Quality Assurance Technician

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: While performing the duties of this job, the employee will:
• 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: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to:
• 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.

This company is an Equal Opportunity Employer.