By: Kristie Grzywinski, Senior Technical Manager, Safe Quality Food Institute
Did you know that food systems auditing is the most undiscovered yet highly in demand career choice for food industry professionals? As the food industry moves away from inspecting and towards assessing food safety management systems using third-party assessments, a new breed of auditor is needed.
What does a food systems auditor do?
A food systems auditor assesses the food safety and quality systems developed and implemented by a food supply chain stakeholder. These stakeholders represent everything from growers, food processing or packaging manufacturers, to distribution companies, retailers, and foodservice operations. The auditor verifies the systems and programs against a recognized set of criteria and objectively records their findings. To be able to do this, the auditor needs to possess and sustain the below attributes and qualities:
- Comprehensive technical knowledge of quality and food safety management principles and their application in the food industry;
- Specialized food-industry expertise and the ability to critically assess potential product hazards;
- Awareness of international food regulations; and
- An understanding of the audit process and how to lead an audit.
Additionally the auditor will need to:
- Communicate effectively to cross functional teams and deliver formal and informal presentations and technical reports; and
- Collect objective evidence through effective listening, observing, interviewing and reviewing documents, data and records.
Since 2013, the FMI Foundation has sponsored scholarships to students currently enrolled in food and agricultural science majors who have a true interest in the field of accredited food safety auditing. Applications are now being accepted for the 2016/2017 academic year.
These scholarships are extremely competitive and are based primarily on academic ability, leadership potential, motivation and initiative, along with a passion for the food industry and the auditing profession.
Scholarship details:
Amount: $3,000 undergraduate / graduate
Duration: 1 year
Deadline: September 16, 2016 – 5:00 p.m. ET
Requirements: GPA: 3.2 or higher
All scholarship recipients will also be awarded travel, hotel and registration compensation to attend the 2016 SQF International Conference October 25-27, 2016 at the Loews Royal Pacific Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.
Visit www.fmi.org/foundation/scholarship to view eligibility requirements and application criteria. For questions about the scholarship please contact: Kristie Grzywinski, SQFI Sr. Technical Manager, kgrzywinski@fmi.org.
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