About the Position

The Quality Assurance Technician position is responsible for addressing routine quality assurance issues and maintaining standards for quality in the processing of products by testing and auditing raw materials, finished goods, and food production lines. This technical position assures regulatory compliance, product safety and product quality.

Essential Functions

Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time.

• Pulls and tests blended product samples for performance to company quality standards using appropriate sensory and/or analytical tools.
• Determines product acceptability based on experience with product, specifications, knowledge of customer and consideration of food safety and labeling issues.
• Conducts first case/line audits to verify a variety of requirements such as correct packaging, labeling, codes, unit weights, and processing parameters.
• Accurately records observations and test results.
• Follows prescribed lab testing procedures, including the use of all QA equipment.
• Audit’s production batch tickets and proactively reacts to potential information discrepancies.
• Understands and follows hold and rework procedures including inventory management, material disposition process, and license printing procedures.
• Exercises basic troubleshooting, problem solving and decision-making skills to resolve quality issues.
• Serves as an effective resource to the manufacturing team and other internal customers.
• Ensures compliance with GMP’s, HACCP, third party audits and other state/federal regulations
• Performs special projects and participates in continuous improvement activities as assigned.

Position Requirements

To perform this job successfully, 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 qualified disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Practice open and effective communication with all members of the department and throughout the plant.
• Demonstrate initiative and self-direction in planning, organizing, documenting, and solving problems.
• Understands and uses computer software, including MS Office, inventory management, and other proprietary and database software.
• Capable of complete and accurate documentation and record keeping.
• Ability to develop quality system documents.
• Strong math, reading, sensory, technical writing and verbal communication skills.
• Enjoyment of baking.
• Strong attention to detail and standardized procedures.
• Ability to work without direction supervision, troubleshoot, problem solve, multi-task and prioritize activities under pressure.

Supervisory Responsibilities

None.

Education and/or Experience:

• Associates degree in a science-related field or equivalent experience preferred.
• Two years’ experience in quality control or food processing preferred.

Attendance:

Consistently demonstrates regular and reliable attendance by reporting to scheduled shifts and appropriately managing the use of time off. Works overtime and alternative shifts as needed.

Quality

Follows procedures to ensure all food quality standards are met or exceeded. Must also produce quality work measured by efficiency, accuracy, and completion of both personal and company goals in a manner that embodies CM values and our culture of integrity, dignity and respect.

Safety/Legal

Employees are required to conduct their work in a safe and legal manner, according to all GMP food safety standards as well as following all compliance and CM safety protocols. Employees must be willing to be responsible for their safety and health as well as the safety and health of all employees, vendors and visitors.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

This position requires working in both manufacturing and office environments. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone along with reaching. Specific vision abilities include close vision requirements due to computer work. Moderate noise, ability to work in a confined area, and ability to sit at a computer for an extended period of time are also included. Must be able to effectively communicate and work in a dynamic environment. You may also be on your feet for several hours a day and may be exposed to a variety of physical demands that require you to lift heavy objects, climb stairs, exert energy, bend, twist and squat and use tools and equipment in an indoor production environment that has a high level of food dust and limited climate control while wearing PPE.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. This position description is designed to outline primary duties, qualifications and job scope, but not limit our employees nor the organization to just the work identified. It is our expectation that each employee will offer his/her services wherever and whenever necessary to ensure the success of the company.

The policy of Continental Mills, Inc. is to hire, train, and promote all persons in all job groups in accordance with law, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital or military status, national origin, gender identity, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, genetic information, or any other status or characteristic protected by local, state, or federal law.