What are the responsibilities and job description for the Quality Assurance Technician position at Elephants Food Group Inc?
Salary:
$19–$21/hour Depending on Experience
Schedule:
Full-time, Sunday to Thursday 5 AM – 1:30 PM
About Elephants
A locally owned company since 1979, Elephants Delicatessen pioneered the gourmet food industry in the Pacific Northwest and now has seven Portland-metro area retail locations and a busy catering company, all serving great local foods prepared from scratch. A certified B Corporation, Elephants Delicatessen prides itself on sustainable practices and voluntarily meets a higher standard of transparency and accountability, using the power of business as a force for good.
About the Job
As a Quality Assurance Technician, you will play a key role in ensuring that every product meets Elephants Delicatessen’s standards for food safety, quality, and consistency. This is a hands-on role, with about 90% of your time on the production floor, where you’ll monitor processes, document findings, and collaborate closely with production and quality teams. Your attention to detail will help maintain regulatory compliance while supporting the integrity and reputation of our brand.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct pre-op inspections, sanitation verification, and environmental testing (ATP/allergen swabs).
- Perform and verify Critical Control Point (CCP) checks; monitor production to meet HACCP and GMP standards.
- Inspect product quality, packaging, labels, weights, and incoming raw materials.
- Maintain accurate, real-time QA logs, reports, and records.
- Support audits and regulatory inspections.
- Serve as a liaison between production and quality teams; report deviations and assist with corrective actions.
- Verify calibration of QA equipment.
What We’re Looking For
- High school diploma or GED required; associate/bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Biology, or related field preferred.
- 1–2 years of food manufacturing or QA experience.
- Knowledge of HACCP, GMP, SSOP, and food safety principles.
- Oregon Food Handler Certification required; HACCP and PCQI certifications preferred.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).
- Excellent attention to detail, problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills.
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, lift 30–50 lbs, and perform repetitive tasks on the production floor.
Elephants Delicatessen is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion.
What We Offer
- Paid vacation and sick time
- Kaiser Medical coverage with alternative care options (acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, etc.)
- Mental Health Services
- Dental, FSA (Flexible Spending Accounts), and 401k with 4% company match*
- Training that will fast-track your culinary/hospitality career
- Free counseling and financial services
- Opportunities for advancement
- Discounts on our made-from-scratch food
- Pet insurance
- Chance to win employee raffles
- Discounts at Sketchers, Shoes for Crews, Verizon, Sprint, select B Corporations, and more
- Commitment to community involvement, employee well-being, and environmental protection
Elephants Delicatessen provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type 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.
Salary : $19 - $21
