service reports
• Coordinate Certificate of Insurance (COI) and license updates with pest control vendors
• Update the annual pest control service proposal

Import & Trade Compliance

• Manage National Organic Program (NOP) import filing and sales jacketing documentation
• Process phytosanitary certificate requests

Pre-Cut Program Support

• Support pre-cut work-in-progress food safety processes (cross-training in progress)
• Develop and maintain flow charts and risk assessments for pre-cut operations
• Support food safety verification checks during pre-cut equipment startups

Internal Audits

• Conduct internal audits to verify ongoing compliance with food safety programs

Environmental Monitoring & HACCP

• Conduct environmental swabbing per the environmental monitoring program
• Monitor and verify Critical Control Points (CCPs) per HACCP plan requirements

Equipment & Calibration

• Maintain and calibrate metal detector wands
• Maintain certified weights for scale calibration and verification
• Maintain and calibrate thermometers and Thermoworks temperature monitoring equipment
• Coordinate label system supplies and maintenance

Quality System Coordination

• Coordinate SafetyChain system administration, including daily/weekly sign-offs
• Participate in recurring quality team meetings

‍Customer Compliance & Audit Management

• Manage vendor uploads, credit processing, and annual audit support for major accounts 
• Maintain private label documentation and upload audit results for key retail customers 

Grower & Vendor Coordination

• Coordinate annual grower assessments with the agriculture team
• Support CCAB coordination with Marketing and cross-functional stakeholders
• Support vendor ranking processes in partnership with procurement/quality

Certification Renewals

• Coordinate certification renewal processes, including CDFA, CDPH, FDA, and CFIA
• Support related regulatory renewals (PACA, business license, market enforcement) in partnership with the compliance team

Qualifications:

Education/Training/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree is highly preferred, in a relevant field (food science, biological sciences, agricultural fields)
• High school graduate or equivalent required
• 5 years of industry experience
• Experience in a food service processing or distribution environment preferred; experience with perishables helpful
• Experience with food safety training, sanitation (SSOP & GMP), USDA quality troubleshooting, and QA process improvement skills preferred
• Experience with a HACCP plan is preferred; formal HACCP training/certification helpful

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize
• Critical thinking and strong analytical skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Knowledge of HACCP and GFSI standards
• Strong interpersonal skills