Quality Assurance Technician - First Shift

Description

Job Summary

The QA Technician is responsible for performing daily operational sanitation. Ensures all documentation related to programs is completed, including auditing SSOP, HACCP, and SQF processes to confirm compliance with established standards.

This role involves conducting quality checks, documenting findings, and collaborating with production teams to identify and resolve defects. The QA Technician plays a critical role in maintaining compliance with company policies, industry regulations, and customer expectations. Strong attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment are essential for success in this position.

Role and Responsibilities

• To collect, process, analyze and document results as required.
• Analyze food samples.
• Support SQF program.
• Maintain the Environmental monitoring program to support verification and validation of cleaning and sanitizing procedures.
• Trend micro data (KPI’s) on Environmental Sanitation program to track progress and elevate any out of spec results.  Ensure effectiveness and continuous improvements.
• Accurately record observations, data and interpret results.
• Communicate all non-conformances or out of specification results using established standards, perform follow ups as necessary to completion.
• Special projects to support continuous improvement activities as assigned such as sensory testing and panel coordination and data collection.
• Maintain and ensure Good Laboratory Practices.
  • Calibrations, Database maintenance, clear and up to date scientific test protocols
• Interact and communicate with outside laboratory and customer generated outside testing programs
• Support Prerequisite Programs, HACCP and HARPC (Preventive Controls), GMPs, SSOPs, GFSI, USDA, and FDA guidelines.
• Conduct internal audits and facility inspections.

LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY

• Operates under general supervision, making decisions within defined guidelines and referring more complex matters to senior staff.
• Provides recommendations and suggests alternative actions to supervisors and team members.
• Contributes indirectly to initiatives that generate moderate revenue.
• Errors in judgment could lead to significant time and resource losses, with a moderate impact on the organization’s reputation.
• Decisions and actions play a key role in organizational effectiveness, influencing funding, productivity, service quality, asset security, and external relationships.
• Mistakes may be difficult to detect and could require significant effort or cost to correct.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Position is not responsible for supervising or influencing the actions of others.

Qualifications

SKILL REQUIRED

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Requires 1-3 years of experience, preferably in food.
• Familiarity with quality control procedures, inspection techniques, and testing methods.
• Basic data entry, simple formatting of documents and creates basic templates.; Excel, Word, Internet

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL EFFORT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a Laboratory Technician encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

Physical Demands/Efforts

• Work requires occasional physical exertion including some lifting of objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

Mental & Visual Demands

• Work performed by this position requires moderate mental concentration to effectively execute moderately complex tasks.
• Work requires continuous visual effort for extended periods of time.

Work Environment and Hazards

• Employee works in a manufacturing setting with frequent exposure to heat/cold, dust, or other factors that may require protective equipment and still pose a hazard.
• This position has some exposure to hazards that might cause minor injury.
• Travel is not required for this position.

ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Basic understanding of Good Laboratory Practices (GLP’s). 
• Computer skills:  MS Excel, SharePoint, Database functions and use.
• Strong written and communication skills at all levels.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to perform basic math such as dilution calculations, average and standard deviations.
• Proficiency in using measuring tools (calipers, micrometers, gauges) and testing equipment.
• Basic understanding of statistical process control (SPC) and data analysis.

CORE VALUES

Kettle Cuisine takes the utmost pride in its people, products and reputation. Each employee is expected to understand and live our Core Values every day.

• Honor Food – We create and produce the best tasting, safest, all natural recipes that strive for quality and perfection in every batch, from bench to kettle
• Honor Each Other – We seek to develop trusting, respectful and mutually rewarding relationships with all our team members and business partners
• Honor Development – We recognize and nurture each other’s talents, strengths and interests in order to further strengthen and grow our team 
• Honor Innovation – We continually strive for creative and sustainable ways to achieve excellence

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

Kettle Cuisine complies with all aspects of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and state disability laws.  This means we will not discriminate against qualified individuals with a disability in any phase of the employment relationship including application for employment, hiring, promotions and/or advancement opportunities, termination, compensation, training and any other conditions or privileges of employment.