Food Safety & Quality Assurance

Food Safety & Quality Assurance Technician
$22 to $23 per hour depending on experience

20-30 hours/week - Typically, Monday-Thursday, 8:00 am – 2:30 pm

Woburn, MA 01801    

The Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA) Technician will conduct inspection, monitoring, and verification activities related to segments of food safety and quality systems such as food safety and quality auditing, instrumentation, and other needed focus areas. Technicians will be involved in preparation for and participate in customer and 3rd party audits and will partner with internal and external teams to address customer requirements and concerns.

Essential Functions of the Food Safety & Quality Assurance Technician

• Conduct and document verification and maintenance of food safety and quality systems, hazard analysis, sanitation processes, prerequisite programs, manufacturing processes, and finished products.
• Collaborate with operations on the initiation of corrective and preventative action measures when necessary.
• Ensure adherence to corporate, regulatory, customer, and facility food safety and quality requirements, completing corrections and corrective actions.
• Perform facility inspections, conduct equipment calibration checks, and other verification activities as required by policies and procedures.
• Verify HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) and pre-operational checks, ensuring records are accurate and complete, and that corrective actions are followed as defined in the HACCP plan.
• Verify SSOP (Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures) checks and records for operational and pre-operational sanitation, ensuring corrective actions for deviations are accurate and complete.
• Investigate and follow up on food safety incidents to ensure they are reported, and corrective actions are taken.
• Perform regular line checks on production lines to verify adherence to food safety and quality standards.
• Approve or reject ingredients based on their compliance with specifications and other requirements.
• Immediately notify quality management of any conditions, ingredients, or products that may not meet food safety, quality, or customer/company requirements, and provide suggestions for addressing these concerns.
• Accurately and promptly complete all records and electronic transactions, maintaining a clean, neat, and orderly environment.

Competencies of the Food Safety & Quality Assurance Technician

• Knowledge of laboratory procedures and quality assurance protocols
• Baking experience (1-2 years preferred)
• Proficiency with basic measuring and laboratory equipment
• Basic math and computer skills, with strong organizational abilities
• Ability to work independently and efficiently complete tasks
• High integrity and attention to detail
• Supervisory Responsibilities:
• This position does not have direct supervisory responsibilities but may mentor junior staff as needed.

Work Environment of the Food Safety & Quality Assurance Technician

• Primarily a production environment with exposure to varying temperatures
• Moderate to high noise levels typical of a manufacturing setting

Physical Demands:

• Prolonged standing and walking on concrete floors
• Frequent bending, lifting, and twisting
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Use of personal protective equipment (e.g., hair net, beard net, ear plugs, safety shoes, uniform)

Position Type:

• Part-Time (with potential to become full-time based upon business needs)

Work Hours:

• 20-30 hours/week.  Typically, Monday-Thursday, 8:00am – 2:30 pm
• Some Fridays may be needed
• Flexibility required based on business needs.

Travel:

• Minimal travel required, primarily within the local area

Required Education & Experience:

• Laboratory or quality assurance background
• Minimum of two-five years of related work experience in food manufacturing/processing

Preferred Education & Experience:

• 1 to 2 years of baking experience.
• Associate or bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline
• Ability to operate standard laboratory equipment
• Familiarity with food manufacturing standards and quality assurance practices
• PCQI, HACCP, and SQF practitioner or BRC professional