FSQA Specialist III

Albany, OR

Full Time

Experienced

Are you ready for your next adventure?

At Oregon Freeze Dry, innovation isn’t just a buzzword, it’s our foundation. We are a purpose driven company with six decades of expertise in freeze-drying technology. Best known as the makers of Mountain House© meals, we are experts in advanced lyophilization solutions that can help people live healthier lives. Our headquarters in Albany, Oregon sits at the crossroads of science and nature, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes that fuel bold ideas and transformative breakthroughs. We're driven by a commitment to quality, creativity, and continuous improvement, and we're always looking ahead to what's next. We’re proud of our legacy, but our future is even more exciting. If you're passionate and ready to make an impact, Oregon Freeze Dry isn't just a place to work, it's where your adventure begins.

We’re looking for a Food Safety and Quality Specialist III to join the Quality team. This position plays a vital role in protecting what matters most, the safety and quality of the food we make. In this role, you’ll take the lead in ensuring full compliance with regulatory, customer, and company standards while driving continuous improvement in every process. You’ll champion our food safety and quality programs, collaborate across departments, and represent Oregon Freeze Dry’s unwavering commitment to excellence with clients, auditors, and partners. The ideal candidate is someone who is strategic, supportive, and brings food industry knowledge and experience.

You will get to:

Lead food safety and quality programs, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, client expectations, and company standards.
Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, auditors, and external stakeholders on food safety and quality matters.
Collaborate cross-functionally to implement new or updated food safety and quality programs effectively.
Develop and execute monitoring plans, interpret test results, and lead investigations into deviations, including customer complaints.
Support and drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs), ensuring accountability and alignment across teams.
Leads customer, 3^rd party, and regulatory audits evaluating overall QMS.
Create and deliver training materials to ensure compliance across relevant departments.
Maintain and update documentation to support food safety and quality programs in your area of focus.
Supports product release activities for your area of focus.
Provides guidance and mentorship to junior FSQA staff, providing backup support and fostering team development.
Aea of Focus: Government Contracts
- Lead QA involvement in pre-solicitation reviews and specification evaluations to identify and mitigate potential food safety and quality compliance gaps.
- Review existing government contracts and product specifications, recommending revisions or clarifications to ensure consistent delivery of high-quality, compliant products.
- Partner with Legal, Finance, and Supply Chain in the cross-functional contract review process, providing QA insight on feasibility, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation.
- Communicate new contract specifications across QA and relevant departments to ensure alignment with operational and compliance requirements.
- Serve as a subject matter expert in customer-facing engagements, influencing contract language and specifications to enhance product defensibility, manufacturability, and adherence to evolving food safety and quality standards.
- Support the development and preparation of Engineering Support Activity (ESA) requests by providing QA insights to clarify or update product specifications.
- Develop and maintain standardized processes documenting QA requirements, product specifications, testing plans, and contract-critical information to guide teams from product development through contract execution.

We are looking for someone who has:

Generally, a minimum of six (6) years of experience in food safety and quality assurance with a Bachelors Degree in food science or related field.
HAACP and PCQI certification required.
Strong knowledge of FDA and USDA regulatory compliance, food processing procedures, and GMPs highly desired.
Experience working with government contracts preferred.
Proven ability to conduct root cause analyses and risk assessments.
Proficient with Microsoft Office applications and comfortable using computer systems for documentation and reporting.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to exercise independent judgment and discretion in applying knowledge to variable situations.
Adaptable to changing goals and priorities to meet business and departmental needs.
Committed to continuous improvement of processes and procedures.
Skilled at facilitating cross-functional meetings and driving collaborative solutions.
Experience in laboratory, academic, or industry settings preferred.

Oregon Freeze Dry has office, manufacturing and outdoor workspaces where this position is required to access and work. Employee will be exposed to varying plant conditions including extreme temperatures, fumes, dust, wet and dry conditions, moderate to high noise. Employees may utilize a variety of tools, equipment or machinery. The work environment is fast paced; employee will perform tasks while experiencing numerous interruptions. This position has the utmost responsibility for compliance with the rules and regulations regarding a safe and healthy work environment relative to their actions and conduct; this includes the ability to effectively use Personal Protective Equipment. While performing the job duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use English written and oral communication skills.

Thriving together: Your OFD Total Rewards and Benefits:

At Oregon Freeze Dry, we believe that our employees are the key to our success. That’s why we offer a competitive total rewards package aimed at supporting the health, financial security, and overall wellbeing of you and your family.

Customize your healthcare coverage: including medical, dental, and vision options to fit your needs.
Boost your savings: Choose an FSA or HSA for extra flexibility.
Plan for your future: enroll into our 401(k) with employer match and immediate vesting.
Peace of mind: Life and disability insurance to keep you and your loved ones protected.
Furry friends: Pet insurance for your four-legged family members.
Recharge & Refresh: Enjoy paid company holidays, PTO and sick time
Give back: join us in making a difference with community support opportunities.
Score savings: Unlock exclusive employee discounts and special savings on Mountain House product.
Spread the word: Earn bonuses for referring awesome new team members.

Oregon Freeze Dry is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug-Free Workplace. We value diversity and are committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all employees. Qualified candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or disability.

All applicants who receive a conditional offer of employment may be required to take and pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check.

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