Quality Specialist I

About the role

The Quality Specialist I provides on-site Quality support to Merlin Manufacturing during second shift and ensures compliance with internal Quality Policies, FDA regulations, and SQF requirements. This role includes conducting non-conforming material and equipment investigations, recommending product and equipment dispositions, maintaining Quality inspection and testing programs, supporting trainings, and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Independently conducts non-conforming material and equipment investigations on second shift, recommends disposition decisions to Quality Systems Manager and completes necessary documentation associated with product/equipment holds
• Partners with Production Supervisor, Team Lead, and Maintenance personnel to ensure compliance to Quality Policies and Procedures
• Maintains Quality Inspection and Testing Programs, including maintenance of associated testing equipment, as assigned by Quality Systems Manager
• Maintains assigned SQF programs, including authoring procedures and updating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs), completing monitoring activities, and maintaining required registers and program documentation
• Conducts Quality inspections, including Start of Run and Final Release checks, documents results, escalates findings, and ensures appropriate follow-up on non-conformances
• Supports creation and delivery of Quality-related trainings, including Redzone Quality Checks, annual refreshers, new policies/procedures, and required retraining
• Collaborates with cross-functional teams to support continuous improvement and corrective/preventive action activities
• In the absence of key personnel, assumes responsibility of Food Safety and Quality tasks based on one up, one down SQF requirements

Requirements

• 2-3 years of experience in Production and/or Quality, with at least 1-2 years of a Quality-focused role, preferably in Food Manufacturing
• HACCP Certification (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point)
• Leverage Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt or above
• Experience with Production and Quality Management Software
• Proficient in ERP systems (Enterprise Resource Planning)

Qualifications

• Demonstrates effective verbal and written communication skills to peers, cross-functional partners and leadership
• Ability to collaborate and negotiate through difficult conversations and potentially unpopular decisions to maintain compliance to policies and procedures
• Demonstrates the ability to independently manage multiple priorities, maintain high attention to detail under high pressure situations and hit required deadlines while maintaining a positive and collaborative attitude
• Proactive in both identifying and providing constructive solutions to potential issues and non-conformances. Willing to put action to those findings and open to feedback related to identified solutions from peers, cross-functional partners and leadership
• Performs sound risk assessment during investigations, including determining product and equipment impact. Demonstrates understanding of production processes and equipment and seeks to expand technical knowledge to support future decision-making

Skills

• Effective communication and collaboration
• Sound risk assessment and technical acumen

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, company paid short- and long-term disability, life insurance, paid parental leave, paid time off to rest, paid holidays to have fun, a 401(k) with a company match
• 40 paid volunteer hours a year
• Profit sharing*
• Participation in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)*

Pay

$42,600 to $57,500 annual salary; commensurate with experience.

Schedule

Onsite daily, White River Junction, VT

Location

White River Junction, VT

Education and Experience

• 2-3 years of experience in Production and/or Quality, with at least 1-2 years of a Quality-focused role, preferably in Food Manufacturing
• HACCP Certification (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point)
• Leverage Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt or above
• Experience with Production and Quality Management Software
• Proficient in ERP systems (Enterprise Resource Planning)

Competencies

• Communication and collaboration
• Solutions oriented
• Risk Assessment and Technical Acumen

Physical Requirements/Work Environment/Safety

• Ability to work for prolonged periods at a desk, both in a home office and onsite, using a computer and other standard office equipment
• Regular use of computer keyboard, mouse, and video conferencing tools
• Absolutely no travel required
• Occasional standing, walking, bending, or reaching within the office environment
• May occasionally be required to lift or move items up to 15 pounds (e.g., office materials, documents)
• Visual acuity needed for reviewing documents, spreadsheets, and data on screens
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, over the phone, and through digital platforms
• Occasional dusty environment from dry ingredients
• Environment where many common food allergens are present
• Temperatures on the receiving floor that can be below 60 degrees at times
• Understands that safety is the responsibility of everyone at the organization and is responsible for adhering to/providing work in a safe and ergonomic manner, identifying unsafe conditions and correcting conditions immediately or reporting them promptly
• Participates in safety and compliance training and safety and health programs
• Supervisory Responsibility: N/A
• Travel: N/A

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. It is the responsibility of every employee to contribute to a positive work environment through cooperative and professional interactions with co-workers, customers, and vendors. There's room at our table for you!