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Food Safety Practitioner Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Under Minimal guidance, the Food Safety Compliance Specialist's primary role is to coordinate ... Safe Quality Food (SQF) Practitioner Certification is desirable * HACCP Certification is desirable ...

Under Minimal guidance, the Food Safety Compliance Specialist's primary role is to coordinate ... Safe Quality Food (SQF) Practitioner Certification is desirable * HACCP Certification is desirable ...

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Managing workplace safety programs, OSHA compliance, investigations, and training * Assist SQF Practitioner with Food Safety programs, audits, HACCP processes, and food safety training * Partnering ...

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Food Safety Practitioner information

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$41.5K

$130.3K

$200K

How much do food safety practitioner jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for food safety practitioner in the United States is $130,295.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $108,000.00 and $150,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Food Safety Practitioner, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Food Safety Practitioner, you need a solid understanding of food science, microbiology, and regulatory compliance, often supported by a degree in food science or a related field. Familiarity with HACCP principles, food safety management systems (such as ISO 22000), and relevant certifications like ServSafe are typically required. Attention to detail, analytical thinking, and strong communication skills help ensure effective risk assessment and training of staff. These skills and qualifications are essential for preventing foodborne illnesses, maintaining regulatory compliance, and protecting public health.

What are some common challenges Food Safety Practitioners face when implementing safety protocols in diverse work environments?

Food Safety Practitioners often encounter challenges such as varying levels of staff training, resistance to new procedures, and differences in facility resources across locations. Adapting protocols to fit different production settings while ensuring full regulatory compliance requires strong communication and problem-solving skills. Practitioners must also frequently collaborate with cross-functional teams to maintain high standards and foster a culture of food safety throughout the organization.

What is the difference between Food Safety Practitioner vs Food Safety Auditor?

AspectFood Safety PractitionerFood Safety Auditor
CertificationsServSafe, HACCPISO 22000 Lead Auditor, HACCP
Work EnvironmentFood production, processing facilitiesInspection sites, client offices
Employer & IndustryFood manufacturers, restaurantsConsulting firms, certification bodies

Food Safety Practitioners focus on implementing and maintaining food safety protocols within organizations, ensuring compliance with standards. Food Safety Auditors evaluate and verify these practices through inspections and audits. While both roles require similar certifications like HACCP, Practitioners are hands-on in daily operations, whereas Auditors assess compliance externally. Understanding these differences helps employers and professionals choose the right career path or service.

What are Food Safety Practitioners?

Food Safety Practitioners are professionals who ensure that food products are handled, prepared, and stored in ways that prevent foodborne illnesses and contamination. They monitor and enforce food safety regulations, conduct inspections, and educate food handlers on safe practices. Their work is vital in maintaining the safety and quality of food from production to consumption, protecting public health and meeting regulatory standards.
More about Food Safety Practitioner jobs
What states have the most Food Safety Practitioner jobs? States with the most job openings for Food Safety Practitioner jobs include:
Infographic showing various Food Safety Practitioner job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 16% Full Time, 79% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Nights. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $130,295 per year, or $62.6 per hour.

Food Safety & Compliance Specialist

Kura Sushi Corporate Support Center

Irvine, CA

$66K - $85K/yr

Full-time

Posted 2 days ago


Job description

Kura Sushi USA is a publicly traded U.S. company established in 2008 as a subsidiary of Kura Sushi, Inc. We are an innovative and tech interactive Japanese restaurant chain serving up the ultimate eater-tainment dining experience with a combination of premium ingredients, advanced technology, and affordable prices to create a one-of-a-kind revolving sushi dining experience.

Come join the Kura Krew!ย We have and exciting opportunity for a Food Safety & Compliance Specialist to join our growing team.

This role is a hybrid role. The selected candidate must be able to come to the office in Irvine, CA on in office days and as needed to carry out necessary functions of the role.

The Food Safety & Compliance Specialist is Responsible for working with the supervisor in the oversite of the three major components of food safety for the company inclusive of: (1) Developing food safety SOPโ€™s and standards, (2) Oversight of compliance for all food safety related curriculum and generate routine audits and reporting to achieve local and federal standards, and (3) Collaborates with cross-functional teams to instill a safety culture in the organization inclusive of cleanliness, PMC, SDS and proper chemical handling/usage, proper equipment usage/cleaning and proper documentation/action plans or local food safety inspections. The position also is responsible for independently maintaining and updating records, trackers and logs pertaining to Food Safety and Compliance. Exercising experience and knowledge to flag repeat violations/offences/ occurrences to the appropriate supervisor for any action that needs to be taken.

