Quality Control Lead - Endless Orchard Cidery

Quality Control Lead – Endless Orchard Job Description

Location: Wenatchee, WA

Reports to: Cider Operations Manager

Position Summary

Endless Orchard is a dynamic new cidery in Central Washington’s Wenatchee Valley.  From our Arctic Apple selection to our finished cider, and everything in between, this role is integral to ensuring OSF’s Quality Control program remains compliant with both Okanagan Specialty Fruits and Endless Orchards food safety guidelines. The ideal candidate will be at ease on the production floor and dedicated to maintaining our high standards. To create top-quality cider, we need a team player who is adaptable and capable of handling both simple and complex tasks.

Duties and Responsibilities

Primary Duties:

·       Collect, analyze, record, and file supporting QC check-off sheets and batch records

·       Maintain accurate records of packaging quality control

·       Laboratory testing including but not limited to:

o   Sugars, pH, TA, Free SO2 and ATP swabs

·       Document fill volumes and weights during canning and bottling runs

·       Ensure all pre-production and post-production check-off sheets are completed and filed

·       Verify work orders are filled out completely by the end of the day

·       Verify new blends are within specifications

·       Enter data into Cidery Management Software

·       Verify case counts at the end of packaging runs

Secondary Duties:

·       Aiding cider production when needed. Supplement our production crew on packaging days by covering lunches, breaks, or callouts

·       Confident to be trained on forklifting, operating pumps, filter, and other cellar equipment

·       Prepare and ship samples to ETS laboratories

·       Prepare and participate in blending trials 

·       Conduct laboratory analysis for bottling QC, including alcohol, free SO2, CO2, dissolved oxygen, fill height, and vacuum checks

·       Assist in the preparation and shipment of samples as required

·       Pond sampling, deep cleaning and other special projects

·       Perform additional duties as assigned by the operations manager

Education and Experience:

• Strong scientific comprehension
• Previous laboratory experience is preferred
• College Degree in a scientific field is an asset 

Position Requirements:

·       Strong organizational skills to efficiently manage and organize many samples for analysis and testing.

·       Solutions-focused yet approachable and adaptable

·       Possess a passion for finding efficiency

·       Highly detail oriented

·       Able to communicate well

·       Possess a high degree of flexibility

·       Open minded to new ideas and with the confidence to share ideas

·       Able to perform under stressful/fast paced conditions at times

·       Positive attitude

·       Able to lift 40-50 lbs. and stand for long periods of time.

·       Ability to work in cold, hot and wet environments.

Mission Statement

Leading the market with Arctic® branded fruit products that consistently deliver exceptional eating experience to consumers through transparent stakeholder outreach, communication and innovative science.

Okanagan Specialty Fruits® (OSF) is a vertically integrated company specializing in the development, growing, processing and marketing of novel tree fruit varieties developed through bioengineering and other molecular tools. Based in Summerland, British Columbia, Canada, OSF was founded in 1996 and acquired by an affiliate of Third Security, LLC in 2020. OSF’s flagship product is its nonbrowning Arctic® apples. Arctic apples provide a sustainable solution to less food waste and improved apple consumption. For consumer information, visit www.arcticapples.com; for company information and partnership opportunities, visit www.okspecialtyfruits.com.