Cover Quality Assurance Technician

SUMMARY:

The Cover Quality Technician is responsible for food safety and quality, ensuring our products meet customer requirements and expectations. This position performs quality testing, microbiological testing, maintains laboratory equipment and supplies, manages nonconforming materials, performs audits and line inspections, and directs the preparation of food. Additionally, the Cover Quality Technician supports plant studies, employee training, rework/hold oversight, and other assigned duties.

The Cover Quality Technician will be responsible for coverage needs for both Louisville facilities at the Quality Supervisor/Manager’s discretion for vacations, call ins, and other vacancies within the department. The Cover Quality Technician is an authority on shift, aiding in the disposition of product. They are responsible for documenting any Food Safety or Quality incident that occurs on their line/shift. It is expected for the Cover Quality Technician to work alongside the Production Supervisor and Maintenance Technicians to support employee safety, plant efficiency, and plant sanitation.

The performance of the Cover Quality Technician is evaluated annually by the Site Quality Assurance Manager and/or Supervisor.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Perform walkthroughs throughout the shift, noting any immediate SSQE (food/work safety, sanitation, quality, or efficiency) issues or gaps.
• Perform the inspection and approval of incoming ingredients, including raw materials, packaging, and bulk items, following approved programs and procedures.
• Print required production paperwork per product to maintain proper document control practices.
• Operate, calibrate, and maintain all lab equipment.
• Perform and record analytical testing of materials, at all parts of the production process: incoming receiving, in-process production, batches, and finished products.
• Make routine batch adjustments as needed per nonconformities.
• Verify kit tickets, packing codes, and recipes per the Production Summary Sheet.
• Report nonconformities, food safety concerns, and/or quality incidents to the Quality Supervisor/Manager and Production Supervisor.
• Create Food Safety Quality Incident (FSQI) reports for incidents that occur on shift.
• Aids in Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and/or investigations resulting from FSQI reports.
• Oversee repacking and/or reprocessing nonconforming material.
• Adjust inventory and update recipes in the ERP system for Material Dispositions, repacking, and/or reprocessing.
• Ensure signatures are captured for quality checks on both Production and Quality documents.
• Ensure retain samples are pulled, as required per approved specifications and procedures.
• Ensure the laboratories remain clean, organized, and kept in good repair.
• Ensure the retain room remains clean, organized, and that out-of-date product has been properly disposed of, per approved retention procedures.
• Perform microbiological testing on all finished products.
• Read and record microbiological test results at the required time.
• Prepare and send samples for 3rd party testing.
• Record analytical data to ensure product remains within specification.
• Perform and record organoleptic/sensory for reach
• Create Certificate of Analysis documents, where applicable.
• Scan and file run documentation to the proper database for each production run.
• Audit production lines for proper packaging. Observations include, but are not limited to, pouch alignment on conveyors, glue patterns on boxes, tape patterns on boxes, packaging seals, cooler water temperatures, etc.
• Oversee weekly/monthly sanitation and CIP (clean in place).
• Record and report sanitation and/or CIP gaps to the Quality Supervisor/Manager and Production Supervisor.
• Report pest control issues and/or gaps to the Quality Supervisor/Manager and Production Supervisor.
• Attend meetings, trainings, one-on-ones, and discussions.
• Act as back-up to the Quality Supervisor/Manager for plant and/or department meetings.
• Act as back-up to the Quality Supervisor/Manager for internal and/or external audits.
• Record shift activity through end of shift notes and shift pass downs.
• Review Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for updates and edits to ensure the most accurate procedures are being followed.
• Aids the Quality Supervisor/Manager in generating production folders and paste assignments.
• Aids the Quality Supervisor/Manager in folder review and positive release program.
• Create and review work instructions and other training documents.
• Prepare sensory control samples from relevant retain samples for the week per the Production Schedule.
• Support Quality Assurance, Customer Relations, and Research and Development departments on samples requests, complaint investigations, plant studies, customer cuttings, etc.
• Prepare and send samples for environmental testing.
• Train other employees on quality policies, procedures, and programs.
• Order laboratory and office supplies as needed for Quality Assurance department.
• Provide coverage for both Louisville facilities for vacations, call ins, and other vacancies within the department.
• Report any nonconformities between the Hold Log and the ERP system to the Quality Supervisor/Manager.
• Able to cover multiple production lines.
• Other assigned duties and/or projects.

QUALIFICATIONS:

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 disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Associate degree with 2 years of experience.
• Leadership and team communications skills.
• Demonstrate strong competency skills (listed below).
• HACCP Trained/Certified
• PCQI Certified
• Knowledge of both Louisville facilities
• Basic mathematical and reasoning skills.
• Computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, and SharePoint.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

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.

• Ability to perform repetitious work.
• Occasional pushing/pulling and lifting/carrying 50 pounds or less.
• Ability to stand for long periods of time.
• Ability to work upwards of 12 hours per day.
• Availability to work 4 hours before or after scheduled shift.