Vacancy Details

Administrative and Central Office

Quality Assurance Specialist - Food Safety & Quality Assurance - 17209

Quality Assurance Specialist (Foods)

L1

Office of Food & Nutrition Services

This position is in a civil service competitive class that is subject to examination. If you do not already have permanent NYC civil service status as Quality Assurance Specialist (Foods), you will have to file to take the civil service exam for this title when offered by Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS). Information regarding NYC civil service exams can be found on the DCAS website. This position is open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a program. Please indicate in your cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position under the 55-a program.

AMENDED

Position Summary: The Office of Food & Nutrition Services is dedicated to providing safe, attractive, appetizing, and nutritionally sound meals in a timely manner to the students of the City of New York. The Quality Assurance Specialist - Food Safety & Quality Assurance Unit has an integral role in the delivery of quality services to the students of New York City. He or she will work closely with the Quality Manager and the  and the Director of Food Safety & Quality Assurance Unit to ensure that the contractual specifications of food and food related items meets or exceeds the standards set forth within the Department of Education (DOE).  Performs related work.

Reports to: Quality Manager, OFNS   

Direct Reports:  N/A

Key Relationships: Relationships will be fostered with Quality Assurance Specialists in the unit as well as field representatives and supervisors.

Responsibilities

• Inspects food distributor, processor and manufacturer warehouses to ensure the maintenance of vendor requirements/specifications.
• Conducts citywide routine school inspections and follow-up visits on a daily basis.
• Visits/inspects NYC locations serviced by SchoolFood.
• Responds to allegations of food borne illnesses and issues concerning reports of foreign matter.
• Handles product samples for laboratory testing when necessary.
• Sends reports and communicates findings to the field.
• Inspects food to assure compliance with contract terms and standards associated with grading and stamping.
• Ensures microbiological laboratory reports are received in a timely manner.
• Communicates with brokers and manufacturers regarding food supply processes.
• Participates in perpetual and physical inventories at the distributors/processors.
• Attends weekly/bimonthly meetings.
• Conducts instructional workshops in kitchens to train on “best if used by” practices.
• Does not accept donated commodities at the distributor and/or school level.
• Enters data associated with rejected donated commodities in computer programs.
• Ensures that “best if used by” guidelines are up-to-date.  Distributes the guidelines to food service staff and is the expert on such matters. 

Qualification Requirements:

Minimum

1.   A four‐year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a State’s department of education or a recognized accrediting organization and four years of satisfactory full‐time experience, purchasing or inspecting food, particularly meat, poultry, dairy products, fresh/processed fruits and vegetables, and related products; or

2.   An associate degree from an accredited college, including or supplemented by 12 semester credits in    food technology, and three years of satisfactory full‐time experience as described in ʺ1ʺ above; or

3.   A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, including or supplemented by 24 semester credits in agriculture or related field, and one year of satisfactory full‐time experience as described in ʺ1ʺ above; or

 4.   A satisfactory combination of education and/or experience equivalent to "1", "2" or "3" above.

 Undergraduate college credit may be substituted for experience on the basis of 45 semester credits from an accredited college for one (1) year of experience. However, all candidates must have a four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and at least one (1) year of the satisfactory full-time experience as described in "1" above.            

License Requirements

1.   For all positions

      A motor vehicle driver license valid in the State of New York.

2.   For certain positions requiring the measuring of the fat content of milk

A State of New York Department of Agriculture and Markets Article IV license ‐ Test Method E and J (Milk Receiver Gerber Methods).

The licenses described above must be maintained for the duration of employment.

Preferred

• Effective verbal and writing communication skills.
• General knowledge of the New York City DOE’s office operations.
• Food safety and/or food management experience.
• Candidates who have taken and passed the civil service exam for Quality Assurance Specialist. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft applications, including Word and Excel.

Salary: $43,823+

(Internal candidates who are selected for this position and who currently hold comparable or less senior positions within the DOE will not earn less than their current salary.)

Please include a resume and cover letter with your application.

NOTE: The filling of all positions is subject to budget availability and/or grant funding.

NEW REQUIREMENT
As of August 2, 2021, all NYC Department of Education new hires (who are not currently employees of the City of New York) must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination prior to beginning their employment unless they have been granted a reasonable accommodation for religious or medical reasons. More information can be found in Executive Order 75.

DOE Non- Discrimination Policy
It is the policy of the Department of Education of the City of New York to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity, national origin, alienage, citizenship status, age, marital status, partnership status, disability, sexual orientation, gender (sex), military status, unemployment status, caregiver status, consumer credit history, prior record of arrest or conviction (except as permitted by law), predisposing genetic characteristics, or status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual offenses and stalking, and to maintain an environment free of harassment on any of the above-noted grounds, including sexual harassment or retaliation. For more information, please refer to the DOE Non-Discrimination Policy.