Quality Assurance Technician ( Food Manufacturing)

TCHO Chocolate, (www.tcho.com) a Bay Area flavor obsessed chocolate manufacturer is searching for a
Quality Assurance Technician to join our growing team. TCHO is a rapidly growing company and proud to now be part of Ezaki Glico Co., LTD., a Japanese food company headquartered in Osaka, Japan and doing business across 30 countries, in North America, Asia-Pacific and Europe.

The Quality Assurance Technician will report directly to the site Sr. Quality Assurance Manager. He/she is responsible for supporting the core systems that directly impact the quality, food safety and esthetics of TCHO chocolate products. The QA Technician will be responsible for following-through on and being an example of following the set processes and procedures to ensure adherence to good manufacturing practices (GMP), food safety (through site’s HACCP program), Safe Quality Food (SQF) and product quality standards. In addition, he/she will contribute to food safety system process improvement by supporting the initiatives of the site’s cross-functional HACCP team. The below duties and responsibilities are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and are not necessarily all-inclusive. The position is based in our Berkeley, CA chocolate factory.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Collect facility environmental swabs according to site microbiological sampling plan to validate and verify effectiveness of sanitation and GMP programs.
• Serve as the primary point of contact with third party lab regarding microbiological sampling data, including scheduling, coordinating and documenting testing results.
• Perform pre-operational, change-over and allergen change-over inspections with operations and sanitation team.
• Provide other assistance to the Quality Department as needed for the implementation of HACCP, SQF and other food safety initiatives.
• Coordinate with operations team on product re-work and inspection, including dissemination of work instructions and assuring re-work team members adhere to GMPs.
• Collect ingredient and finished good samples according to the site’s sampling program. Document and communicate results to appropriate internal teams to support efficient production and disposition of ingredients and finished products according to third party testing results.
• Maintain site ingredient/raw material and finished product retention library. Coordinate with R&D to optimize retention program.
• Collect allergen swabs according to the site’s allergen control and sanitation plan to validate and verify effectiveness of allergen-related sanitation activities.
• Responsible for programming and monitoring operational, quality and critical control points (CCPs) according to the facility’s HACCP program.
• Assure that production team members are correctly performing monitoring activities through routine

(daily) production floor audits of records/logs/paperwork.

• Verify that production documentation adheres to site document control policy.
• Verify that correct formulations and processing parameters are met during production.
• Ensure all finished product packaging lot codes are correct and record findings making sure corrective actions are taken if lot codes are found to be incorrect verify line clearance of all packaging during changeovers.
• Provide assistance for verification of product claims (Organic, Fair Trade, Kosher, Nutritional, Fair

Trade, Ingredient Statements, etc.) and assist in maintaining certification documentation for these certifying bodies.

• Be present for audits by third parties, customers, regulatory bodies and certifying agencies (SQF, FDA,

CCOF, Kosher, etc.)

• Collect, review, record and file all relevant production records, logs and documentation related to production in order to support site positive release program.
• Serve as the first point of contact for the quality department for deviations throughout the process of production, from receipt of raw materials to shipment of finished goods. Communicate, document and log process deviations as they occur. Assist in root-cause analysis and trouble-shooting of process deviations and failures, including those resulting in consumer complaints.
• Verify that employees are following the GMP processes and procedures as set forth by the Quality

Department.

• Participate in monthly GMP and Internal Audits as needed to support site cross-functional HACCP team.
• Provide ongoing updates to Sr. QA Manager on product observations, analytical results, and quality and/or food safety issues.
• Work with production to identify root cause and resolve quality issues.
• Perform traceability exercises on requested product(s) and lead mock traceability exercises
• Must be comfortable travelling on occasion for supplier audit.
• Serves as a back-up SQF Practitioner, assume QA Manager duties during her/his absence.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Training and/or certification in HACCP, PCQI,FSMA, GFSI schemes (SQF, ISO 22000, BRC, etc.) required.
• 2 years experience in quality, compliance and/or regulatory in a food, confectionary or beverage finished goods company
• Passionate about food safety and quality, and working in a team environment.
• BS degree in food science, chemistry or other related technical field.
• Strong attention to detail, and highly developed organizational skills are a must!
• Ability to identify and communicate issues and solutions within a fast-paced office and production environment.
• Working knowledge of HACCP, SQF Internal Auditing, SOP’s creation, GMPs, FDA 21CFR Title 21/USDA

National Organic Program (CCOF, QAI, etc.), Kosher, Fair Trade, B-Corp.

• Strong leadership and project management skills;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English required, Spanish a plus;
• Must be proficient with Microsoft Office Suite; experience using ERP systems is a plus.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Office, Production and Warehouse setting.
• Must be able to bend and lift up to 30 pounds repetitively with or without reasonable accommodation
• Must be able to stand and/or sit for extended periods of time with or without reasonable accommodation
• Exposure to temperatures that range from freezing to sub-freezing (coolers, freezers, etc.) with or without reasonable accommodation
• Must be able to push, pull, squat, bend, and reach about and below shoulders; repetitive use of hands with or without reasonable accommodation

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $25.00 - $28.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Parental leave
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Application Question(s):

• Can you commute to Berkeley 94702 on a day to day basis?
• Are you available to work 7AM to 3:30PM , Mon - Fri ?
• Are you SQF certified ?
• Are you HACCP certified?

Experience:

• Quality assurance: 2 years (Preferred)

Work Location: One location