ESSENTIAL

ยทPromote, maintain, and support the food safety culture to include but not limited to: SQF System, Regulatory Requirements, Customer Specifications, Safe Food Handling Practices.

ยทSupportย & maintain all HACCP plans inclusive of creating all NSO HACCP Plan submittals for new markets and local requirement modifications.

ยทSupport restaurant facility sanitation program and equipment cleaning | usage.

ยทCreates training tools around food safety, food handling, food dethawing, SDS, equipment usage | cleaning, chemical usage and storage, store checklists pertaining to the food safety plan / HACCP plans and any operational change that impacts the food safety flow chart.

ยทMaintain small tools tracker- pH meters, calibration solutions, thermometers, kitchen/cleaning tools, etc. Track costs, frequency of purchase to determine durability replacement schedule.

ยทWork with Food Safety and Compliance Manager to manage HAACP Plan for Sushi Rice Tracker

ยทAudit bi-annually or any other frequency as determined by the Supervisor, HAACP plan, FDA state, county, and municipal jurisdictions and ensure all restaurants are following the latest HAACP required procedures.

ยทConduct quarterly audit of FDA state, county, and municipal jurisdictions and ensures all restaurants are following the latest required procedures.

ยทIdentifies food safety hazards and works towards immediate and long-term correction.

ยทWorking with local leadership, follows-up on any Food Safety concerns raised by Management, Quality & SQF Practitioners, and/or other local regulatory agencies.

ยทCreates monthly reporting and audits of all food safety certifications required by jurisdiction inclusive of food handling, alcohol, allergen, choke training or any other restaurant required compliance training.

ยทWork with the Safety Team on monthly Food Safety Meetings and help facilitate as needed.

ยทWork with Safety, QA and Supply Chain for national recall protocol and / or outbreak protocols.

ยทProactively researches and learns new regulations and standards and implements or updates the current standard procedures.

ยทOther duties/tasks as may be assigned.

ยทSupport of 3rd party auditing company initiatives

ยทIndependently schedule and proctor food manager exams.

ยทUpdate ARMGโ€™s, RFTโ€™s and other depts as deemed necessary on the status of individuals passing or failing food manager exams.

Competency:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

ยทAnalytical - Uses intuition and experience to complement data.

ยทProblem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully.

ยทInterpersonal - Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Friendly, out-going disposition.

ยทOral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions.

ยทWritten Communication - Writes clearly and informatively. Able to read and interpret written information.

ยทPresents numerical data effectively.

ยทOrganizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; Completes tasks correctly and on time;ย supports Companyโ€™s goals and values.

ยทAdaptability - Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.

ยทAttendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.

ยทInitiative - Volunteers readily; Undertakes self-development activities; Seeks increased responsibilities; Takes independent actions and calculated risks; Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; Asks for and offers help when needed.

ยทJudgment - Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Displays willingness to make decisions. Supports and explains reasoning for decisions.

ยทPlanning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently.

ยทProfessionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.

ยทQuality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.

ยทQuantity - Meets productivity standards; Completes work in a timely manner; Strives to increase productivity; Works quickly.

ยทSafety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.

Qualifications:

Education/Experience:

2 yearsโ€™ experience in supporting of creating Standard Operating Procedures that comply with allย local and federal food safety guidelines.ย 

ยทFive years or more of food safety and compliance management experience in a restaurant or manufacturing environment - Required | seafood experience preferred.

ยทFood Safety Manager Certification โ€“ Required

ยทProficient MS Office Suite required.

ยทBachelorโ€™s degree in food science and / or equivalent experience preferred.

ยทExpert with HACCP, FDA, USDA Food Safety regulations + UL and ETL Equipment Certifications preferred.

ยทMinimum of 2 years instructional/training/development/presentation experience preferred.

ยทMinimum of 2 years OSHA training & material handling certification safety experience preferred.

ยทHACCP Certification and experience creating HACCP plans and Food Safety Plans preferred.

ยทMinimum of 2 years creating curriculum and providing instruction preferred.

ยทAbility to effectively communicate with management in English. Ability to interact with all levels of management. Ability to additionally speak and write in Japanese and/or Spanish preferred.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Noise level is moderate to loud. Ability to travel up to 50% of the time.

PAY RANGE: $66,000 - $85,000/yr max DOE.