Quality Technician

Position Objective:

Organize, manage and report laboratory and quality program functions to support the quality program.  Develop and utilize available technology to maximize capacity and quality, at minimal cost. Provide support to production and maintenance as needed.

Key Result Areas:

Performance Standards

Laboratory Support

• Ensure that lab information supports optimization of production capability and efficiency.
• Generate and distribute reports and required.
• Assist Quality Manager as needed.
• Product Testing (RVA) for enzyme activity level and potential cross contamination.

Regulatory Requirements

• Meet or exceed all customer and third party requirements for food safety standards (SQF, AIB, and Customer).
• Monitor and report any safety violations to area supervisor and/or plant management.
• Support the quality management systems that:
  • Ensure all products meet or exceed company quality specifications;
  • Ensure that all exceptions to product quality standards are promptly and thoroughly investigated, and root causes are identified and corrected.
  • Ensure all customer qualification requirements are met or exceeded; and
  • Ensure full compliance with SQF quality standards.
• Work with QA Manager to notify corporate QA regarding potential withdrawal/recall situations.
• Support the administration and execution of the HACCP prerequisite programs (Kosher, sanitation, GMPs, CAR etc).

Manufacturing/Sales Support

• Provide Manufacturing with information as needed for production & packaging.
• Produce sample requests/ small batch production for Sales and customers promptly and completely.
• Support Manufacturing by rotating into production as needed.
• Complete comparative analysis of field samples when obtained.
• Fully and promptly assist in investigations of customer complaints, prepare timely written responses in accordance with Corporate QA Policy, and assist with the development and implementation of effective measures to prevent recurrence.
• Support maintaining computer files in QA database with QA data on all products produced in plant
• Enter COA data into database for all manufactured products and factored goods.
• Generate COAs for all manufactured products at time of shipment.

Maintenance Support

• Support Maintenance department with plant repair and maintenance tasks as needed.

Human Resources

• Comply with HR policies and procedures.
• Comply with relevant employment laws.

Other

• Other duties as assigned.

A combination of the listed skills and knowledge is preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or Food Science or 5+ years of comparable industry experience.
• QA experience in a food manufacturing facility.
• Thorough knowledge of GMP’s, HACCP, AIB and SQF standards.
• Knowledge of food safety and food hygiene principles/HACCP training.
• Microsoft Office skills (Excel, Word, etc.) and knowledge of data systems.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills.
• Experience or training in safety/ environmental compliance.
• Advanced computer skills.
• Continuous Improvement.

Working Conditions

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; and talk, hear and smell. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is sometimes exposed to airborne particles and chemicals. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts.  The employee frequently works in high places and is infrequently exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, risk of electrical shock, and vibration

Other Factors

• Work hours are Monday – Friday TBD.
• Some overtime is required.