QA Lab Specialist

Position Title: QA Lab Specialist

Reports To: QA Team Leader

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Job Grade: 4

Pay Range: $27.50-$38.75

Position Overview:

The QA Specialist plays a key role in supporting daily laboratory operations, ensuring the accuracy of testing, and upholding regulatory and customer quality requirements. This role performs advanced analytical and microbiological testing, supports Certified Laboratory functions, assists with quality investigations, and contributes to the development of SOPs, SSOPs, and quality programs.

The QA Specialist operates with a high degree of technical independence, acting as a resource for QA Technicians and cross-functional teams while supporting the QA Team Leader with documentation, quality programs, instrument troubleshooting, and data-driven decision making. This position does not serve as a full supervisor but supports training and peer-level guidance.

Key Responsibilities

Laboratory & Quality Testing

• Prepare, process, and analyze in-process, raw material, finished product, and environmental samples.
• Perform advanced analytical testing using instrumental and wet chemistry methods.
• Conduct microbiological plating, incubation management, environmental testing, and shelf-life studies.
• Perform daily setup, calibration, verification checks, and basic troubleshooting for laboratory instrumentation.
• Prepare and standardize reagents and solutions in accordance with laboratory procedures.
• Maintain laboratory organization, GMP compliance, and safety standards.
• Collect and analyze data, prepare charts or reports, and communicate findings clearly.

Certified Laboratory Responsibilities

• Support execution and documentation of Certified Laboratory testing in compliance with NYS Ag & Markets and Milk Market Association requirements.
• Conduct microbiological plating (E. coli, RAC, AC), pipette accuracy testing, and incubation procedures (PI, LPC).
• Operate and calibrate specialized instrumentation such as:
  • Delta Lactoscope
  • Delta Somascope
  • Bentley IBCm
• Perform thermometer calibrations, verification checks, Cornell sample reviews, and FMMO standard compliance activities.
• Assist with monthly producer testing reports, recordkeeping, and supply management.
• Maintain proper inventory of Certified testing supplies and calibration materials.

Quality Assurance & Food Safety Programs

• Assist with Hold/Release Program activities, including record verification and communication with production.
• Participate in investigations, corrective actions, and quality alerts.
• Support HACCP, SQF, Appendix N, and other quality systems through verification activities and documentation.
• Assist in compiling data for quality KPIs, trend charts, and management reports.
• Participate in inspections, assessments, and internal audits.

Documentation & SOP Support

• Assist in creating, revising, and maintaining QA and laboratory SOPs, SSOPs, forms, and training documents.
• Provide peer training to QA Technicians on lab procedures, equipment operation, and QA requirements.
• Support document control and ensure current procedures comply with regulatory and customer standards.

Cross-Functional Support

• Collaborate with operations, engineering, sanitation, and maintenance to troubleshoot quality issues and implement improvements.
• Support customer documentation, export requirements, or technical data requests.
• Serve as a technical backup when the QA Team Leader is unavailable, without assuming full supervisory authority.

Qualifications

Education

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Dairy Science, Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, or related field strongly preferred.
• High School Diploma plus 5 years of relevant work experience in lieu of degree.

Experience

• 2 years of quality assurance or laboratory experience in dairy or food manufacturing required.
• Experience with laboratory instrumentation, troubleshooting, and Certified Laboratory processes preferred.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in wet chemistry, microbiological techniques, and instrument operation.
• Knowledge of GMP, FDA, USDA, SQF, and NYS Certified Laboratory requirements.
• Strong data management and computer skills (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Experience with advanced analytical techniques (GC, HPLC) is a plus.

Other Requirements

• Strong attention to detail, organization, and communication skills.
• Ability to interpret technical data and follow detailed procedures accurately.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain NYS Certified Laboratory Technician status within six months of hire.
• Willingness to work 12-hour shifts, weekends, or overtime as needed.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to navigate all areas of the facility, including office spaces, warehouse areas, and the exterior perimeter.
• Must wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) as necessary to safely perform job duties.
• Ability to stand, sit, and carry out tasks throughout a full shift, with appropriate meal breaks.
• Physically capable of standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, twisting, lifting, pushing, pulling, climbing, balancing, and crouching as needed.
• Able to lift and move items weighing up to 50 pounds independently and heavier objects with reasonable accommodations.
• Visual acuity sufficient to perform job duties accurately.
• Capable of assessing weights, judging distances, and working at various heights.

Work Schedule:

3:30 PM – 12:00 AM. This is shift is to support an 24/7 operation and is subject to change to meet the needs of the position.

Compensation:

At Cayuga Milk Ingredients, we value a fair and comprehensive approach to compensation. Our wage range for this role is determined by various factors, including skill sets, experience, training, licensure, certifications, and organizational needs. It is not typical for an employee to start at or near the top of the range for the position. Compensation decisions are made based on individual job circumstances considering skill level, previous experience, and education requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Cayuga Milk Ingredients is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Non-Discrimination Policy:

The contractor will not discriminate against employees or applicants for discussing or disclosing their own pay or the pay of others. However, employees with access to compensation information as part of their job duties are prohibited from disclosing this information to unauthorized individuals, except in specific circumstances outlined by applicable laws and regulations (41 CFR 60-1.35(c)).

General Statement:

All Cayuga employees recognize that the success and prosperity of the company is everyone’s responsibility. All employees are expected to treat each other in a positive, respectful, and professional manner, to be at work for their assigned shift and to work safely as a team. Employees must be self-starters who can relate to all levels of the organization.

Disclaimer:

o All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

o This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor.

o The company reserves the right to add to or revise an employee's job duties at any time at its sole discretion.

o This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.

Disclaimer: For Recruiter’s and Staffing Agencies

At Cayuga Milk, our Human Resources Team leads most of our hiring efforts and takes pride in connecting directly with talented individuals who share our values and passion for what we do. Most of our roles are filled with applications submitted via our careers site or through direct outreach from our team.

While we occasionally partner with external recruitment agencies, we do so only with those on our existing, pre-approved vendor list. Currently, we are not adding new agencies to that list.

If an unsolicited resume or candidate submission is received from an agency or recruiter not authorized by our Human Resources Team, it will be treated as a direct application. Cayuga Milk will not be responsible for any placement or referral fees related to these submissions.