Ocean Mist Farms is the largest producer of artichokes in North America and is one of California’s leading growers of premium quality produce. We are currently looking for a Manager of Food Safety and Sustainability in our Castroville, CA location.
The Manager of Food Safety and Sustainability is directly responsible for Food Safety / Security, and Sustainability programs and will report to the Director of Technical Systems. This position is responsible for providing the technical expertise and management skills to administer the corporate strategy for: Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), and other FDA/EPA regulations that pertain to the farming, harvesting, cooling and transportation of our crops in Castroville and all satellite locations. In addition, this individual will lead all efforts associated with farm & facility resource conservation.
The incumbent will supervise others, including and up to, hiring, training, mentoring, developing, providing employee feedback, disciplinary communication, and conducting annual performance evaluations. The incumbent will work under general supervision; supervise others and require that the incumbent work Monday through Friday; including weekends and holidays as required. Occasional travel will be required to our remote facilities and surrounding areas. The following job functions are not all-inclusive and may change as required by the Company.
The qualified candidate will be an effective advocate of the Ocean Mist label and organization by always striving to produce and ship the highest quality, most desirable product while striving to achieve the lowest cost per unit. At all times, maintain a professional image that supports Ocean Mist Farms values, image and goals. A strong work ethic, unsurpassed integrity, confidentiality, punctuality, and job dedication is essential to be successful in this position. The incumbent will mentor and lead departments to ensure a cohesive and positive team environment.
Food Safety and Security Programs
- Develop, implement and enforce robust policies and programs that meet corporate goals and provide top notch level education on food safety and product security;
- Adhere to current GAP as minimum standards for farming operations;
- Adhere to a scientific and risk based approach to solving food safety issues;
- Implement and oversee third-party audits as well as in-house inspections of fields and facilities;
- Develop facility and field Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) according to GAP, GMP, HACCP, and other international standards and customer requirements;
- Oversee the coordination of all chemical testing of crops as required by customers or Ocean Mist Farms’ standards;
- Promote Ocean Mist Farms’ programs by educating customers and employees on trends and changes affecting food safety and quality standards;
- Conduct research and report on new technologies and processes;
- Address and resolve customer and consumer complaints;
- Serve as a guide for facility and field tours;
- Provide customers and other interested parties with best-in-class presentation of Ocean Mist Farms’ program;
- Work with contracted third parties to ensure the goals of the program are met;
- Prepare and remain within annual departmental budget; manage expense control.
Sustainability
- Develop the Sustainability program to meet the Environmental Stewardship goals of the organization;
- Provide technical expertise to growers and others regarding co-management;
- Collect continuous data to update Ocean Mist Farms’ conservation efforts and use this information to set goals and measure progress;
- Raise awareness about the program within the organization and encourage employees to participate;
- Provide details about the program to customers and other interested parties;
- Prepare annual departmental budget; oversee expense control.
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Masters of Science degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or Biological Sciences strongly preferred with related experience, or Bachelors of Science degree with at least four years of relevant work experience is preferred.
- Bachelor’s degree in related field is required.
- Bilingual in English and Spanish with the ability to communicate, read, write and translate at a proficient level is strongly desired.
- Must maintain a current valid California driver’s license (class C) and be insurable.
- A minimum of 2 – 5 years of solid understanding of food science principles, post harvest physiology, and statistical experimental design is required;
- Working knowledge of analytical instrumentation and ability to trouble shoot.
- 4 years of experience in the fresh processing industry in food safety and/or quality with understanding of general principles in microbiology, sanitation, pest management, and equipment design is required.
- 5 years of management, consulting, and training skills are required; with 2 years experience in the agriculture industry, directly involved in field audits and policy implementation is required.
- Knowledge of state/federal food safety guidelines, Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), GAP, GMP’s, HACCP and USDA/FDA guidelines as they relate to the fresh produce industry is required.
