4 replies to this topic

[Mikmac]

Hi everyone,

 

I have been a HACCP coordinator for 3 years for a company in Australia that manufactures plastic bags for food contact.

I came in at beginner level and over 3 years have written, educated, trained and implemented HACCP  plan and maintain our FSQMS

Due to manufacture from raw resin state I have learnt alot about platics and food packaging within our scope.

However, I have had many other roles 'clipped' onto my HACCP role, including OHS coordinator-write, train, implement, keep up to date with current legislation etc.  I also maintain all data entry for traceability and link this to production and 2IC production manager and human resources,maintain all systems and do material purchasing.  We are a small business (by number of employees-15) but we are substantial in out put with 6 factories, 3 of which are production.  I was on a very very low wage for a long time because my employer tells me there is no exact fit to my description of work and has found a best fit.  It took some convincing 1.5 years ago to get a pay rate increase and still it was not much.  

I am trying to look at options to move to food industry now as I don't know if there is alot of need for a HACCP coordinator in packaging companies?  I have just asked for pay rise and been told no because the business is supporting other things right now.

Okay here are my actual questions-

1) Does anybody know what my title role would be by my description or how to find my real worth or pay rate?

2) I want to study to be a QA manager in a food company - I think?  Is this a good career path? or is there a better position to aspire to.

My concern is I am 49 and have a child in high school so I cannot stop work and study full time.  (I was looking at doing food technology but it is full time study)

Hoping I can get some suggestions, feedback.

P.S I absolutely love what I do, and my keen area of interest is legislation.  I just need to afford to live!

Thanks for reading

 

[jdpaul]

1. Your role or title would be along the lines of Quality and Safety Coordinator.

2. Food industry is growing and the regulations will also continue to grow; my view is that this industry will continue to grow and there will never be a shortage of jobs. A Quality Manager role is a very good path to be on. Most companies would require previous supervisory experience and most of them will require some formal education (usually 4 year degree in science related field). With your current role you could easily move into a Quality Supervisor role and it would probably pay quite a bit more because you are doing some of the things that typically a QA Manager/Safety Manager would oversee (HACCP plan OHS, etc). If you like regulatory you can look at QA regulatory affairs coordinator, etc.

[Scampi]

It sounds like you're being taken advantage of!!!

 

You're skills are transferable!!!  Understanding HACCP is something you can easily move to food---the risks are different obviously, but the method remains the same!!!

 

As the market becomes more and more global and federal legislation catches up, more companies are having to employ HACCP coordinators in various functions.

 

If I were you, i'd be applying to job postings for QA techs/ operations supervisor whatever in food companies that pays more than you're making now. You can easily gain alot of knowledge and experience quicker than going back to school!

 

Best of luck

[Mikmac]

Thank you very much!  There is great points and advice in both replies.

I appreciate your time and comments.

[FSQA]

Hi everyone,

 

I have been a HACCP coordinator for 3 years for a company in Australia that manufactures plastic bags for food contact.

I came in at beginner level and over 3 years have written, educated, trained and implemented HACCP  plan and maintain our FSQMS

Due to manufacture from raw resin state I have learnt alot about platics and food packaging within our scope.

However, I have had many other roles 'clipped' onto my HACCP role, including OHS coordinator-write, train, implement, keep up to date with current legislation etc.  I also maintain all data entry for traceability and link this to production and 2IC production manager and human resources,maintain all systems and do material purchasing.  We are a small business (by number of employees-15) but we are substantial in out put with 6 factories, 3 of which are production.  I was on a very very low wage for a long time because my employer tells me there is no exact fit to my description of work and has found a best fit.  It took some convincing 1.5 years ago to get a pay rate increase and still it was not much.  

I am trying to look at options to move to food industry now as I don't know if there is alot of need for a HACCP coordinator in packaging companies?  I have just asked for pay rise and been told no because the business is supporting other things right now.

Okay here are my actual questions-

1) Does anybody know what my title role would be by my description or how to find my real worth or pay rate?

2) I want to study to be a QA manager in a food company - I think?  Is this a good career path? or is there a better position to aspire to.

My concern is I am 49 and have a child in high school so I cannot stop work and study full time.  (I was looking at doing food technology but it is full time study)

Hoping I can get some suggestions, feedback.

P.S I absolutely love what I do, and my keen area of interest is legislation.  I just need to afford to live!

Thanks for reading

Mikmac,

 

In most of the small businesses in Food Industry, there are multiple responsibilities that can be assigned to a single person. It is a common practice all around the globe (IMO).

To reply to your queries:

 

1) Does anybody know what my title role would be by my description or how to find my real worth or pay rate?

The best Judge of your worth is yourself. You have to assess your capabilities and approximate your worth. Tools like searching for similar open positions with Salary offerings, looking for salaries of people of your similar experience+ same industry+ similar region can give you a good range. Your employer ( as most of the employers, not all ) will think that you are over-paid, so do not only take what they are telling you about yourself.

 

2) I want to study to be a QA manager in a food company - I think?  Is this a good career path? or is there a better position to aspire to.

QA Manager is a good role of someone who is interested in this role, as it brings daily challenges and changes from time to time. It includes lots of self and training of others. As you mentioned you like legislation, Compliance is a big part of this role.

There are several part time and online training programs available that can help you to achieve this position, including at-job/hands-on experience is an additional benefit that you have.

 

I am not directly in Food Packaging industry, however, I have noticed many opportunities opening in the USA recently, particularly after FSMA implementations.