Quality Assurance Technician
1st shift 8 hours 5 days a week
8AM-5:00PM
 

Duties:

• Assist Supervisor in the Development, Implementation and Maintenance of the Quality and Food Safety (HACCP) programs including employee training, document control and program auditing.
• Assure plant QA lab compliance including record keeping, laboratory execution, Quality Alert effectiveness, hold and release protocols and COA compliance. Maintain high level of “Good Laboratory Practices”.
• Lead laboratory in troubleshooting micro related deficiencies, working with technical resources (Quality, Engineering, and R&D) and plant management resources to identify root cause and eliminate recurring lab – quality related issues.
• Address incoming ingredients, including Salmonella testing. This includes hold and release protocols and COA compliance.
• Coordinate the Third Party Microbiological and Chemical testing program to ensure reliable and efficient test results and ensures that plant laboratory is in compliance with equipment and procedural standards including calibration program.
• Proactively review, analyze and report on out of compliance findings, which include documenting and required following-ups.
• Ensure that “out of specification” product test results, which indicate action on product inventories, are communicated to the appropriate personnel expediently.
• Work with Quality, Production, Maintenance, Transportation and Distribution to ensure compliance to Food Safety Plans (HACCP Plan). Promote understanding of process lines and Food Safety Plans.
• Organize verification schedule of prerequisite programs including Pest Control, Maintenance, Sanitation, GMP’s, Calibration of Equipment, Control of Physical Contamination, Allergen Control, Transport and Delivery, Training of Personnel, Food Defense and Internal Auditing with stakeholder (process owners) departments.

• Maintenance of Quality Systems documentation to include QA, production and sanitation, organizing document numbering, archiving and storage.
• Conduct weekly Self Inspections and data entry and participate in internal audit corrective action review meetings.
• Actively engage in analyzing root cause analysis for customer complaints.
• Ensure prompt communication of results and proper data storage for expedient retrieval.
• Ensure laboratory methods manuals and laboratory SOP's are current and complete.
• Working cross functionally within department to achieve results.

Qualifications:

• Ideally, a background in food technology, food science, confectionary, microbiology, or chemistry.
• Detail oriented ability to balance multiple priorities, and a sense of urgency for problem solving and continuous improvement.
• Ideally, one (1) year of quality, sanitation, and production experience in the food industry, preferably in confectionary, is required, with an intimate knowledge of and passion for quality and sanitation methods and techniques.
• Knowledgeable about HACCP principles and AIB audit process.

• Experienced using a pH meter and conducting acidity test, moisture analysis and sensory analysis when needed.
• Strong level of assertiveness needed to be balanced with exceptional interpersonal skills to achieve results without direct authority.

Company Description
Russell Stover Chocolates is a leader in the manufacturer of boxed chocolates. The company’s three brands – Russell Stover, Whitman’s and Pangburn’s - are sold throughout the United States in company-owned retail stores and 70,000 wholesale accounts. After nearly 100 years in operation the company manufactures approximately 100 million pounds of chocolate candies each year in its proud tradition of being “Made in America” and “Handcrafted in Small Batches”.
In September 2014, Russell Stover Chocolates was acquired by Lindt and Sprungli, the world leader in premium chocolates. This was the largest acquisition in the history of Lindt and Sprungli which has operations in over 40 countries across the globe. Russell Stover Chocolates joins sister companies Lindt USA and Ghirardelli to form a powerful confectionery triad in North America.
Employment by Russell Stover Chocolates is contingent upon I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification, passing the urinalysis drug screen, education verification, and satisfactory reference and background checks.
Russell Stover Chocolates is an EOE/MINORITY/FEMALE/VET/DISABLED employer. Principals only please.