QA Technician

California Dairies, Inc. is the largest member-owned milk marketing and dairy processing cooperative in California producing 40 percent of California’s milk. Co-owned by nearly 400 dairy producers who ship 16 billion pounds of Real California Milk annually, California Dairies, Inc. is a manufacturer of quality butter, fluid milk products and milk powders.

As the leading source of dairy nutrition for a healthy world, we provide safe and reliable high quality dairy products to a growing and more affluent world. This is achieved within a culture that is built upon performance and mutual success.

We are looking for dedicated and talented individuals who will work as a team to achieve the company’s goal of becoming a global market leader. With six plant locations across the state, California Dairies, Inc. provides exciting career opportunities throughout California.

We offer a generous benefits package that includes:

• Hourly Wage - $ 25.81 - $ 32.26
• Family medical/dental/vision
• retirement plans
• paid holidays
• paid vacation
• tuition reimbursement
• loss prevention and safety bonus program

Essential Functions 

• Perform weekly tasks which include environmental swabbing airplates, thermometer calibration and others.
• Perform noon and midnight inventory of fluid silos.
• Monitor waste water, pH, EC and COD.
• Micro plating, WPN, antibiotic confirmation testing, and TA testing.
• Daily send outs to DA and Sierra for testing.
• Pull customer samples and re-test samples.
• Clean and maintain clean lab areas.
• Complete all paperwork neatly and correctly.
• Complete all filing of documentation in an accurate and timely manner.
• Follow all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
• Follow all Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points(HACCP).
• Responsible for care and maintenance of company tools laboratory equipment.
• Updating quality & procedure manuals, calibrations, waste water reports, swabbing and air quality monitoring.
• Follow all safety and working rules.
• Must have the ability to get along with co-workers, management personnel, customers, vendors, and employees in accordance with the company policies and working rules while ensuring a harmonious and conducive work environment.
• Maintain a positive attitude and contribute towards a quality environment.
• Excellent regular full time attendance in support of company objectives.
• Use initiative and judgment in making decisions, keeping with California Dairies, Inc. best interests.
• Perform other duties as assigned by management.

 Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

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.

• Must work in a safe and efficient manner and follow all safety procedures including the use of safety equipment.
• Must recognize problems and be persistent until a solution is found.
• Must be willing to ask for assistance when the process is unclear.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelors Degree in Dairy Science, Food Science or Microbiology, or Associates in similar areas and/or 5 years experience in a laboratory setting required.
• Basic computational skills required.
• Simple math reasoning required.

 Language Skills

Proficiency in written and spoken English is required.

Reasoning Ability

Must have the ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions given in written, oral, or diagram form. Must have the ability to discern when issues may require input from levels of authority within the corporation.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Must be able to acquire and maintain a Mojonnier/Oven Solids Tester license.

Certified Industry Supervisor certification on Drug residue testing

 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. The company will make reasonable accommodations that do not cause an undue hardship to the company if such accommodation enables individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Sitting/Standing/Walking: The Quality Assurance Technician during the course of an 8-12 hour workday will do all three. They will walk several hundred feet over uneven surfaces swabbing, testing, plating, and other laboratory duties.

Lifting/Carrying: Each workday, the Quality Assurance Technician may lift up to 75 pounds on an infrequent basis.

Pushing/Pulling: Each workday the Quality Assurance Technician frequently pushes/pulls while using lab equipment and swabbing.

Bending/Stooping: Both are done regularly during the course of a workday.

 Squatting/Kneeling/Crawling: Each workday squatting and kneeling are done on  an infrequent basis. Crawling is done occasionally during the course of a workday.

 Twisting/Turning: Frequent twisting and kneeling are done while doing regular duties each workday.

Climbing/Balancing: Some vertical ladder climbing required. Balancing on ladders and machinery required while performing duties during the course of a workday.

Reaching: Frequently reaching from floor level to shoulder level done during 8-hour workday.

Grasping/Manipulating: Frequent use of hands and fingers while using lab tools equipment.

Equipment

pH meter, conductivity meter, dissolved oxygen meter, C.O.D meter, C.E.M., Foss, charm testing, phosphates reader, centrifuge, food quantifier, L.U.M.- T reader, CO2 tester, refractometer, salt meter, scales, and thermometers.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The company will make reasonable accommodations that do not cause an undue hardship to the company if such accommodation enables individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Employee will be subject to temperatures from 34 to over 100 degrees. An employee may come into contact with the following: ammonia, acids, caustics, chlorines, paints, particles, oils and lubricants, steam, pneumatics, fumes and hazardous gases, sealing compounds.

Personal protective equipment including, but not limited to: hearing protection, bump caps, hair and beard nets, gloves and eye protection must be used in the performance of duties. Proper lifting techniques must be employed at all times.

ADA/FEHA

The Company will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act.

EEO

The Company is an equal employment opportunity employer.

Salary : $26 - $32