Quality Assurance Specialist

Why You Will Love Working At Maola

• Owned by a cooperative of family farmers who are passionate about cultivating sustainable dairy goodness and bottling fresh Maola brand milk and dairy products.
• 100 years of dedicated stability and growth across 11 states.
• Competitive pay, Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), Life Insurance, Time Off Provisions, and more, available no later than one month after hire.
• Our employees are an integral part of who we are — what you do and what you think matters.
  
  

SUMMARY: The Quality Assurance Specialist in the Landover production facility is responsible for monitoring and verifying the quality and safety of food products throughout the production process. This role provides guidance, mentorship, and escalation to Quality Assurance technician and operations colleagues in all areas of quality assurance. This role may perform routine quality assurance duties as required. This performs a higher-level review and assessment of quality assurance activities to ensure continuous improvement and support to operational activities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 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.

• Sample Collection: Collect and prepare samples for laboratory analysis, including microbial testing for pathogens or spoilage organisms.
• Laboratory Equipment: Ensure equipment is evaluated for adequacy and volume of work to support operations timeline.
• Calibration: Ensure calibration requirements for all quality control equipment are properly identified and managed. Any deviation will be escalated for assistance.
• Non-Conformance Reporting: This role will not only report non-conformances but will develop and monitor trends for performance and improvement and communicate to site leadership.
• Compliance Checks: Ensure products and processes comply with specifications.
• Pre-Operation Inspections: Ensure startup and pre-op inspection program is robust and meets the needs of production. Creative and pro-active improvements based on performance trends and changing operational capabilities are critical.
• Documentation: Monitor, audit, and address facility General Manufacturing Practices (GMP) documentation programs.
• Team Collaboration: Work with operations, sanitation, and management teams to address quality concerns and implement corrective actions.
• Technical Advisement: This role will provide advisement and mentorship for technical deliverables as related to quality assurance best practices.
• Provide coverage for Quality Assurance technicians as needed.
• Other job duties as required by the Sr. Quality and Food Safety Manager.
  
  

Basic Requirements

• At least a High School Diploma or equivalent required. Associate's or Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Biology, or a related field preferred.
• Experience with basic lab equipment and data entry systems.
• At least 1 year of experience in quality assurance, food production, or a similar role.
• Knowledge of food safety principles (e.g., Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP), (General Manufacturing Practices (GMP)) and regulatory requirements.
• Milk Sampling and Testing Certifications or able to obtain certifications in Milk Sampling and Testing in accordance with state and federal laws.
• At least 1 year of experience using Microsoft Office products.
  
  

COMPETENCIES

• Communication
• Communicate clearly and effectively through multiple channels – oral, written, visual, and non-verbal – ensuring our messages are understood and delivered appropriately, whether in-person or digitally.
• Accountability
• Take responsibility for actions and anticipate challenges before they arise.
• Solve problems both within and outside of departments, proactively addressing issues as they occur.
• Customer Focused
• Prioritize understanding and meeting both internal and external customer needs.
• Ensure high levels of satisfaction and loyalty by anticipating customer requirements and striving for exceptional service.
• Initiative
• Proactive in identifying opportunities and addressing potential threats.
• Act independently and decisively, rather than waiting for situations to demand action.
• Problem-Solving
• Possess the ability to identify and address complex issues with minimal guidance.
• Skilled at analyzing challenges and finding practical, effective solutions.
• Collaboration
• Take responsibility for deliverables while also supporting others to ensure that collective goals are met.
• Able to work harmoniously with others toward a common goal, recognizing and valuing each person’s contributions, is fundamental to successful collaboration.
  

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. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and walk. The employee must be able to reach, bend, extend, and lift 50-60 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The work environment may require working in the cooler room with varying degrees of temperature and may include contact with water or dairy liquids.
• Exposed to a noise level of 90 decibels. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate/high. Wet/slippery work conditions.
  
  

Maola Local Dairies, owned by the farmers of Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association (MDVA), sustainably produces a full suite of nutritious dairy products through our network of six dairy processing plants. With a keen eye on quality, freshness, and love for the environment, Maola delivers dairy products that are both nutritious and sustainable to our local communities. For more information about Maola, please visit www.maolamilk.com.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.