Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) Specialist

Overview: Fat Ice is a leading producer of crystal-clear craft ice, designed to enhance any beverage program. We are looking for energetic and motivated individuals who thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. Whether you're just starting your career or bringing years of experience, we welcome you to join our team and grow with us.

Job Description

As a Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) Specialist, you play a critical role in keeping our product safe, compliant, and consistently excellent. You will lead the creation, implementation, and continuous improvement of GFSI-compliant food safety and quality programs tailored to ice production, in collaboration with company leadership. You will own preventive controls, sanitation standards, and internal audits to ensure compliance with FDA, FSMA, and state and local health requirements. The role requires a hands-on, proactive approach and close collaboration with Production, Maintenance, and Operations leadership in an environment where freezing processes and packaging integrity are critical. Duties: Food Safety Program Development and Management: Partner with company leadership to build a GFSI-aligned food safety program (SQF/BRCGS) tailored to packaged and bulk ice production. Own the ongoing management and execution of all quality programs, including periodic revisions as the company grows and regulations change. Maintain and update HACCP plans, SSOPs, and sanitation logs specific to ice harvesting, bagging, and storage operations. Oversee compliance with 21 CFR Part 117 (FSMA) and local health codes related to frozen water as a food product. Develop and manage the sanitation program in partnership with the sanitation team. Sanitation and Environmental Monitoring Conduct routine environmental swabbing and ATP testing to verify sanitation effectiveness and the microbial safety of production surfaces and equipment. Track water testing logs, filter changeouts, and chiller/freezer validation records to ensure consistent water and product quality. Review and approve packaging material specifications for ice bags and seals to prevent contamination. Collaborate with Production, Maintenance, and Facilities teams to implement preventive controls and eliminate contamination risks in freezer environments. Audits and Compliance Serve as company lead for internal, third-party, and regulatory audits (FDA, NSF, GFSI, local health). Prepare for and execute third-party audits, and assume 1st chair responsibility for follow-up GFSI audits. Corrective Actions and Continuous Improvement Monitor and report on non-conformances, customer complaints, and root cause investigations, ensuring corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) are completed. Work with Maintenance to identify the root cause of customer complaints. Handle corrective actions and root cause analysis internally and directly with customers. Training and Team Leadership: Train employees on GMPs, hygiene, ice handling procedures, and allergen-free protocols. Coach frontline staff on GMPs and sanitation standards, and hold production team members accountable in collaboration with Operations leadership. Contribute to a "one team" leadership culture across departments.

Requirements

Be comfortable working in cold, wet environments, including time in a freezer—we'll provide the cold weather gear! Work rotating production schedules as needed to support operations. Follow OSHA, GMP, and food safety guidelines, and model them for the production team. Maintain situational awareness and adhere to company and regulatory safety protocols. Qualifications and Skills: High school diploma with strong hands-on QA experience in food or beverage manufacturing. At least 5 years managing a GFSI-compliant food safety program. Experience contributing to the preparation and execution of third-party audits. Experience deploying or maintaining HACCP plans, and developing and managing sanitation programs. HACCP certification. Working knowledge of FSMA, SQF/BRCGS, and GMP programs. FDA/USDA audit exposure. Familiarity with NSF standards for ice and water testing protocols (municipal and in-house). Able to read and interpret regulations, lab reports, and audit findings. Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis skills. Strong interpersonal communication and the ability to coach frontline staff on GMPs and sanitation standards. Comfortable holding others accountable in a manufacturing environment. Familiarity with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and digital QA tracking platforms (Forms, JotForm, SafetyChain, etc.). Be open to feedback—it helps us all improve and work better together. Value teamwork, hard work, and a positive, inclusive work environment. Preferred, Not Required: Bilingual (English/Spanish) strongly preferred. Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Public Health, or a related field. PCQI certification. Experience as 1st chair on GFSI or FDA inspections. Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt. ISO 22000 or FSSC 22000 experience. Familiarity with ERP or QMS systems. NSF Certified Ice Safety knowledge.

Benefits

Opportunities for career growth and advancement Health, dental, and vision insurance (available to eligible employees) Paid Time Off (PTO) Parental Leave Educational Reimbursement Fat Ice is an equal opportunity employer.