QA Technician

Position Summary

The QA Technician is accountable for conducting assigned product testing, verifying correct packaging, product grade, size, weight, color, and condition. The Agronomy Quality Technician monitors the work area for cleanliness and compliance in regard to food safety regulations, safety protocols, and customer specifications and provides any corrective actions to the Agronomy Quality Supervisor.

Key Business Outcomes

• Data Retention
• Quality Control with corrective actions

Career Roadmap

• QA Coordinator
• Agronomy Quality Supervisor/Production Supervisor
• Associate Agronomist

Qualifications

• Experience in produce, preferably in potatoes or a manufacturing setting
• Demonstrated ability to use all Microsoft office products such as Excel, Word
• Knowledge of, or ability to quickly learn specialized software related to the position

Key Competencies

• Communication Effectiveness
• Computer Skills
• Dependable Work Habits

Accountabilities

• Conducts assigned product testing verifying correct packaging, product grade, size, weight, color, and condition.
• Maintains cleanliness of the work area and ensures compliance with food safety regulations, safety protocols, and customer specifications.
• Completes data entry in reporting system software used in management decisions. Data entry includes but is not limited to sizing, quality, product spec, lot numbers, varieties and fields, customer order detail, and quality testing results.
• Verifies execution of food safety and quality assurance plan for first or second shift operations.
• Performs product sampling to verify shipments meet customer requirements including grade, size, weight, color, and condition. Identifies and records defects and sizing per USDA and customer standards.
• Serves as quality control inspector providing performance feedback to management in a timely manner. Ability to stop line and inform operations when varieties do not meet standards.
• Assists in loading/unloading of plastic crates full of potato samples (R&D Lab).
• Bruise Duties include: Weigh potato samples using a digital scale, Peel potato samples to evaluate bruising using both electric and hand peelers, accurately record and report findings. Evaluate storage bins for visual defects such as sinkholes, sweat spots, mold or rotting potatoes.
• May perform Scouting duties during growing season as listed below: Observes fields, collects samples and records data regarding: insect pressure, weed pressure, plant disease and population counts. Performs regular visual inspections of supplier fields to monitor crop health and ongoing conditions. Tracks and reports performance such as but not limited to; quality, yield and other field observations.
• Physical Activities/Demands: Moderate level of walking and activity in/around the production floor. Requires ability to: ascend/descend various types of ladders and stairs; move oneself into different positions in various environments (sometimes tight); walk moderate distances while pushing a wheeled cart; lift 20 pounds consistently and occasionally up to 50 pounds; communicate with others via voice, listening, and verbal response; repeat motions with the arms, wrists, hands and fingers; bend, stoop, squat and kneel; visually see and identify defects (color, variety, length, width, appearance); grasp and manipulate a kitchen knife; enter data via computer.
• Environmental Conditions: Temperature controlled indoor environments which could include noisy environments; slippery and wet floor conditions, exposure to regulated chemicals; dusty or poorly ventilated environments; dimly lit areas.