Food Safety Specialist
Automate your job search with Sonara.
Submit 10x as many applications with less effort than one manual application.1
Reclaim your time by letting our AI handle the grunt work of job searching.
We continuously scan millions of openings to find your top matches.
Overview
Job Description
Food Safety Specialist
Central Coast-based operations (relocation support available)$26–$31/hour + full-time benefits
Overview
A leading, vertically integrated produce company is seeking a Food Safety Specialist to support and execute food safety programs across multiple growing regions. This role partners closely with the Food Safety Manager and plays a key part in ensuring compliance, training, and continuous improvement across both field and facility operations. This is a highly visible, hands-on role with exposure to ranch operations, harvest crews, and processing environments throughout California and Arizona.
This role is primarily focused within a refrigerated facility/cooler environment (≈70% facility / 30% field), supporting value-added production with strong exposure to food safety programs, audits, and training. Bilingual in Spanish/English required.
Consistent Monday–Friday schedule supporting work-life balance within a culture built on respect, teamwork, and employee engagement
What You’ll Do
Program Execution & Compliance
- Support and implement company-wide food safety and food defense programs
- Ensure compliance with FSMA, GMP, HACCP, GAP, LGMA, and regulatory standards
- Conduct routine GMP inspections (weekly/monthly) across facilities
- Perform risk assessments for ranches and harvest crews
Training & Auditing
- Deliver food safety training sessions for field and facility teams
- Lead and support internal audits and coordinate third-party GMP/GAP audits
- Prepare growers and facilities for food safety and organic inspections
Monitoring & Continuous Improvement
- Conduct mock recalls and support traceability processes
- Investigate food safety incidents and customer complaints
- Assist in troubleshooting issues and implementing corrective actions
Testing & Equipment Oversight
- Coordinate environmental sampling (harvest equipment, cold storage, processing areas)
- Maintain chain-of-custody documentation and communicate results
- Verify calibration and performance of food safety equipment (thermometers, pH meters, ATP systems, etc.)
- Evaluate new testing technologies as needed
What You Bring
- 2–3+ years of experience in food safety, QA, or regulatory compliance (produce or food manufacturing preferred)
- Degree or background in food science, biology, or related field
- PCQI certification required; PSR preferred
- Strong knowledge of GMP, GAP, HACCP, LGMA, and FDA/USDA standards
- Experience with audits, inspections, and recall/traceability processes is a plus
- Solid communication, documentation, and organizational skills
- Comfortable working independently in both field and facility environments
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word)
- Bilingual English/Spanish required
Additional Requirements
- Valid California driver’s license and ability to operate a company vehicle
- Willingness to travel regionally (up to one week at a time as needed)
- Ability to work across multiple growing regions (Salinas, Oxnard, Santa Maria, Yuma, etc.)
Why This Role
- Broad exposure across field + processing operations
- Strong foundation for growth within food safety leadership
- Opportunity to join a well-established, high-volume fresh food operation
- Consistent Monday–Friday schedule supporting work-life balance within a culture built on respect, teamwork, and employee engagement
Automate your job search with Sonara.
Submit 10x as many applications with less effort than one manual application.
