Quality Assurance Technician

OVERVIEW: 

Initiate, implement and enforce Quality Assurance and Food Safety programs for maintaining best quality and safe food product by managing resources, quality and food safety activities in the plant. The candidate must possess good knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) and quality control system, and basic knowledge of sanitation skills. Understands and communicates quality and food safety program and policies to promptly to Management, subordinates, peers and other managers as necessary. Possesses an ability to direct subordinates and conduct analytical practices to support quality processes and policies.? 

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES/FUNCTIONS: 

• Manage HACCP Program execution for products  
• Implement and communicate information on Food safety programs, manufacturing problems. 
• Assist, as needed, on plant trials and new product launches. 
• Responsible for assuring the finished product quality is consistent with specifications. Utilize the SOP's to ensures that the plant operates in accordance with good manufacturing practices and are in compliance with federal and state regulatory policies and the products are processed per standards.  
• Identify food safety and process improvement ideas for implementation. 
• Implement quality control processes and procedures for evaluating and receiving food components from suppliers. 
• Help as needed to investigate customer complaint issues and implement corrective action in the plant with timely responses and solutions. 
• Responsible for training and development of staff and plant employees to procedures, policies, GMPs.  
• Ensures that all product files are kept up to date on each product and programs. 
• Identify workplace safety hazards and develop ideas and solution to correct promptly. 
• Manage daily sanitation and pest control activities. 
• Participate in production improvement projects. 
• Coordinate with operational plan to reduce overall customer complaints on product produced on each shift. 
• Ability to design data collection formats, ensure data is collected accurately and design reports that are statistically sound.  
• Other assignments to be determine. 
• Other duties and tasks as assigned.  
• Ability to travel up to 10% of the time. 
• Special projects as assigned

COMPETENCIES: 

• Demonstrate the highest integrity both personally and professionally. 
• Provide excellent written and verbal communications skills. 
• Provide excellent customer service to internal and external customers and suppliers.  
• Capable of working with peers and associates from other departments and shifts in a proactive and constructive manner. 
• Ability to handle multiple jobs, simultaneous projects in a fast-paced environment meeting timelines and deadlines 
• Ability to prioritize, multi task, and shift priorities as necessary 
• Knowledge of MS Office software including Excel, Word, PowerPoint 
•  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. This position will sometimes need to work in a cold, wet environment.  
•  PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Occasional lifting up to 40 pounds may be required. This position is required to travel via plane for food safety audits.  

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Associates degree in a related field or equivalent work experience required. 
• Preferred 2-4 years combined of technical, manufacturing, food safety and/or quality management experience. 
• Quality Assurance experience preferred. 
• Familiarity with HACCP principles preferred.  
• Working knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) compliance is preferred. 
• The ability to utilize structured problem solving methods to deliver results. 
• Demonstrated competence to work and communicate effectively with all levels in the organization. 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, with willingness and ability to learn new systems. 
• Strong verbal and written communication skills required. 
• Bilingual, English/Spanish preferred.