Food Safety and Quality Specialist - Cedar Crest Specialties, Inc.

Now Hiring: Food Safety and Quality Specialist – Cedar Crest Specialties, Inc.

Position Summary

Join our affiliate company, Hoffmann Cedar Crest Specialties, Inc., the makers of Cedar Crest Ice Cream! As a Food Safety and Quality Specialist, you’ll help make sure every product made at our plant meets federal, state, and company quality and food safety standards. You’ll perform day-to-day product and environmental testing, maintain the plant’s food safety programs (SQF, HACCP, allergen control, and recall readiness), and serve as a primary point of contact for regulatory inspectors and third-party auditors.

This is a hands-on role that splits time between the laboratory, the production floor, the freezer, and the office. You’ll work alongside production, sanitation, and plant management to solve quality problems at the source, not just document them. Success in this role is measured by audit readiness, accurate and complete documentation, and the consistent quality of every product that leaves the plant, so consumers can be confident that what they enjoy is safe and meets or exceeds state and federal requirements.

Location: Cedar Crest Production Plant – [Cedarburg / Manitowoc], WI

Pay Range: $21-$31/hour dependent upon certifications and experience

Reporting Structure

• Reports to: Quality Assurance Manager, Cedar Crest Specialties, Inc.
• No direct reports; provides functional direction to production and sanitation associates on quality and food safety matters

Key Responsibilities

• Perform routine and investigative product testing, including pH, titratable acidity, fat, total solids, sweetness (Brix), standard plate count, coliform, and Listeria, to verify products meet federal, state, and company standards.
• Carry out environmental monitoring (air, drains, and surfaces) and cleaning verification swabs to confirm sanitation effectiveness.
• Maintain the plant’s Safe Quality Food (SQF) program and keep the facility audit-ready at all times.
• Develop, maintain, and enforce Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), the HACCP plan, and other quality and food safety programs.
• Coordinate the plant’s allergen control program, and develop and maintain ingredient statements and nutritional labeling.
• Formulate mixes for processing, develop and maintain flavor recipes, and support research and development of new and existing products.
• Maintain all required quality documentation, including Certificates of Analysis (COAs), kosher certificates, lab results, pasteurization records, and X-ray and metal detector checks.
• Accompany regulatory inspectors and third-party auditors on all plant inspections, preparing and presenting the programs and records they require.
• Own recall readiness: maintain the recall plan and conduct a mock recall twice per year.
• Investigate and respond to customer quality concerns, identifying root causes and following through on corrective actions.
• Set product weight standards, perform spot checks, and sample products.
• Train associates to test products and follow quality procedures, and partner with sanitation, production, and plant management to resolve quality issues quickly.
• Record, file, and trend results in the plant’s computer systems so emerging issues are flagged early; order and maintain lab supplies.
• Participate and present at company meetings, and perform other duties as assigned by the Quality Assurance Manager.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in food science, chemistry, biology, or a related field required.
• 3–5 years of quality control experience in a food manufacturing facility; dairy or frozen dessert experience a plus.
• Current certification in HACCP, Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI), Safe Quality Food (SQF), or Pasteurizer Operation preferred.
• Able to perform all required product, microbiological, and environmental testing independently.
• Working knowledge of federal and state food safety regulations, GMPs, and allergen control.
• Computer proficient, with a good grasp of mathematics and algebra for mix formulation and lab calculations.
• Strong documentation habits and clear, professional communication skills — this role must convey quality issues to associates, management, and auditors alike.
• Positive, cooperative, and willing to take on whatever quality issue needs to be addressed, with a commitment to integrity, confidentiality, and continued learning.

Physical Demands

• Regularly stands, walks, and bends throughout the plant, and lifts up to 50 lbs.
• Works in varied environments, including the office, laboratory, production area, and freezer and refrigerated areas.
• Regular exposure to wet production areas and laboratory chemicals; required PPE must be worn.

Schedule

Full-time. Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with occasional Fridays. Hours may vary based on workload and quality issues that need to be addressed.