SQF Practitioner

SANY - Nutrition Group LLC · Jonesboro, United States

Company Description

SANY Nutrition Group LLC is a leading manufacturer of high-quality protein bars, functional snacks, chocolate products, and bakery items. We combine innovation, advanced manufacturing, and food science expertise to deliver premium products for private label and branded customers across North America. As we continue to grow, we are looking for dedicated professionals to join our team and help build a world-class manufacturing operation.

Position: SQF Practitioner – Food Safety & Quality Assurance

Location: Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA | Full-Time | On-Site

Department: Quality Assurance & Food Safety

Position Summary

The SQF Practitioner will develop, implement, maintain, verify, and continuously improve the facility’s Safe Quality Food (SQF) system. This position is responsible for audit readiness, HACCP-based food safety programs, FDA/FSMA compliance support, and consistent application of food safety requirements across manufacturing operations. The successful candidate combines technical expertise with hands-on plant-floor leadership.

Key Responsibilities

SQF Program Management & Certification

•⁠ ⁠Develop, implement, maintain, and improve the facility SQF Food Safety Management System.

•⁠ ⁠Serve as the formally appointed primary SQF Practitioner, as designated by site management.

•⁠ ⁠Coordinate certification, surveillance, recertification, and applicable unannounced audits.

•⁠ ⁠Maintain manuals, policies, procedures, and records; coordinate internal audits, management reviews, and continuous improvement.

Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance

•⁠ ⁠Maintain HACCP-based plans and support FSMA preventive-controls compliance.

•⁠ ⁠Support hazard analysis, risk assessment, verification, and validation of food safety controls.

•⁠ ⁠Oversee GMP, allergen management, sanitation, traceability, food defense, and mock recall programs.

•⁠ ⁠Monitor food safety requirements and update procedures when needed.

Production & Quality Assurance

•⁠ ⁠Conduct regular plant-floor inspections, GMP assessments, and food safety observations.

•⁠ ⁠Verify food safety controls from receiving and processing through packaging, warehousing, and distribution.

•⁠ ⁠Support environmental monitoring, sanitation verification, microbial testing, and foreign-material prevention.

•⁠ ⁠Oversee allergen changeovers and cleaning validation and investigate nonconforming products or incidents.

Documentation, Audits & Corrective Actions

•⁠ ⁠Maintain complete and audit-ready food safety records.

•⁠ ⁠Lead CAPA and root-cause analysis and verify corrective action effectiveness.

•⁠ ⁠Support regulatory, third-party, customer, and supplier audits.

•⁠ ⁠Track and report food safety and quality KPIs.

Training & Food Safety Culture

•⁠ ⁠Develop and deliver training in GMPs, HACCP, SQF, allergens, sanitation, and food defense.

•⁠ ⁠Maintain training records and support onboarding and refresher training.

•⁠ ⁠Build an accountable, prevention-focused food safety culture across the facility.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

•⁠ ⁠Partner with Production, Maintenance, Sanitation, Warehouse, Procurement, R&D, and QA.

•⁠ ⁠Assess food safety risk during new ingredients, suppliers, formulations, packaging, equipment, and product launches.

•⁠ ⁠Communicate key risks, audit readiness, and system performance to site leadership.

Required Qualifications

•⁠ ⁠Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, Chemistry, related field, or equivalent relevant industry experience.

•⁠ ⁠3–5 years in food manufacturing food safety, QA, or SQF program management.

•⁠ ⁠Completed HACCP training and proven competence developing, implementing, and maintaining HACCP-based plans.

•⁠ ⁠Working knowledge of the applicable SQF Food Safety Code for Food Manufacturing.

•⁠ ⁠Knowledge of FDA regulations, FSMA, GMPs, allergens, sanitation, traceability, and food safety documentation.

•⁠ ⁠Experience preparing for SQF or other GFSI-recognized certification audits.

•⁠ ⁠Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills; ability to work on site.

Preferred Qualifications

•⁠ ⁠Previous designated SQF Practitioner or substitute experience.

•⁠ ⁠Implementing SQF Systems training or Certified SQF Practitioner credential.

•⁠ ⁠PCQI qualification; SQF internal/lead auditor training.

•⁠ ⁠Experience with bars, functional snacks, confectionery, bakery, and contract manufacturing.

•⁠ ⁠Environmental monitoring, allergen cross-contact prevention, sanitation validation, food labeling.

•⁠ ⁠ERP/digital documentation systems and experience scaling a new manufacturing facility.

Equal Employment Opportunity

• SANY Nutrition Group LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants receive consideration without regard to any status protected by applicable law.