General Summary

Primary Responsibilities

• monitors operations for compliance with policies and procedures of QA and food safety including, but not limited to, Allergen Control, GMP, SOP, SSOP, HACCP, Environmental Sampling, Pest Control, and SQF.
• Assures the quality/Safety of the products leaving the facility/warehouse conform to quality standards and governmental regulations.
• Completes and files all QA inspection forms in a timely manner.
• Maintain QA files, procedures, and policies in a readily accessible and organized manner.
• Assists in internal audits to monitor processes, facilities, and systems.
• Assures that equipment calibration complies with the USDA, SQF, and GMP requirements.
• Assist with the pest control program.
• Majority of the time will be spent on the floor inside the plant environment, assisting the QA department with the development of procedures and other documentation
• Coordinates with Production and Sanitation and assists in maintaining Master Sanitation Schedule activities.
• Participate in QA Council/attends meetings and training.
• Responsible for monitoring and ensuring high standards of food processing sanitation at the pre-operational and operational stages of production.
• Assists QA management and QA Team with implementation systems and procedures to ensure that operations are in compliance with corporate QA standards and policies, and Good Manufacturing Practices
• Follows GMP, and company rules and regulations.
• Handles assignment of special projects as needed.
• Performs other Quality Assurance tasks as assigned.
• Identify and communicate consumer Quality and safety concerns or trends to ensure prompt resolution.
• Fills as a backup to QA Team members when needed.
• Assists QA management with enforcement and ensures compliance with local, state, and federal food safety laws including applicable parts of the Code of federal regulations, and all USDA, GMPs, HACCP, CCPs, SSOPs, and SOPs guidelines and regulations are followed.
• Flexibility in work schedule as required. Must be able to work extended hours and weekends.
• In the absence of the Quality Assurance Technician the Quality Assurance Lead/supervisor will fill-in.
• Perform related duties as assigned or as the situation dictates.

Required Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of state, local and federal food safety laws including SQF, USDA, GMP’s, CCP, HACCP, SSOPs and SOPs, Food Defense and Food Safety Culture guidelines and regulations.
• Proficient in standard business office software
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Fluency in written and verbal English
• Demonstrated independent work initiative, sound judgment, diplomacy, analytical ability, and professional demeanor

Education and Experience

• High School Diploma - or GED Equivalent
• 2 years experience in the food industry preferred
• R & D a must
• Poultry, Meat, and handling preparing, or cooking background a must
• Ability to speak and communicate in Spanish, a plus but not mandatory

• The physical demands 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 essential functions.
• Work is performed mostly in a back office warehouse setting; hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate computers and various pieces of office and logistics equipment.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently is required to stand and talk or hear; use hands and fingers to handle, feel, or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is occasionally required to walk; sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and smell.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.