QA Food Safety Standards Compliance Specialist - GFSI / SQF

This position is located at the original Hershey Plant in Hershey, PA and will be primarily on 1st shift, but work schedule flexibility is required to support a 24/7 manufacturing operation.  In this role, you will coordinate plant efforts to achieve and maintain Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) Certification.  You will also lead the development, maintenance and governance of the Process Operating Guide (POG) program. 

Facility Profile:

Number of employees: Approx 1,500  -  Square Footage:  2,236,000

Key Products:

Kisses,  Hershey's Milk Chocolate Giant Bars, Goodbar, Special Dark, Symphony Almond Toffee, Symphony, Standard Bars: Mr. Goodbar,  Symphony, Rolo, Syrup flavors and others.

Location Overview:

Hershey is ideally located in South Central Pennsylvania with access to major metro areas such as New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC and Altantic Coast beachs all within a 3 hour drive.  In addition, Hershey is a home to Hersheypark and Hershey's Chocolate World, two destinations that draw millions of visitors each year.  With a reasonable cost of living and so much to do within an arms reach, Hershey is a great place to work and raise a family.

• Lead the development, implementation, review and maintenance of the plant's food safety / food quality program to assure compliance with The Hershey Company's Product Excellence Program and GFSI standards.
• To assure compliance to the food safety / food quality programs, facilitate required employee training, complete required internal assessments, develop corrective / preventative actions, lead 3rd party audits, and complete required validation and verifications of the system.
• Lead the development and maintenance of the plant's Process Operating Guides for all plant operations.  This includes leading the Document Review Team and assuring annual document reviews, audits, employee training, and documented maintenance activity is completed as required.
• Assure employee ownership of programs by communicating essential information related to food safety / food quality to all employees including management and line operations.
• Provide QA support to operations and lead / participate on project teams as assigned.

Education:   B.S. in Food Science, Microbiology, or related field

Experience:  Minimum of 7 years in Quality Assurance / related experience.

Candidates with QA/Regulatory experience in a Food or Pharmaceutical manufacturing environment are strongly preferred.

Additional Requirements:

• Knowledge of federal and state food industry regulations
• Understanding of sanitation and pest control practices
• Familiarity with GFSI standards. 
• Safe Quality Food (SQF) Practitioner Certification desired
• Strong computer, document management skills and attention to detail
• Strong communication skills and ability to work collaboratively with all levels to deliver timely results
• Strong auditing / assessment skills
• Knowledge of manufacturing operations
• Strong leadership skills and ability to influence management enabling the direction of activities of teams of employees that do not have direct reporting to this role
• Ability to interact effectively with 3rd party and internal auditors
• Familiarity HACCP

The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) is the largest producer of quality chocolate in North America and a global leader in chocolate and sugar confectionery. Headquartered in Hershey, Pa., The Hershey Company has operations throughout the world and more than 13,000 employees. With revenues of nearly $5 billion, Hershey offers such iconic brands as Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, Kit Kat, Twizzlers and Ice Breakers as well as the smooth, creamy indulgence of Hershey's Bliss. Hershey is a leader in the fast-growing dark and premium chocolate segment, with such brands as Hershey's Special Dark and Hershey's Extra Dark. In addition, Artisan Confections Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hershey Company, markets such premium chocolate offerings as Scharffen Berger, Joseph Schmidt and Dagoba as well as Starbucks Chocolate. For more than 100 years, The Hershey Company has been a leader in making a positive difference in the communities where we live, work and do business. The Milton Hershey School, established by the company's founder in 1909, provides a nurturing environment, quality education, housing, and medical care at no cost to children in social and financial need. The School is administered by the Hershey Trust Company, Hershey's largest shareholder, making the students of Milton Hershey School direct beneficiaries of Hershey's success. To learn more about the Milton Hershey School visit their website at www.mhs-pa.org.