Quality Assurance Technician (Hiring Immediately)

JOB SUMMARY Assist the Quality Assurance team members in implementing, supporting & monitoring quality control plans and process control procedures, company standards, ensuring achievement of quality specifications for packaging, raw ingredients, and finished products & food safety of manufactured products.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Administer simple measurements using simple testing/measuring equipment: weighing scale, caliper, thermometer, pH meter, refractometer; and gather information on the effectiveness of processes or procedures

Check Certificates Of Analysis (COAs) if it conforms to specifications

Perform Microbiological & Physico-chemical analysis as assigned

Apply basic sensory evaluation methods & identify the tools, procedures, and principles underlying sensory evaluation

Interpret results of sensory evaluation using descriptive & inferential statistics

Coordinate preparation of core products for consumer & expanded tests

Perform regular calibration & maintenance of less sensitive laboratory equipment, & general good laboratory procedures.

Perform routine maintenance & regular calibration of less sensitive equipment

Understand basic food processing & preservation technology associated with a particular food area.

Identify the standard equipment in food processing & preservation of a particular food area.

Conduct simple audit using prescribed tools, standards, and processes using basic knowledge of Good Manufacturing Program (GMP) standards

Perform product comparative evaluation to align quality of commissary finished products.

Monitor and segregate returns / rejects based on form & actual and facilitates possible disposal.

Apply the concepts & philosophies of quality management and Good Manufacturing Program (GMP) standards on Quality Assurance accountabilities

Assist in the collation of data needed for compliance reporting & ensure compliance to relevant government/quality systems standards

Participate in ensuring applicable regulatory, customer & company requirements are met

Perform daily Quality Assurance walk-throughs; verify & monitor current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and food safety protocols are always followed in the facility; set example by practicing correct GMP procedures

Monitor & verify that Critical Control Points (CCPs) and preventive controls (allergen controls, supplier controls, process controls, and sanitation controls) are in place & effectively implemented

Collect, analyze, and release raw ingredient, work-in-process, finished product, and retention samples as required, as well as document information derived from analysis

Carry out chemical testing & physical specification compliance testing for applicable raw ingredient, work-in-process, finished product, and retention samples; testing includes pH, brix, salinity, sensory, visual, weight, dimension, temperature checks

Review Certificates Of Analysis (COAs) and Certificate of Compliance or Certificate of Conformity (COC) and use these as reference for recording & submission of raw ingredient, work-in-process, finished product, water, air, employee hand swabs & environmental samples to accredited labs for analysis

Follow strictly the compliance to food safety program, quality standards, and legality of products manufactured in the facility.

Initiate & complete the hold process for non-conforming product, raw materials, and other materials as required; follow up and complete disposition when determined

Assist in investigating non-conformances & complaints through root cause analysis & feedback management

Monitor corrective & preventive actions are effectively implemented to prevent occurrence & recurrence of deviations

Perform sanitation efficacy monitoring & allergen testing in the facility, such as swabbing & visual inspections

Perform pre-operational inspections (monitoring for food safety & quality)

Responsible for the calibration of the metal detection system & ensure equipment is in top performance

Establish quality assurance related SDS library

Inspect pest control devices & report findings to the QA team

Keep records of all facility analytical results; ensure the good documentation practices are followed; immediately report results discovered to be out of specification to the Quality Assurance Supervisor and/ or the Quality Assurance Manager; provide documented reports (including tracking & reporting data trends) of analytical results to the QA team

Monitor the availability of the needed QA laboratory supplies

Assist with regulatory & independent inspections & audits

NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Prepare periodic status/management reports related to the Quality Assurance & other reports that maybe required by QA Manager

Maybe assigned as project manager or team lead of new & existing programs/projects related to quality assurance

Seek to build/enhance professional competence, knowledge & skills necessary for the satisfactory performance of all assigned responsibilities

Perform other job/task or quality assurance expertise related assignments as assigned by immediate supervisor in order to develop one’s self and/or share one’s expertise resulting to support work efficiencies & productivity

Perform administrative duties during Quality Program implementation & monitoring and other duties as necessary (i.e. making copies, printing, filing, etc.)

