​​

Position Title: Food Safety Scientist

Position Type: Regular - Full-Time ​

Position Location: Othello 

Grade: Grade 04 

Requisition ID: 26373 

The Food Safety Scientist role ensures accurate development, implementation, and adherence to food safety policies in the manufacturing operation. The role also serves as a subject matter expert and is instrumental in leading the manufacturing site in food safety compliance. Position assists in the effective management of the plant’s HACCP, recall program, external audits and food safety compliance. The role drives technical understanding of food safety risk and leads the site in hazard identification and risk mitigation. Must work a flexible schedule to support Quality and food safety activities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

•  Oversight of site food safety technicians i.e microbiology lab techs, EMP coordinators. Provide performance evaluations, training, coaching, discipline, recognition, and leadership as appropriate.
• Ensures accurate development, implementation and adherence to food safety programs to ensure food safety and compliance with Company policies and Federal and State laws and guidelines.
• Identification of food safety trends that may be of concern. Subject Matter Expert to lead root cause investigation and CAPA management for food safety-related issues.
• Assist in the development and execution of food safety training programs to ensure proper training of all Quality personnel and key site stakeholders
• Ensure samples are collected and shipped in an accurate and timely manner when requested.
• Investigate customer and consumer complaints related to food safety and communicate to Consumer Affairs the investigation results in a prompt, professional manner.
• Monitor suppliers and maintain COA’s and COC’s according to industry standards.
• Subject matter expert responsible for executing site risk assessments for new product/process innovation
• Laboratory management if laboratory is onsite
• HACCP/PCQI designee responsible for site HACCP plan, validation plans and audit readiness
• Ensure that all employees consistently follow safety policies and practices, and promptly address safety issues.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the plant and regulatory agency officials and/or auditors.
• Maintain line of communication for escalation of quality incidents and provide governance and support for decisions even outside of traditional business hours
• Develop and oversee plant recall and traceability programs.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with McCain representatives and suppliers regarding raw material quality conformance and resolve issues.
• Governance of Environmental Monitoring and Finished Product Programs
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EXTENDED TRAINING:

• Project Management
• Leadership Training
• Delegation
• Participation in the continuous improvement process is expected as a member of the leadership team at the facility. This includes taking an active role in process improvement initiatives, employee training and upgrading current skill base.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree
• Trainings: HACCP Certification, PCQI Certification
• Experience: Three to five years of experience in frozen food manufacturing operations and/or quality experience in food processing and an ability to coordinate technical knowledge with production activities. Knowledge of root cause analysis tools to be used on food safety issues. Must have working knowledge of food safety and sanitation principles and practices.

This job description covers the basic functions of the job and is not intended to provide a complete listing of daily tasks. Flexibility and improvement of job skills are essential to all positions at McCain Foods.

Why You Should Join Our Team:

McCain offers full benefits including health, vision, and dental insurance. In addition, we offer other benefits including:  

• 401k 
• Health Spending Account/ HRA & Flexible Spending Accounts 
• Adoption & Infertility Assistance, Paid Maternity and Paternity Leave 
• Education Reimbursement Assistance  

• Apprenticeship, Internship, & Coop support and opportunities 

Salary Range: $75,000 - $85,000 USD annually + Benefits

The salary range reflects the minimum and maximum target for the position at the time of posting. Within the range, exact compensation will be determined based on education/training, skill set, experience, and other organizational needs.

McCain Food’s facility in Othello Washington recently completed a 170 thousand square foot addition and multiple upgrades, now employs over 500 people! In line with our values and our overall global commitment to sustainability, this investment also brings environmental efficiencies, reducing the facility’s carbon footprint while doubling its production, underlining McCain’s commitment to sustainability.

About McCain:

McCain Foods is proud to be a family and values-driven company. Our values are integral to our culture, helping to shape how we operate, how we work together and the choices we make. They are a big part of what makes us unique. McCain Foods opened their first production facility in their hometown of Florenceville, New Brunswick, Canada. McCain Foods quickly established itself within the Canadian marketplace and then began a journey to become the world's largest manufacturer of frozen French fries and potato specialties.

McCain products can be found in thousands of restaurants and supermarket freezers around the world. In addition to fries, McCain also produces other foods, including appetizers, oven meals, vegetables and juice for both the retail and foodservice industries.

Sustainability and Plant Friendly Practices are at the Heart of McCain:

We’ve embarked upon a journey to create planet-friendly food. Food that will use fewer natural resources in factories and farms, answer the need of increasingly health and planet-conscious consumers, and contribute to positive change in the rural communities where we grow our ingredients.

• We are moving to 100% renewable energy by 2030.
• Donating 200 million meals to food banks and NGO worldwide by 2025.
• Implementing regenerative agricultural practices across 100% of our potato acreage by 2030.

Want to learn more? Ask our recruiter on LinkedIn! #LI-OM1

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. We see value in ensuring we have a diverse, antiracist, inclusive, merit-based, and equitable workplace.  As a global family-owned company we are proud to reflect the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that diversity drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. 
 
McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.

The health and safety of McCain employees and their families has been our number one priority since the start of COVID-19 pandemic. With vaccination restrictions easing across the globe we do not currently require employees to be vaccinated, but we reserve the right to change this mandate in line with health guidance and regulations in each country.
 
Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with the Global Employee Privacy Policy 

Job Family: Manufacturing      
Division: NA Operations 
Department: ​Quality Food Safety ​
Location(s): US - United States of America : Washington : Othello || US - United States of America : Washington : Seattle 

Company: McCain Foods USA, Inc.