Quality Assurance Technician

About the role

At CTI Foods, we passionately believe that people are our #1 ingredient. We provide a positive and supportive work environment, opportunities for growth and advancement, and a competitive compensation package. The primary responsibility of the Quality Assurance Technician is to ensure compliance with the company’s Food Safety and Quality Management System in accordance with SQF Code requirements for raw materials, processed products, and processing procedures under minimal supervision. This role is responsible for laboratory, online testing, and evaluations to assist the production process.

Responsibilities

• Ensure all non-conforming products are correctly placed on hold until disposition is determined.
• Review and release items on pending pre-shipment hold after verifying documentation accuracy, specification compliance, and micro results.
• Maintain hold logs and tracking systems with accurate and timely information.
• Revise, prepare, and present weekly hold/rework meeting data to QA, Operations, and leadership.
• Maintain working knowledge of labeling regulations, ingredient declarations, allergen statements, nutrition facts, and customer specifications.
• Assist with label development, edits, creation, and verification when the primary label coordinator is unavailable.
• Collaborate with QA, R&D, and Production to ensure label accuracy and compliance.
• Maintain all associated documents, validations, verifications, and records.
• Assist with training employees on food safety practices, SOPs, HACCP principles, and preventive controls.
• Participate in annual reviews, internal audits, and program updates.
• Support continuous improvement efforts related to complaint reduction. Document findings, trends, and root causes.
• Follow all GMPs, Food Safety, HACCP, Preventive Control, Allergen Control, Food Defense, and Quality procedures applicable to their role.
• Produce and handle product in a manner that prevents contamination, adulteration, or mislabeling.
• Accurately complete all required documentation and records.
• Immediately report any food safety, food quality, regulatory, or product integrity concern to supervision or management.
• Stop production or place product on hold if a food safety or quality risk is identified. Take immediate action to prevent potentially unsafe or non-conforming product from entering commerce.
• Perform any other duties assigned by QA leadership to support food safety, compliance, or operational needs.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to efficiently work in a plant environment.
• Regularly required to stand, reach, and move about the facility. Walking; bending twisting at the neck waist; light lifting/carrying.
• Frequent sitting; standing; simple grasping; fine manipulation/feeling; reaching at shoulder level; repetitive motion of the shoulders and arms.
• Constant repetitive motion of the hands; talking; use of vision and hearing.
• Will work on feet for entire shift in a hot, humid, wet, noisy environment (up to 8 hours).
• Stooping, bending, climbing, twisting, stretching, pushing, pulling, and lifting up to 50 pounds.

Work Environment

• Production and QA office environments with exposure to: cold/wet conditions, raw meat processing areas, odors, noise, and moving machinery.
• Will frequently travel throughout the facility for inspections, verification, and product reviews.
• PPE required (smock, hairnet, steel-toe footwear, hearing protection, etc.).

Qualifications

• Ability to apply understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form.
• High School Diploma/GED or equivalent experience preferred.
• Read, write, and communicate as needed.
• Experience in a food manufacturing environment preferred.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Strong communication/training skills.
• Preferred HACCP and PCQI certified.
• Deep understanding of GFSI standard.
• Knowledge of necessary administrative duties to maintain and organize records, reports, or other information.
• Computer literate in Office programs.
• Self-Starter, able to work independently and ability to multi-task.
• Problem solving skills.
• Time management skills.
• Skilled in presenting information or ideas concisely, accurately, and clearly verbally and in writing.
• Skilled in analyzing and documenting simple and complex business processes.
• Skilled in communication with a focus on listening and influencing skills.
• 1–3 years of experience in food manufacturing QA or Food Safety programs preferred.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• Telehealth Services
• 401K Matching
• FSA & HSA available
• EAP and wellbeing support
• Tuition reimbursement program available