Position summary:  The Senior Food Safety and Quality Assurance Technician oversees and manages the day to day activities of food safety and quality as they are implemented at the production level. This mid-level position is responsible for driving a culture of continuous improvement and ensuring quality systems are developed and maintained that meet facility and customer needs.  The individual would report to and work closely with the Director of Food Safety to manage and implement the facility's food safety and quality programs. The position provides support to both Q.A. Management and Technicians.
 
Position responsibilities:
 

• Perform duties of Q.A. Technicians
• Act as backup for absent Q.A. Technicians
• Assign and manage the work schedule for Q.A. Technicians
• Support and advise Q.A. Technicians on quality issues
• Review daily Q.A. and production paperwork for accuracy and completeness
• Prepare samples and send products for periodic testing as required
• Assist with internal and third party audits
• Assist in training Q.A. Technicians
• Develop and maintain quality manuals, quality forms, quality test equipment, and quality testing procedures
• Prepare weekly Quality reports for Q.A. Management
• Work with Shift Leaders, Operators, and Q.A. Technicians to provide immediate feedback on product quality results and adherence to quality standards
• Assist with placing non-conforming product on hold and determining the disposition with Q.A. Management
• Respond to and record trends of consumer complaints
• Manage inventory and ordering of Quality Department supplies
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Job description can be changed at any time.

Essential skills and experience:
 

• Must possess skills and ability to be self-driven
• Must demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills, planning and organizational skills, leadership ability
• Must be capable of making quick informed decisions to resolve quality issues and avoid production delays
• Must be able to interpret test and inspection results and reach conclusions that assure requirements are met
• Must be able to use sampling techniques effectively
• Ability to use basic laboratory equipment
• Ability to communicate effectively (orally and written) across diverse functional areas
• Ability to work directly with consumers in a professional and timely manner Proficient with Excel, PowerPoint and Word.

 
Education and Experience:
 

• Minimum two years college training in Sciences or equivalent plus two years Quality Assurance experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Previous manufacturing or food safety experience desired
• HACCP and/or SQF certification preferred

SQF Requirements/Responsibilities:

• Support SQF requirements by maintaining food safety plan and food quality through completing job tasks and maintaining the work area in a sanitary manner to ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, and Kosher product requirements.
• Report food safety problems and Food Defense issues to the SQF Director and assist with initiating corrective action.

 
Safety Responsibilities

• Safety is vitally important not only at our facility but also from a personal standpoint. Employees are responsible for understanding and following all safety procedures. Likewise, food safety is a key performance indicator. Understanding this, GMP and housekeeping procedures are to be followed as part of any job at our facility.

 
Reporting Structure:

• This position reports to the SQF Director.
• Reporting to this position are the Quality Assurance Technicians.

 
Physical demands and work environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical demands:  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Work environment:  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment requires mandatory use of ear plugs.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
M/F/V/H