JOB SPECIFICATIONS Education & Experience

At least High School graduate, Associate degree or higher education, preferred in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Food Science, Food technology, Microbiology, Food Microbiology, or any related discipline or equivalent combination of education & experience in food sciences from which comparable knowledge, skills & abilities have been achieved

Minimum of 1 year food industry manufacturing or quality assurance technician job experience, with solid knowledge, application & use of the Quality Assurance technical terms, equipment & laboratory tools, preferred

Bona Fide Occupational Qualifications (BFQs)

Food Quality Assurance related training, licensing or certifications from organizations and/or the academe or any equivalent combination of education & experience from which comparable knowledge, skills & abilities have been achieved, preferred

Expressed interest & demonstrated skills in food quality assurance is a must

Professional certifications preferred (at least any of these):

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certification

Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP) certification

Good Housekeeping Practices (5S) certification

Certified Food Protection Managers (CFPMs) or Serv Safe Allergens

Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Training/ Certification

Six Sigma

Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)

Safe Quality Food (SQF) Certification

Total Quality Management

ISO Certification

Certified Food Scientist (CFS)

Essential Skills & Traits

Technical Competencies

Food Manufacturing

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)

Good Housekeeping Practices or 5S

Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP)

Food Protection Managers (CFPMs) or Serv Safe Allergens

Quality Management

Food Safety

Workplace Safety

Management Competencies

Shift Management

Leadership Skills (Influential Leadership)

People Management Skills (i.e. Interpersonal Skills, Coaching, Training, etc.)

Cost Management, Work Management, Efficiencies & Productivity

Kaizen/Continuous Improvement

Essential Traits

Self-Motivated (Takes Initiative, Enthusiastic, Wants Challenge)

Persistent

Analytical & Analyzing Pitfalls

Balance of Authoritative & Collaborative

Balance of Certain & Open/Reflective

Balance of Self-Acceptance & Self-Improvement

Effective Enforcing

Enlists Cooperation

Handling Conflict

Pressure Tolerance

Flexible Order (Balance of Organize & Flexibility)

Other Qualifications

Computer Literacy:

Proficient in MS Applications (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Physical Effort/Requirements:

Stand/walk for the majority 90% of the scheduled work shift

Lift, reach, pull, push, grasp & use hands frequently

Bend and/or squat down for the majority of shift

Climb, stoop and/or kneel rarely

Lift up to 50 pounds occasionally

Need to see well enough to differentiate product quality parameters, read/compose email, reports & use the computer and be proactive to customers’ feedback affecting quality

Need to speak & hear well enough to give/receive instructions, feedback & communicate with employees, customers & partners/suppliers

Be required to work irregular hours, varying work shifts schedules as necessary

Work Environment:

Kitchen/production areas with extreme temperatures

Manufacturing plants, warehouse & logistics work areas

Store & vendor/supplier plant visits, as necessary

Production & Store kitchen equipment

Hot & cold temperatures & a wet work area

Wet & slippery floors

Cleaning chemicals

Possible cuts & burns

Moderate noise level when working in production, store & suppliers’ work environment

Tensions & pressures may arise in meeting deadlines & goals

This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature & level of work performed by employees in this classification. It's not designed to contain or be interpreted as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities & qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. The duties, responsibilities may differ from the job description, and that the other duties as assigned, may be part of the job.

If the position requires a college/university degree, it must have been issued by an educational institution accredited by the United States Department of Education. Any degree issued by educational institution outside the United States must include documentation validating the equivalency of the degree to the same degree in the United States to be considered acceptable for this company’s purposes.

Reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities maybe requested by calling the hiring location.

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