Compliance Specialist

About the Role

The Compliance Specialist ensures compliance of materials and finished products with regulatory, food safety, and customer requirements. This role develops and improves food safety and quality programs, procedures, and systems, manages the Document Control Program, and is responsible for the release of ingredients and finished goods.

Responsibilities

• Suppliers & Materials:
  • Review supplier and material documentation for compliance as part of the Supplier Approval Program.
  • Communicate with suppliers on technical, food safety, or quality concerns.
  • Collaborate with Purchasing, R&D, Quality teams, suppliers, and customers on raw material document updates or identified issues.
  • Build strategic relationships and maintain professional communication with raw material suppliers.
  • Coordinate and submit raw material and finished goods samples for testing/evaluation and track status and results with third-party labs.
  • Escalate out-of-spec results and place finished goods on Hold in the system.
  • Assess Ingredient Hazard Analysis as part of the Food Safety/HACCP Plan.
  • Approve incoming Certificates of Analysis (COAs) and follow up with suppliers on missing COAs.
  • Complete Finished Good COAs with accurate information from quality records and lab results.
  • Initiate and support completion of supplier and customer non-conformances.
• Document Control:
  • Develop and maintain documentation to comply with record-keeping requirements.
  • Manage the schedule of document reviews and maintain an accurate Document Register.
  • Ensure timely distribution of the latest revision-level documentation and removal of obsolete documents.
• Systems:
  • Implement solutions to improve quality and food safety through inspections, CAPA investigations, and audits.
  • Maintain Identity Preserved Foods programs (e.g., Kosher, Organic, Gluten-Free, Non-GMO Project, Whole Grain Council, Keto certifications).
  • Support regulatory, customer, third-party, and internal audit preparation and execution.
  • Support Monitoring and Verification Program compliance.
  • Assist with environmental monitoring sample submission.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in a scientific discipline (e.g., food science, chemistry, biology, chemical engineering, or related field).
• Minimum 3 years of experience in a QC/QA department within the food processing industry.
• Industry knowledge of HACCP, FDA, GMP, GFSI, FSMA, and federal, state, and local compliance regulations.
• Technical competence in analytical chemistry or microbiology.
• Food safety and food labeling compliance expertise.
• HACCP and PCQI certification.
• Experience in record-keeping, including physical and online records management.
• Experience conducting internal audits.
• Understanding of FDA labeling requirements and compliance.
• Understanding of QA/process management, including:
  • Product specifications and in-process testing.
  • Food Safety and Pre-requisite programs.
  • Ingredients/formulation compliance to avoid adulterated products.
  • Chemical and microbiological testing and specification limits.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including technical writing.
• Attention to detail, strong interpersonal skills, and proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, SharePoint, Teams, and document management systems.
• Ability to communicate and understand work instructions in English.

Skills

• Well-organized, detail-oriented, and strong technical skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with proven multitasking ability.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate in a dynamic team environment.
• Ability to manage workload independently and support multiple projects in a deadline-driven environment.
• Adaptability, flexibility, independence, and strong problem-solving skills.
• Ability to quality-control check information and documentation.

Working Conditions

• Ability to adhere to BRC and Bridgetown Natural Foods policies.
• Occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to safely maneuver through a production and warehouse environment.
• Position requires sitting for long periods in an office environment.
• Exposure to allergens such as tree nuts, peanuts, milk, soy, sesame, eggs, wheat, and other grains.
• Work schedule generally follows office hours, with occasional weekend or overtime required.