The Food Safety Coordinator is responsible for ensuring that Equal Exchange’s food safety programs meet or exceed all federal, state, and local food safety regulations to protect the health and wellbeing of everyone in our supply chain: farmers, workers, and customers. This position is based out of West Bridgewater, MA, with occasional travel to Equal Exchange warehouses, suppliers, and co-packers.

To Apply:
Please send your resume, cover letter and answers to the application questions below to foodsafety@equalexchange.coop

Job Description:

• Employment Status: Full Time, Regular Exempt Position
• Hours: 40 hours/week
• Starting Salary: $42,000
• Benefits: Health/dental/vision insurance coverage, vacations, holidays, sick days, eligibility for worker ownership
• Departments: Support Operations
• Report to: Support Operations Manager

Qualifications:

• 3+ years working in food quality/safety or related field.
• Knowledge of food safety regulations, including FSMA and HACCP.
• Ability to communicate well and problem solve with staff, auditors, regulators, customers.
• Ability to keep large quantities of complex information from multiple sources up to date, organized and accessible.
• Detail-oriented.
• Self-driven with ability to work independently.
• Ability to work collaboratively with different teams.
• Ability to effectively prioritize time and responsibilities.
• Flexibility and willingness to continuously learn by experience.
• High capacity for learning and using a wide range of software and technologies.
• HACCP Certification preferred.
• An interest in the mission of Equal Exchange.
• Experience with or interest in working for a co-operative organization preferred.

Responsibilities: (approx. 90%)

• Develop and maintain food safety policies and procedures to ensure compliance with regulatory and certification standards.
• Keep current on knowledge of food safety regulations and laws, and inform Equal Exchange staff about changes to food safety programs.
• Manage systems for organizing documentation related to food safety regulations and certifications.
• Work with the Equal Exchange Coffee Team to ensure that the coffee manufacturing facility in West Bridgewater, Mass. is in compliance with GFSI audit requirements.
• Develop and manage warehouse quality programs for all Equal Exchange warehouses that store raw material ingredients or finished goods.
• Meet with auditors and regulatory enforcement personnel when they inspect Equal Exchange facilities. Provide compliance information and respond to any concerns.
• Advise Equal Exchange purchasers on food safety related issues, including COA requirements, supplier expectations, shelf life, and allergens.
• Perform food safety audits at Equal Exchange supplier and co-packer facilities as needed.
• Act as the lead investigator for customer complaints due to product safety issues. Follow up with Customer Service and product category managers to resolve issues.
• Develop and maintain employee training programs in food safety awareness and sanitation.
• Coordinate with groups at Equal Exchange to ensure new initiatives meet regulatory and food safety standards.
• Identify and manage outside food safety experts.
• Occasional travel to Equal Exchange warehouses, suppliers, and co-packers.
• Provide support for other certifications and audits as needed.
• Other job-related responsibilities and projects as assigned.

Personnel & Worker Ownership/Fair Trade Development (approx. 10%)

• Participate in staff, team, department, and educational (Exchange Time) meetings.
• Understand our producer partners, trading policies, and the Fair Trade movement.
• Understand and participate effectively in our worker co-operative model.

To Apply:
Please send your resume, cover letter and answers to the application questions below to foodsafety@equalexchange.coop

Application Questions:

1. Equal Exchange’s mission is to build long-term trade partnerships that are economically just and environmentally sound, and to foster mutually beneficial relationships between farmers and consumers. How do you think food safety fits into this mission?
2. Describe a situation where you had to work with many different personalities to achieve a common goal? What were some of the challenges, opportunities or rewards.
3. Equal Exchange is a worker-owned co-operative with multiple locations and an unconventional work culture. How would you approach enforcing food safety rules and being a resource for product category managers within this environment?

 

Equal Exchange supports equal employment opportunity for all classes of individuals, regardless of age, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, disability, religious creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, economic status, veteran status. Additionally, people who are oppressed or are denied power and privilege in society are strongly encouraged to apply.