Description

Summary

Under the general direction of and reporting to the facility Quality Manager, the Quality Assurance Technician is responsible for assuring that safe, quality pet foods are produced by performing operations monitoring, performing prescribed tests, recording test results, taking appropriate actions when production and/or quality issues arise, and maintaining an accurate log of daily activities. The QA Tech must also work with other departments and management. The Quality Assurance Technician will be knowledgeable of Stella & Chewy’s product attributes.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

This position is responsible for planned and unplanned absence coverage for QA Technicians at both manufacturing facilities. The floating QA Technician’s hours will be adjusted to provide maximum department coverage when absence coverage is needed. The floating QA Technician will cover scheduled weekend work hours when absence coverage is needed. Advance notification of the schedule will be provided, however day to day work assignments may be altered due to an unplanned event.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities, as management may deem necessary from time to time.

• Monitor Good Manufacturing practices in production areas
• Hourly and/or Daily line checks for HACCP and various quality specifications parameters
• Hourly performance of metal detector and X-ray functionality tests
• Daily monitoring of room temperatures as part of process controls
• Ensures food safety standards are maintained in production, warehousing, and shipping areas
• Monitors the effectiveness of daily and scheduled plant sanitation through environmental surface swabbing
• Pre-operative equipment inspection for cleanliness following sanitation
• Ensures raw materials, manufacturing recipes, work in process products and finished products meet established formulations and specifications
• Collect samples for micro testing
• Perform required analytical testing for products and interpret results
• Maintain retention sample program for finished products
• Maintain COA posting to Stella & Chewy’s website for product look up feature
• Abide by all safety rules and safety regulations as set by Stella & Chewy’s.

This position will work 5 days in a row, will include 1 weekend day as one of the 5 days.

Requirements

An individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to operate various office equipment including a copier and computer, various software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets (Excel), and database.
• Ability to use lab equipment and other instruments.
• Ability to be able to flex work hours as requested and available to work weekdays and weekends as needed.
• The person in this position is committed to assuring that Stella & Chewy’s, LLC produces safe, legal, and wholesome pet food products that meet our consumer’s expectations.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to fingers, handle, or touch objects or controls; lift up to 30 lbs. and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Education and/or Experience

• Requires education generally equivalent to a high school diploma. Further education in a science-based field would be desired.
• 6-12 months of experience in quality assurance in a food processing environment.

Specific knowledge and Skills

• Ability to apply mathematical concepts.
• Must be able to complete all reporting using the software application Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions with regard for product quality.
• Must have well-developed interpersonal skills.