Quality Assurance Technician

About the role

The Quality Assurance Technician plays a crucial role in ensuring that products meet safety, quality, and regulatory standards.

Responsibilities

• Conduct routine inspections of raw materials, ingredients, and finished products to ensure they meet required specifications.
• Collect and test product samples for quality control purposes, checking factors like taste, texture, appearance, and nutritional content.
• Monitor food production processes to ensure compliance with food safety standards (e.g., temperature, cleanliness, and hygiene practices).
• Maintain accurate records of inspections, tests, and production processes, ensuring all data is up-to-date and compliant with regulations.
• Identify issues and work with production teams to implement corrective actions and improve processes to prevent future problems.
• Conduct internal audits to assess adherence to company standards, ISO certifications, and regulatory requirements.
• Assist in training production staff on best practices for food safety and quality standards.
• Identify any non-compliance or issues and report them to supervisors or management.
• Ensure that equipment used in testing and production is calibrated correctly and functioning within specifications.
• Maintain a clean and safe working area and follow all safety protocols, including proper lifting techniques and using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Ensure compliance with company policies and OSHA regulations.

Qualifications

Experience Requirements

• 3+ years of experience in quality assurance, food safety, or production in the food industry.
• Experience performing inspections, conducting tests, and understanding food safety regulations (e.g., HACCP, GMPs).

Specific Skills or Certifications (preferred, not required)

• HACCP Certification (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points).
• Experience in a BRC certified plant.
• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

Additional Experience

• Familiarity with laboratory testing equipment or quality control instruments.
• Experience in data documentation and reporting (using Microsoft Office or specialized software).

Key Skills

• Attention to Detail: Essential for identifying inconsistencies or deviations in product quality.
• Communication Skills: For reporting issues and working with production teams.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to identify root causes of quality issues and recommend corrective actions.
• Knowledge of Food Safety Regulations: Understanding of food safety laws and standards, like FDA, USDA, and FSMA.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to communicate with others both verbally and in writing.
• Independently mobile.
• Use a computer and keyboard.
• Regularly sit, stand, walk, reach, stretch, stoop, bend for extended periods.
• Ability to lift/carry 25 to 60 lbs.
• Exposure to noise levels that require hearing protection.