Food Safety Professional - Continuous Improvement, Innovation & Quality

Location: Sacramento, California

If you thrive in a fast-paced, challenging controlled environment and/or processing plant and have a passion for
excellence and innovation, we welcome you to apply for this opportunity with Wild About Sprouts.
Wild About Sprouts is a unique leader in the industry, with unique intellectual property, and is the only sprout product harvested directly by the consumer. Based on their strict safety guidelines and patented development process, they have reinvented their category and are growing. Each Wild About Sprouts greenhouse (package) contains around 7,000 seeds, living and growing, untouched, until 'harvested' by the smart and healthy consumer. The whole process is wildly sustainable, using minimal water and recyclable materials.

We are seeking an experienced and passionate Food Safety Professional to take the role as Food Safety Assistant General Manager responsible for all Food Safety, Continuous Improvement & Quality. In this role, you will play a crucial part in enhancing food safety, operational efficiency, product quality, and overall leadership and performance within the organization. Additionally, you will drive innovation including product development. This is a forward thinking, technology driven product where your expertise in process improvement methodologies and quality management will be instrumental. Success will drive excellence across all aspects of this innovative company. Wild About Sprouts is dedicated to delivering fresh, high-quality products while continuously innovating and improving processes and practices.

You will report directly to the Plant Manager and in essence, will be their right-hand person. As that statement implies, there is opportunity for growth and advancement, especially since this dynamic organization is rolling out new facilities across the US. This is an exciting opportunity to take the next step in your career with a passionate group of individuals who are 100% committed to providing safe fresh produce with extensive health benefits to the consumer. This unique company has an amazing story and a bright future ahead of them. They thrive on innovation and are highly scalable. You will have the opportunity to leverage your enthusiasm and creativity to be part of their next chapter!

Responsibilities:
● Develop and Implement continuous improvement food safety strategies
● Analyze existing processes, systems, and procedures to identify opportunities for product improvement
● Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and implement food safety and quality continuous
improvement initiatives
● Establish clear goals, performance metrics, and timelines for improvement projects
● Act as a liaison with customers, vendors, regulatory agencies and auditing bodies
● Maintain and improve overall Food Safety Plan including SOPs, SSOPs, HACCP, recalls, food security and any other
relevant GFSI or FDA requirements
● Manage SQF programs, relevant meetings, communications, internal audits and annual audit
● Define, communicate, and enforce quality standards and guidelines for all stages of produce production, from
sourcing to distribution to plant personnel and leadership
● Monitor plant trials and seed variety projects for compliance and continuous improvements
● Implement quality control measures and conduct regular audits to ensure compliance with standards
● Investigate product defects or quality issues, identify root causes, and develop corrective and preventive actions
● Apply Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma principles to optimize processes, reduce waste, and enhance
productivity
● Lead Lean/Six Sigma projects to streamline workflows, improve yield, and enhance overall efficiency
● Provide training and mentorship to team members to promote a culture of continuous improvement
● Collect and analyze data related to production processes, product quality, and performance metrics
● Stay up-to-date with industry regulations, food safety standards, and quality assurance practices
● Ensure company compliance with relevant regulations and certifications

Requirements:
● Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Botany/Horticulture, Food Safety or a related field
● Proven experience (10 years) in food safety and quality management within the a produce processing facility
● 6+ years of experience in food safety or SQF compliance
● Strong knowledge of FDA and USDA regulations
● Must have PCQI certification, HACCP, GFSI and in-depth knowledge of Microsoft Excel programs for reporting
● Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and other process improvement methodologies
● Experience with statistical analysis and data-driven decision-making
● Familiarity with relevant food safety regulations and quality standards specific to CEA (Controlled Environment
Agriculture)
● Experience with seed varieties and trial testing
● Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
● Ability to drive change, influence stakeholders, and manage projects effectively
● Detail-oriented with a commitment to delivering high-quality results
● Bilingual in English and Spanish is a must
 

For more information contact:
Pam Russell
Executive Search Consultant
Phone (941)-263-5200 x 315
Email: Pam@JoeProduce.com