Quality Technician

Job Objective: Quality is an intricate part of Straus Family Creamery’s mission. The Quality Assurance Technician is responsible for safeguarding all product quality and safety while ensuring adherence to Company and regulatory standards. The QAT ensures that the production and distribution of products always meets or exceeds all quality standards and that all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are consistently followed.

Essential Job Functions

• Performs audits of all areas, production and non-production 
• Conduct approval of pre-startup activities including line/room clearance, and initial equipment checks 
• Consistently reviews in-process batch documentation to ensure real-time compliance to product specifications, good documentation practices, company SOP's and cGMP's
• Ensure materials are tested according to predefined criteria and meet requirements 
• Assist with Sensory Evaluation of manufactured and in process item, as requested or needed
• Environmental Management (EM) program responsibilities including but not limited to: swabbing, pre-operational inspection and investigational activities 
• Conduct daily line tours and filler line audits to ensure machine compliance with site quality standards. Audits should encompass various areas including startup, changeover, tank change, intervention and normal production where technician will evaluate potential risks to product quality and support resolution of problems
• Perform in-process testing verifications of manufacturing/packaging data to confirm consistency in testing methodology and test data
• Perform during and after sanitation inspections and approval to ensure equipment and environment conforms to site quality standards. That includes visual inspections for cleanliness, ATP swabbing, Microbial swabs, Allergen swabs
• Submit daily Analytical and Micro samples to QC for appropriate testing
• Provide continuous and consistent quality leadership to production operators, looking for ways to improve product quality and increase technician understanding of key quality criteria and their impact on it; discusses errors directly with line personnel so corrections can be made, if required
• Conduct timely food safety evaluations and dispositions of product, escalating as necessary
• Verify physical values on equipment and confirms appropriate conditions for operations during use
• Involve other departments, when appropriate, for timely response to observation of failure to meet expectations/standards
• Place material on hold if it does not meet requirements
• Assist with Positive Release Program and PCQI reviews 
• Update Glass and Brittle Plastic inspections foreign material databases (in-house and consumer)
• Comply with all Company policies communicated through your Employee Manual, trainings, notice boards or other postings, or by a member of management 
• Ensures that chemical supplies for Quality testing, environmental and plating are properly used and inventoried to guarantee availability
• Assist with all local, state, customer/third party, and federal audits, dairy partner inspections, organic and kosher/certifications inspections, and non-GMO verification
• Train others in Quality related practices and any other duties assigned by Supervisor
• Daily report on out of spec results
• Write daily reports on out-of-spec materials and operating conditions
• Participate in weekly team meetings, biweekly huddles, safety meetings and other Company meetings as requested 
• Ensure work is produced in the most sustainable manner 

Safety and Compliance

• Ensure areas of responsibility are kept neat and clean, communicating any safety hazards or non-compliance issues immediately to a member of management
• Must comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), and any/all established processes , whether established by their manager, by the company or by law as well as assist with the communication, training, and enforcement of these as they pertain to food safety and quality
• Must consistently work in a safe manner and comply with all health, safety, and security requirements that are communicated to you, whether established by the company, Safety Manager, by the company or by law  
• Must communicate any safety hazard or workplace accident or near miss, and assist with proactive communication of safety rules to all team members so as to help foster a companywide culture of safety  

General Functions

• Strive to maintain high quality work ethic and maintain excellent attendance
• Ensure proactive participation in companywide sustainability goals, ensuring work is produced in the most sustainable manner
• Scheduling flexibility to work different shifts when required and to work weekends to support operations of a 24/7 facility
• Must comply with other duties as requested

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Technical experience managing QA programs and/or processes in food production/processing, required  
• Previous work with inspectors/auditors, certifying agencies (organic, kosher, Non-GMO Project), required
• Excellent verbal, written, and oral communication skills, required  
• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, required 
• Proficiency with Smart technology/Apple products for use with RedZone efficiency platform, required 
• Management of concurrent projects and initiatives and meeting defined deliverables, goals, and timelines, required  
• Passion for organics industry, sustainability, and responsible business, preferred
• Bilingual English and Spanish, preferred but not required
• Flexibility to work different shifts when required, to be on call after hours, and to work weekends and all holidays

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Full organoleptic (sight, smell, taste) as well as audio and vocal sense are necessary to evaluate and make sound decisions on product and production processes
• Must be manually dexterous
• Ability to work in a manufacturing/warehouse environment and withstand noise produced by manufacturing machinery up to 90 decibels
• Frequent periods of sitting, turning the head and torso, bending and flexing the arms, legs, wrists, hands, and fingers - repetitive at times
• Frequent periods of standing, walking, climbing stairs, on varied, sometimes uneven terrain, dirt, pavement, floors - repetitive at times
• Ability to sit for frequent periods, working on a computer, looking at the computer screen and/or tablet screen
• The ability to climb and balance is essential
• Working in cold, wet, humid environments
• Ability to work in high allergen environments
• Ability to withstand temperatures ranging from -10° to 100° Fahrenheit
• Ability to lift, hold and/or carry 55 pounds, unassisted

Above description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed and not construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position. 

Straus is an equal opportunity employer. We strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any legally protected characteristic.

You do not need to match every listed expectation to apply for this position. Here at Straus Family Creamery, we know that diverse perspectives foster the innovation we need to be successful, and we are committed to building a team that encompasses a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills.

Vaccine Mandate

Employees working in this position will be required to be fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. An applicant is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine. Applicants will be required to show proof of vaccination status upon receipt of a conditional offer of employment. That offer of employment will be conditioned upon, among other things, an Applicant’s ability to show proof of vaccination status. Please note the Company provides reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable state, federal and local laws.

Founded in 1994, Straus Family Creamery is a mission-driven, family-owned-and-operated business dedicated to making premium organic dairy products, with minimal processing. The Straus Dairy Farm and Creamery, located in the small town of Marshall on the Northern California Coast, was the first certified organic dairy farm west of the Mississippi River and the first 100% certified organic creamery in the United States.
In addition to the Straus Dairy Farm, Straus Family Creamery buys certified organic, Non-GMO Project Verified milk from 11 other organic family farms in Northern California’s Marin and Sonoma Counties. The combination of rich soil, one of the nation’s most diverse grassland systems, and a mild coastal climate create the ideal setting for organic dairy farming. Land stewardship and sustainable farming are deeply rooted principles in certified organic farming practices.

Salary : $22 - $24