Quality Control Technician

SUMMARY: The Quality Control Technician will ensure that all of our day-to-day food safety and quality programs and procedures are being followed throughout our ranches and cooler. This position will be responsible for conducting internal audits and assessments, develop SOPs, perform microbial swabs, and complete all food safety and quality forms.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBLITIES

• Develop, implement, and train employees on the company’s food safety policies and systems
• Conduct internal food safety/quality audits
• Be able to develop and instruct employees on SOPs and SSOPs
• Maintain necessary food safety documentation to ensure accuracy and completeness ie (suppliers, buyers, sanitation etc)
• Communicate with suppliers and buyers to discuss food quality and safety requirements.
• Provide food safety and quality support to all departments
• Perform all microbiological sampling in our fields, facility, and water while working with third party laboratories to ensure testing in accordance with company protocols.
• Ensure pest control for all locations are being monitored and that corrective actions are processed
• Be able to handle any government, regulatory and customer food safety audit
• Conduct Glass/Brittle plastic audits
• Conduct Food safety assessments (preharvest/preseason)
• Be able to complete all Quality control forms (such as QC receiving inspection forms, quality checks, etc).
• Respond and handle all food safety or quality issues or concerns 
• Other duties as assigned

SAFETY and FOOD SAFETY POLICIES:

• Responsible for thoroughly comprehending and following all of the company’s safety and food safety procedures (Good Agricultural Practices, Good Manufacture Practices, etc.)
• Ensures housekeeping and (GAP’s) Good Agricultural Practices are maintained at all times by employees, contractors, vendors, and visitors. 
• Responsible for attending all of the food and employee safety trainings/meetings.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• 5 years’ experience in Food Safety & Quality control, manufacturing setting required; produce experience preferred
• AA in agriculture, food safety, or equivalent

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledgeable in food safety/quality programs for leafy greens and specialty crops
• Understanding of microbiology
• Laboratory experience preferred
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred
• Comprehensive understanding of GAP’s, GMP’s, LGMA, CCOF, FSMA, BRC, FDA
• Valid Driver’s license
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office and FAMOUS

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• The work environment is cold from 45 degrees to 55 degrees

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Finger use. Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand
• Grasping. Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Repetitive motion. Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
• Lifting. Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles
• The employee must regularly lift 25 pounds and occasionally up to 70 pounds.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand on cement for over 80% of the daily job tasks
• Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, climb and walk on cement ground and step over obstacles.
• Reaching. Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Climbing. Ascending or descending stairs.
• Talking. Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Hearing. Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discriminations in sound.
• Vision.  Ability to distinguish colors accurately.

AAP/EEO STATEMENT:

Ratto Bros., Inc. provides equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state, federal, or local law.  Further, the company takes affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and employees are treated during employment without regard to any of these characteristics.  Discrimination of any type will not be tolerated.

This job description may change from time to time at the discretion of the company. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Salary : $18 - $20