The Cookie Cupboard is a growing wholesale bakery near I-77 and Rockside Road in Valley View, Ohio. This permanent part time position is being created to support that growth. As we expand, we need a dedicated food safety professional who can own and strengthen our compliance program, bring rigor and consistency to our documentation, and lead our food safety team on the floor.

This position serves as The Cookie Cupboard’s primary food safety resource and directly supervises the Food Safety Technician. The Food Safety Specialist provides oversight, critical review, and program management while the Technician handles day-to-day execution. Together they form the backbone of the bakery’s food safety operation.

This is a hands-on position. The Food Safety Specialist is expected to be present on the bakery floor regularly, verifying that procedures are being followed and ensuring the facility remains prepared for inspections at all times.

Core Responsibilities

Supervision and Team Leadership

• Directly supervise the Food Safety Technician
• Assign daily and weekly tasks, review completed work, and provide coaching and feedback
• Identify training gaps in the Technician’s performance and address them directly
• Serve as the escalation point for food safety questions or concerns raised by the Technician or production staff
• Communicate team performance and food safety status updates to the President

Records Review and Floor Oversight

• Review food safety logs and records completed by the Technician each on-site day and verify accuracy and completeness
• Ensure missing or incomplete documentation is corrected promptly
• Monitor GMPs, sanitation, allergen controls, temperature records, and food-handling practices on the floor
• Conduct routine food safety and sanitation inspections
• Communicate food safety concerns and deficiencies directly to the President

Food Safety Plan Ownership

• Maintain and update the HACCP-based Food Safety Plan under FSMA Preventive Controls for Human Food (21 CFR Part 117)
• Conduct the annual review of the Food Safety Plan and document findings and required updates
• Support the PCQI in hazard analysis reviews and preventive control evaluations
• Ensure all Food Safety Plan documentation is current, version-controlled, and audit-ready
• Identify gaps between written procedures and actual practice and escalate to ownership
• Update the Food Safety Plan as the business grows, new products are added, or processes change

Food Defense Plan

• Maintain the Food Defense Plan in compliance with the FSMA Mitigation Strategies rule (21 CFR Part 121)
• Conduct the required annual reassessment and document results
• Ensure vulnerability assessments are current and that mitigation strategies are in place and being followed
• Coordinate food defense drills or walkthrough activities as needed

Documentation Control and SOP Maintenance

• Maintain organized, inspection-ready food safety records at all times
• Maintain and update food safety forms, SOPs, and related documentation
• Maintain document control system: version control, retention schedule, and record archive
• Review and approve new or revised labels for regulatory compliance, allergen accuracy, and ingredient statement accuracy
• Maintain label files and ensure label versions match current formulations and specifications

Supplier Verification Program

• Manage the approved supplier list, supplier questionnaires, COA review, and certificate tracking
• Monitor expiring supplier documentation and proactively request renewals
• Evaluate incoming COAs against established specifications
• Escalate supplier concerns to ownership

Internal Audits

• Conduct scheduled internal audits across all food safety program areas: sanitation, pest control, allergen management, temperature monitoring, personal hygiene, and GMPs
• Document findings, assign corrective actions, and track through to closure
• Prepare internal audit summary reports for the President

Corrective Actions and CAPA Tracking

• Investigate food safety concerns and follow through on corrective actions
• Document, track, and verify closure of all corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs)
• Maintain CAPA log and ensure root cause analysis is completed for significant deviations

Traceability and Recall Preparedness

• Maintain traceability program records and assist with mock recall exercises
• Ensure records support forward and backward traceability in the event of a recall or withdrawal

Employee Training

• Develop new and support existing food safety training program for all production staff and the Food Safety Technician: GMPs, allergen awareness, personal hygiene, sanitation, and role-specific requirements
• Conduct food safety onboarding for all new hires
• Maintain training records for all employees
• Identify recurring knowledge gaps and initiate corrective training

Regulatory and Customer Audit Support

• Serve as the primary food safety contact along with owner during regulatory inspections and third-party or customer audits
• Prepare documentation packages for customer food safety questionnaires
• Assist with pre-audit walkthroughs and gap assessments

Qualifications

Required

• HACCP certification from an accredited program (NEHA, NRFSP, NSF, AIB, or equivalent) — required
• Previous experience in food safety, quality assurance, food manufacturing, bakery, or a related field
• Demonstrated ability to manage or oversee food safety documentation independently
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and follow-through
• Working knowledge of GMPs, sanitation, allergen controls, and proper food handling practices
• Ability to work independently, prioritize effectively, and ensure employees follow food safety requirements
• Ability to communicate clearly and directly with ownership regarding concerns, findings, and team performance
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) or equivalent, we will train on our ERP systems, nutritional software

Preferred

• PCQI certification (FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food) — highly desired
• Experience supervising or directing other employees in a food safety or quality role
• Familiarity with FSMA Preventive Controls for Human Food (21 CFR Part 117) and FSMA Food Defense (21 CFR Part 121)
• Experience maintaining or managing a full food safety plan and supporting documentation
• Experience in a bakery, allergen-intensive, or small food manufacturing environment
• Experience conducting internal audits and managing corrective action programs
• Experience with label compliance under FDA 21 CFR Part 101
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, or a related field a plus

Personal Attributes

• Takes ownership — if it is on your list, it gets done
• Notices what is slipping before being told
• Can lead and coach others without direct daily supervision of their own work
• Communicates problems early, not after the fact
• Comfortable in a small, growing operation where needs evolve
• Sets up systems that work when you are not in the building

What We Offer

• Competitive hourly pay with performance-based increases
• Flexible schedule — days and hours are negotiable
• A role with genuine responsibility in a quality-focused, growing operation
• Direct access to and support from a PCQI-certified owner
• The opportunity to lead a small food safety team (five team members have PCQI’s) and build a program that grows with the business

About The Cookie Cupboard

The Cookie Cupboard is a growing wholesale bakery based in Cleveland, Ohio. We supply the grocery industry, foodservice and retail customers with consistently superior small batch products. Food safety is not a compliance exercise for us — it is how we protect our customers and our reputation. There easy ways to make cookies, there is no better way. And we have been doing it this way since 1977.

Reports To: President FLSA Status: Non-Exempt (Hourly)

You should be proficient in:

• FDA Regulations
• ERP & MRP Systems
• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)