QA Technician

POSITION SUMMARY
The Quality Assurance (QA) Technician is responsible for monitoring production processes, verifying compliance with food safety and quality standards, conducting inspections and testing activities, and ensuring products meet established specifications. This position plays a critical role in maintaining compliance with SQF, HACCP, FSMA, GMP, regulatory, customer, and company requirements to ensure the production of safe, legal, and high-quality food products.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Perform routine quality inspections of raw materials, work-in-process materials, packaging materials, and finished products.
• Monitor production processes to ensure compliance with established product specifications and quality standards.
• Conduct pre-operational, operational, sanitation, and product quality inspections.
• Verify adherence to GMPs, allergen controls, sanitation standards, and food safety procedures.
• Monitor Critical Control Points (CCPs) and preventive controls as assigned.
• Collect product, environmental, and microbiological samples as required.
• Verify product labeling, coding, packaging integrity, and traceability requirements.
• Complete quality records, inspection reports, monitoring logs, and other required documentation accurately and timely.
• Support internal audits, customer audits, regulatory inspections, and SQF certification activities.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and food-safe work environment.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

FOOD SAFETY & QUALITY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Follow all GMP, HACCP, SQF, FSMA, Food Defense, Food Fraud, Allergen Control, Traceability, and Sanitation Program requirements.
• Immediately report food safety, quality, regulatory, customer, or product integrity concerns.
• Support implementation and verification of food safety and quality programs.
• Promote a strong food safety culture throughout the organization.
• Support the Company's commitment to producing safe, legal, authentic, and quality food products.

FOOD SAFETY CULTURE
All employees are responsible for supporting and promoting the Company's food safety culture.

AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY
• Place raw materials, packaging materials, work-in-process materials, or finished goods on hold in accordance with established procedures.
• Reject materials or products that do not meet established specifications.
• Escalate food safety, quality, regulatory, or customer compliance concerns.
• Recommend corrective and preventive actions when non-conformances are identified.
• Stop product release pending investigation of food safety, quality, or regulatory concerns.

QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Associate's Degree in Food Science, Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology, or related field preferred.

Experience:
• Previous food manufacturing, food safety, or quality assurance experience preferred.
• Experience working in a SQF, BRCGS, or other GFSI-certified manufacturing environment preferred.

COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS
Employees must demonstrate competency through a combination of education, experience, training, observation, testing, performance evaluation, and on-the-job verification.

TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
The QA Technician must successfully complete all required company orientation, food safety, quality, regulatory, safety, and job-specific training programs as assigned.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds occasionally.
• Ability to work in manufacturing environments and wear required PPE.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed primarily in a food manufacturing environment.

DISCLAIMER
This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position.