SENIOR DIRECTOR OF FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

Mastronardi Produce pioneered the commercial greenhouse industry in North America, and we're now the leading greenhouse vegetable company on the continent.

Our award-winning, flavorful produce is packed under the SUNSET brand and is available at leading grocery retailers across North America.

Family owned for over 65 years, we pride ourselves on having the most flavorful products and the best people in the industry.

We are constantly pushing boundaries to be a leader in fresh produce innovation. We seek individuals that demonstrate our PRIDE values (Passion, Respect, Innovation, Drive, Excellence) to help us fulfill our mission to inspire healthy living through WOW flavor experiences.

Our corporate office in Livonia, Michigan is currently seeking a Senior Director Food Safety / Quality Assurance-Farms to join our corporate Food Safety team.

This position will be having responsibility for overseeing the adherence to regulatory, third party, customer and internal Mastronardi Food Safety requirements by managing the teams and leaders at company owned farms and working with our Joint Venture Partners to ensure they meet the Mastronardi Food Safety Requirement.

This position will act as the Food Safety Subject matter expert for the senior operation leaders at the company owned farms and with our Join Ventures and Growing Partners.

This position is responsible for compliance to and coordination for regulatory audits that occur at the farms 3rd party audits (SQF or other standards), customer specific audits or requirements and all food safety program requirements.

This position acts as the primary PCQI, SQF and Food Safety Subject matter expert for the Farms. This role will ensure compliance to the Food Safety requirements at our Joint Ventures and with our Growing Partners.

This role will be responsible for overseeing the Food Safety Vendor Approval process for growing partners and other suppliers.

This role will assist the VP of Food Safety in overseeing the FSVP approval program and process.

Values :

To perform the job successfully, the incumbent's behavior must be consistent with the PRIDE values expected of all Mastronardi Produce employees : be Passionate;

have Respect; be Innovative; be Driven and strive for Excellence.

Primary Responsibilities :

• Responsible for the food safety programs at all Mastronardi-owned farms and ensure audit compliance. This role will also assist our Joint Ventures in implementation and execution of Mastronardi's Food Safety Requirements.
• This role will be responsible for overseeing the Food Safety Vendor approval process. This includes for all growing partners and other vendors.

This role will assist the VP of Food Safety with the FSVP approval process and to ensure compliance with the FDA FSMA requirements.

• Coordinate and schedule all external food safety audits with CB's across all Mastronardi farms
• Support the Director of programs in updating & maintaining corporate food safety documents
• Develop, implement, maintain, review and continuously improve comprehensive corporate Food Safety System (FSS) at our Farms, Joint Ventures and our growing partners.
• Oversee and direct functions that support regulatory and industry compliance to the FSS and ensure compliance within the supply chain (e.g., FSMA, SFCA)
• Liaison to Mastronardi Produce for industry, customer, government and regulatory agencies during times of FSS investigations, inspections and audits
• Management and oversight of personnel and programs within the Farm and Supplier Food Safety Program.
• Delegate administration of the agricultural chemical approvals program and consultant for company-owned farms
• Liaison to the operations teams to provide guidance and support on food safety issues
• Continuously research, identify and evaluate best practices, and establish new resources, tools and methodologies to maximize effectiveness of the FSS
• Serve as the Corporate Safe Quality Foods (SQF) Practitioner for our farms and oversee all aspects (e.g., development, implementation, management, training, corrective action, communication, verification, validation, auditing, etc.

of the SQF Program which is part of the overall FSS

• Serves as a Corporate Preventive Controls for Human Foods Qualified Individual (PCQI) for our farms.
• Shall serve as back up to all site SQF Practitioners of company owned farms when necessary
• For food-safety related complaints, assist with investigations and develop feedback to customers and consumers, track information and oversee the process for corrective actions and establishment of preventative measures as related to our farms, joint ventures and suppliers.
• Must maintain confidentiality of all proprietary information, as well as other Company data, including personnel information
• Support Sales, Executive Management and any other duties as needed
• As a leader in the food safety team, you will be required to be contacted and available after hours to address emergencies and technical issue for a 24 x 7 distribution operation.

Education / Background Requirements :

• Bachelor's degree in food science, sciences (biology, chemistry etc.), agriculture or another related field a master's degree in preferred.
• A minimum of ten years' experience in a Food Safety / Quality Assurance / Management function, with specific knowledge of SQF Systems and FSMA implementation
• Experience with overseeing food safety vendor approval. Oversight and experience with FSVP requirements and approval.
• Experience in high risk ready to eat products (lettuce or other leafy greens preferred)
• A minimum 5 to 7 years supervisory experience.

Specific Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• Proven ability to lead and motivate teams
• Experience conducting traceability and recall exercises
• Must maintain current HACCP certificate, PCQI certificate and Implementing SQF training documentation
• Quality certifications considered an asset
• Auditing experience required, with required ability to read and interpret documentation for regulatory and audit standards
• FSVP training and experience in implementation of the FSVP approval process.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills at all levels inside the business and externally with suppliers, customers and regulatory agencies.
• Excellent analytical, time management and organizational skills
• Technical skills, including computer proficiency and data management
• Strong customer, quality and continuous improvement focus
• Ability to document preventative and immediate corrective actions
• Valid passport and driver's license must be maintained
• Willingness to work with a high degree of professionalism and personal integrity.
• Strong organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills. Need to be creative, adaptable and able to accurately handle out-of-the-ordinary issues with a sense of urgency.
• Comprehensive knowledge of general food-safety best practices, highly proficient in ability to document and work within GAPs, GMPs, HACCP, HACQP and SSOPs.
• Must maintain comprehensive knowledge of HACCP, HACQP, SQF and other required food safety standards.
• Strong knowledge of local, state and federal laws and requirements to maintain compliance to all relevant statues and guiding principles (FDA, USDA, CFIA, CTPAT, ACS, Food Defense).
• Ability to travel overnight and internationally.

Working Conditions :

• Standard office environment and time spent in an expansive refrigerated warehouse, where the temperature averages 50F. The background noise approaches 70 dcbs.
• Capable of lifting at least 10 lbs.
• Position requires sitting, standing, walking and bending on a regular basis
• Climbing platform ladders is also a requirement.
• Must have manual dexterity to perform computer skills.

Please note : Mastronardi Produce has accommodation processes and policies in place and provides accommodation for employees with disabilities.

If you require a specific accommodation because of a disability or documented medical need, please contact the Human Resource office so that arrangements can be made for the appropriate accommodation to be put into place.