QUALITY ASSURANCE INSPECTOR, Meat & Seafood

Lead and execute the quality assurance and food safety programs at the point of product receipt to ensure compliance with the company’s specifications and regulatory standards. Oversee inspection protocols, documentation, and corrective actions. This inspector will work closely with warehouse teams, merchandising, and suppliers to uphold product integrity and safety while driving continuous improvement in seafood quality and safety. Serve as the subject matter expert in seafood QA and food safety. Demonstrate the company’s core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety.

• Inspect incoming seafood products at distribution centers and retail locations to verify compliance with Kroger’s quality and food safety standards
• Verify product compliance with Kroger’s specifications and regulatory requirements (FDA, NOAA, HACCP)
• Perform chemical and physical analyses on seafood, including salt content, pH, TVB-N (Total Volatile Basic Nitrogen), and moisture content, using approved methods to assess product quality and shelf life. 
• Conduct genetic species verification, sensory evaluations, and temperature checks on incoming seafood to confirm authenticity, freshness, and compliance with cold chain requirements
• Identify and report non-conforming products and implement corrective and preventative actions
• Document inspection and analytical results accurately, maintain QA records, review data for trends or deviations, and communicate findings to QA leadership and production teams
• Pull samples for merchandising and suppliers for quality review and prepare additional samples for mailing as needed 
• Participate in audits, training sessions, and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance product quality and process efficiency 
• Provide coaching and training to associates on seafood handling and food safety protocols 
• Collaborate with merchandising and warehouse teams to resolve quality issues and enhance receiving processes, including reviewing and accurately recording product traceability information
• Manage and develop relationships with key suppliers in order to strategically leverage the organization to improve case-ready quality
• Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation

Minimum

• 3+ years of experience in one of the following areas: food safety, quality assurance and inspection, replenishment buying/procurement, merchandising, store management, operations, or brand management
• Strong knowledge of seafood safety standards and regulatory guidelines (FDA, NOAA, HACCP) and government regulatory guidelines related to packaging and product quality/grading
• Demonstrated ability to coach and train others
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently and make decisions in a fast-paced environment

Desired

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience in a related field
• Any experience as a division sales manager, store coordinator, store manager
• Any experience in vendor negotiations or promo planning