QA Specialist

Aspire Bakeries is a North American baking company with a leadership position in specialty frozen baked goods. Formed from leading bakery companies, its innovative food portfolio includes breads, artisan breads, buns, cookies, donuts, muffins and pastries from beloved brands likeLa Brea Bakery,Otis Spunkmeyer, andOakrun Farm Bakery. With 13 bakeries in North America, we are committed to driving innovation, predicting upcoming consumer trends and flavors, and exceeding our customers‘ expectations. Aspire Bakeries champions the values of Integrity, Ownership, Customer Focus, Creativity and Care to help us deliver on People Safety, Food Safety, Quality and Collaboration.

The FSQA Specialistis a contributing member of the team-oriented FSQA process, including responsibility for protecting the food by conducting vendor approval assessments, desktop audits, collecting, reviewing, analyzing and filing vendor documentation and contributing to business initiatives and projects with cross functional teams. As a support function to the bakeries across North America, this role will insure Aspire Bakeries Integrated Management System Program (AIMS) requirements are met and are audit ready every day.

Responsibilities:

• Understanding of and demonstrates Aspires core values and acts with integrity, takes ownership in their work, proactively identifies the needs of our customers, generates creative and new ideas, and promotes an environment where our people and foods are safe.
• Understanding of the Food Safety and Quality Objectives and Global Food Safety and Quality Policy.
• Verifies all applicable Aspire Bakeries, GFSI, Regulatory and customer expectations are met relating to vendor approval and management.
• Ensure that our foods meet Aspire Bakeries standards and specifications through use of qualified vendors.
• Collect, review and file all vendor documentation.
• Complete annual desktop audits for all vendors, including occasional vendor assessments.
• Ensure bakery vendor registers are accurate and audit ready.
• Attend project meetings and insure all new and existing vendors and raw materials are approved for use across the company.
• Work closely with all Vendors, FSQA Regulatory, R&D, Central Service Procurement and Bakery teams to maintain accurate and current vendor records.
• Communicate any food safety or quality concerns.
• Support and report out all FSQA Vendor related activities.
• Understand food safety and preventative controls as it relates to the vendor management program.
• Participate in and potentially lead FSQA Vendor Management training.
• Report food safety and quality non-conformances and deviations to FSQA Manager. Placing food on hold physically and in SAP for further evaluation.
• Performs other duties as assigned or required.

Qualifications:

• A high school diploma or equivalent is required
• Post-secondary education in Food Science, Microbiology, or Food Chemistry or experience in the food industry is preferred.
• HACCP, PCQI and Food Fraud training is preferred.
• 1-2 years of related experience is preferred.
• Must be highly organized and able to multitask.
• Proficient computer skills including experience in MS Outlook & Excel.
• SAP knowledge is helpful.
• Good English oral and written communication skills.
• Must be able to communicate with all levels of the organization.

This role must be located near one of our bakery locations and commute via hybrid schedule.

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Aspire Bakeries is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.