If you combine a strong food industry background in food safety, microbiology and sanitation with solid interpersonal skills, this position offers you some very compelling opportunities. You will:

• Help shape a new role created to reinforce best practices as we continue to grow.
• Expand your knowledge -- as long as you have basic experience with food safety, microbiology and sanitation, we'll help you learn and evolve. Quick question for you - click here
• Learn even more on the food safety regulations, as our facilities comply with both FDA and USDA regulations.
• Gain experience in this corporate role by working with all of our manufacturing facilities.
• Showcase your potential to take on additional responsibilities and advance as our food safety organization grows. We hire from within whenever possible.
• Enjoy a positive, team-oriented culture where people have a good deal of autonomy and their contributions are appreciated.

Bonduelle Fresh Americas is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bonduelle (BON.PA), and home of the Ready Pac Foods brand. For over 45 years, Ready Pac Foods has been a leader in offering the most innovative fresh food products to consumers around the world. With four processing facilities throughout the U.S., we focus on fresh vegetables, salads and fresh meal solutions for the Americas. We manufacture a complete range of products featuring fresh produce and protein under the company's Ready Pac Foods®, Bistro®, Ready Snax®, Cool Cuts®, elevĀte™ and Bonduelle Fresh Picked™ brands.

Pictured: Our processing facilities apply the latest global standards of food safety and quality. Using the latest technology and equipment, our goal is to ensure we only offer the highest quality products.

To be a good fit for the Microbiology / Sanitation Manager opportunity, you will have:

• A bachelor's degree in Microbiology, Food Science or related field. A master's degree in a related field is preferred. Quick question for you - click here
• 5+ years of experience in a food microbiologist role or similar food safety position with sanitation knowledge.
• Knowledge of microbiological testing methods (AOAC methods, novel high throughput sequencing methods, etc.).
• The ability to:
  • Understand technical aspects of microbiological testing methods and implement adequate tests of food products and facility environment.
  • Analyze complex data, draw conclusions and make recommendations.
• Knowledge of FDA or USDA regulations is strongly preferred; top candidates will have both.

Just as important will be the following competencies and characteristics:

• Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills, including the ability to:
  • Influence and motivate coworkers to embrace best practices.
  • Articulate and sell food safety programs and continuous improvement goals to stakeholders.
• The ability to:
  • Work effectively on cross-functional teams and deliver results.
  • Achieve goals independently while also contributing as a team player.
  • Assimilate new information quickly and react positively to new and challenging opportunities.
  • Make progress in spite of setbacks or lack.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with supplier management team, internal customers and peers.

It is important that you understand that we all work in cold environment. In the offices the temperature can be as low as 50° F. You'll also go into production areas, which can be as low as 36° F. You also should expect to get wet in the production areas. As sanitation activities happen during nights, you’ll be required to flex your schedule as needed. Quick question for you - click here

You'll be based in Bonduelle Fresh Americas corporate headquarters in Irwindale, CA, Once it is deemed safe, you will travel to visit production facilities in Jackson GA, and Florence and Swedesboro NJ. In general you will visit these facilities on a quarterly basis, and there may be reasons to travel more frequently, such as supporting a third-party sanitation assessments or other related projects.

Pictured: Our Ready Snax® Snack Packs are the perfect snack solution at work, after school or anywhere on-the-go. Each of the nine varieties was created to curb your hunger and provide you with a boost of vitamins, all with fewer than 250 calories.

Role Overview

Reporting to the Vice President, Manufacturing Quality & Microbiology, you will support the development, implementation and continuous improvement of food safety systems, standards and programs to ensure the delivery of safe, wholesome, premium quality products to our customers nationally. Key objectives will include providing subject matter expertise in food safety, and modeling and acting in accordance with company's guiding principles.

You also will develop, implement, manage and track the effectiveness of an integrated microbiological and sanitation program*, including systems, standards, procedures, measures and tools to assure that food safety, quality and regulatory requirements are met for food products and operations.

Role Specifics

In this position you will:

• Manage the microbiology testing program for the company and ensure the program implementation across all production facilities.
• Manage the corporate sanitation program for the company and ensure the program implementation across all production facilities.
• Lead cross-functional project teams and/or sub-teams in developing microbial specifications, standards and procedure improvements.
• Engage with production facilities for out-of-specification results on microbiological programs, driving root cause analysis and corrective and preventive action plans.
• Develop and deliver effective communications that provide partners at all levels with appropriate awareness and knowledge of microbiological standards, program updates and process changes.
• Establish KPIs related to microbiology and sanitation programs and measure progress.
• Oversee the facility Food Safety Hygienists and engage with them on microbiology/sanitation initiatives and activities. You'll ensure correct and consistent execution across the company.
• Engage with Sanitation and Quality Leaders at manufacturing facilities on program execution and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Meet customer requirements on microbiological and sanitation aspects of products and facilities.
• Engage with customers/third party auditors on microbiology/sanitation related program queries or industry initiatives.
• Review and establish microbiological requirements for the ingredient suppliers to the company.
• Recommend and oversee content updates to department or company resource manuals, standards manuals, training programs, and operational excellence tools. Oversee key stakeholder review of relevant operations communication vehicles.
• Support the management of potentially serious product incidents through a science-based food microbiology approach.
• Stay up to date and build expertise in food microbiology best practices, public health regulations and industry best practices.
• Handle other related responsibilities as assigned.

*The position will be very balanced between microbiology and sanitation. In many companies these roles are separated, but you will help enforce our belief that they go hand-in-hand. However, you won't have the responsibility load of two positions.

Pictured: Our latest line of chopped salad kits are inspired by flavors and recipes from around the world.

Healthy products, healthy values
"Giving people the freedom to eat healthier" has a deeper meaning for us. We believe in responsible business practices that benefit our associates, consumers and communities. Every consumer should have access to fresh, healthy and convenient choices and every one of our products is made with responsibly-sourced ingredients, by individuals who are treated ethically and with respect every day.

Be The Difference
The Ready Pac Difference is our identity. It defines the value we create that fuels our growth in order to be the most innovative fresh food company. It also defines the culture we create that enables our success and gives us the freedom to invest in our people, our business, and ultimately our consumers. The values defined in The Difference support our ability to give our Associates the freedom to drive results, learn and have fun.

Corporate responsibility
We are passionate about promoting sustainable agriculture, reducing our environmental impact, encouraging all employees to drive a culture of corporate social responsibility (CSR), feeding people well and feeding them sustainably, and promoting the well-being of our employees and communities. See the video for more information.

Rewarding environment
Our culture values teamwork and collaboration, and we are proactive about maintaining an atmosphere that is positive and motivating. We encourage and reward engagement, such as identifying potential safety or quality issues.

Excellent compensation
In addition to a competitive wage and overtime opportunities, we offer healthcare benefits to all associates after 30 days of employment, a 401(k) plan after 60 days, a tuition reimbursement program, and more.