In 2007, the California Leafy Green Products Handler Marketing Agreement (LGMA) was created with a goal to assure safe leafy greens and confidence in our food safety programs. LGMA members are companies that ship and sell California-grown lettuce, spinach and other leafy greens products. The California LGMA has a sister program in Arizona that is almost identical. Working with hundreds of farmers throughout California and Arizona, LGMA members produce approximately 90% of the leafy greens grown in the U.S. – that adds up to over 50 billion servings of leafy greens each year. To learn more about LGMA, please see https://lgma.ca.gov/about-us#
A Brief Overview
We are seeking an experienced Compliance Officer to help ensure that leafy greens are produced safely. This position conducts detailed audit reviews, issues non-conformances, reviews corrective actions, approves and rejects submitted corrective actions, and tracks and reports audit findings. The Compliance Officer represents the CA LGMA at industry committees and hearings, supports the LGMA’s Technical Director and serves as a technical resource for staff.
The ideal candidate is experienced in fresh produce, food safety, good agricultural practices, and food safety inspections and familiar with food safety standards used in the fresh produce industry. Specifically, the Compliance Officer understands the multiple ways in which fresh produce is grown and harvested and the traceability processes associated with the fresh produce industry. Additionally, the candidate shall be very comfortable with the use of databases and has experience analyzing data and creating custom reports from large, variable data sets.
They will have:
- Bachelor’s degree in microbiology, food science, food safety, biology, plant genetics, agricultural sciences, environmental health, agricultural engineering, or related field.
- At least 5 years of experience with leafy greens or fresh produce industry in an operations or regulatory capacity (food safety, quality assurance, R&D, growing, harvesting, processing, etc.).
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- High level of computer based technical skills, including high competency with computer software programs such as Microsoft platforms (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook); information sharing platforms (Microsoft 365, DropBox, etc.); databases and data analytical programs; GPS and mapping programs
- Knowledge of current federal (FDA and USDA) requirements and food safety industry best practices
- Produce Safety Alliance (FDA Produce Rule) certification
- Ability to demonstrate sound judgment and work with minimal direction
- Current CA driver’s license and ability to travel on occasional basis
Desirable Qualifications
- Graduate degree in microbiology, food science, food safety, biology, plant genetics, agricultural sciences, agricultural engineering, environmental health, or related preferred
- Experience with food safety audits and/or inspections
- Experience with food safety standards development (GFSI, LGMA Metrics, commodity standards)
- Bilingual (English and Spanish)
- Experience with root cause analysis
