Food Safety Trainee

Role Overview

This entry-level position is your chance to build hands-on expertise in food safety while working within a school feeding operation. You will be embedded in kitchen environments, learning from an experienced Food Safety Associate and applying your knowledge to real-world situations. Your daily attention directly protects the health of students by ensuring every meal is prepared, stored, and served under strict safety protocols.

Key Responsibilities

• Inspect kitchen and school sites: Carry out scheduled walkthroughs of cooking facilities and dining areas, checking that sanitation standards, personal hygiene rules, and protective gear requirements are being followed.
• Spot and escalate hazards: Watch for unsafe practices related to food handling and immediately flag any concerns so that a senior team member can address them.
• Verify incoming supplies: Assess deliveries of raw ingredients and food-contact materials to confirm they meet the operation's quality and safety thresholds before they are accepted into storage.
• Track food preparation and service: Observe cooking, cooling, storage, and serving procedures to catch potential contamination risks, including incorrect temperatures, poor segregation, and cross-contact between raw and ready-to-eat items.
• Support sampling and audits: Help gather routine samples of food, water, and surfaces for lab testing, and take part in internal traceability checks and formal compliance audits.
• Follow up on corrective actions: Check that agreed fixes for identified non-conformities have actually been implemented, and report any that are overdue or recurring.
• Maintain records and reports: Complete detailed inspection checklists, record findings and assigned actions, and share straightforward updates so management can track food safety performance.
• Coach kitchen teams: Reinforce proper food safety behavior through everyday interaction and assist the Food Safety Associate in delivering short training refreshers for kitchen and school staff.

Requirements & Qualifications

• A diploma or degree in food science, food technology, environmental health, microbiology, or a related field is preferred, but we also welcome candidates with equivalent hands-on experience in a food service environment.
• Familiarity with basic HACCP principles and hygiene practices; prior exposure to ISO 22000 or similar food safety management systems is an advantage.
• Ability to use temperature probes, pH meters, and other basic food safety testing equipment accurately and interpret the results.
• Strong observational skills with the confidence to identify non-compliance and communicate it clearly and professionally.
• Good record-keeping habits and attention to detail—someone who can document findings legibly and consistently.
• A collaborative mindset and willingness to learn from senior food safety personnel; willingness to travel between assigned kitchen and school sites is necessary.