APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

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POSITION SPECIFICS​

The Quality and Food Safety Specialist supports the Quality Manager in ensuring that the Penn State Berkey Creamery consistently produces safe, high-quality dairy products in full compliance with federal, state, and university requirements. This hands-on role contributes directly to daily quality and food safety operations, including laboratory testing, documentation, regulatory support, and plant floor interaction.

In this role, the Quality and Food Safety Specialist helps maintain and update the Creamery’s Food Safety Plans in accordance with FSMA and the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance, and supports the development and implementation of HACCP, SOPs, SSOPs, allergen programs, and the Food Defense Plan. The position contributes to food safety and quality committees, including allergen awareness, sanitation, and product recall teams. Daily responsibilities include:

• Performing or assisting with microbiological, compositional, and sensory testing of raw materials and finished products;

• Preparing and maintaining laboratory supplies;

• Calibrating instruments;

• Performing antibiotic testing of raw milk;

• Reviewing sanitation and production records; and

• Supporting product release decisions.

The Quality Lab Specialist helps maintain ingredient and product specifications, nutritional labels, formulas, and allergen declarations using nutritional database software, and plays a key role in preparing for regulatory inspections, internal audits, and third-party assessments.

The position also works closely with production and maintenance teams to support routine operations, troubleshoot quality issues, participate in equipment commissioning, and contribute to process improvements. A significant portion of the role involves maintaining accurate records required by FDA, PDA, and other regulatory agencies, including pasteurization charts, sanitation logs, ingredient documentation, and quality control data. The Quality and Food Safety Specialist helps train employees, student staff, contractors, and vendors in Good Manufacturing Practices, food safety, and food defense procedures, supporting the Creamery’s commitment to ongoing education and compliance. Ultimately, this role ensures continuity of daily quality functions, allowing the Quality Manager