Lead, Quality Assurance

Job Title: Quality Assurance Lead

Reports to: Quality Assurance Manager

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Shift: Flexible 8-hour shifts

Department: Quality

Start Date: 4/1/2024

Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree in chemistry or science preferred, but will accept experience in lieu of education.
• Minimum of two years work-related experience or training preferred.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule as needed.
• Basic reading, writing, and math skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Ability to work alone and guide a team
• Experience training others
• Must have valid driver’s license and personal vehicle, as travel between plants is required.

Accountabilities:

This position’s main accountability lies in maintaining the highest level of quality, food safety and consumer satisfaction at our Olson Drive location. The position is also accountable for inventory, ordering, filing, document control and training teammates.

GMP & PPE Required:

The position must follow and help to enforce all GMP and safety regulations in the plants. The position must follow standard operating procedures including quality checks and procedures for all operations. Also follows HACCP and SQF requirements for food quality and safety.

Schedule:

• Approximately 60% of the time schedule will be 8-hour shifts, M-F
• Approximately 25% of the time schedule will be 5am-5pm (Including weekends)
• Approximately 15% of the time schedule will be 5pm-5am (Including weekends)

Essential Job Duties:

• Oversee all routine, monitoring and regulatory testing.
• Maintain and troubleshoot lab equipment.
• Participate in audits as needed.
• Train new laboratory technicians.
• Assist with completing GMP audits, customer complaint investigations, and Mock recall and traceability exercises.
• Performs daily and quarterly micro tests (coliform, HPC, yeast/mold, etc.) as needed.
• Purchase inventory of all lab supplies, cleaning chemicals and filters.
• Order lab supplies, cleaning chemicals and filters to prevent interruption of laboratory or production activities.
• Must be able to work off-shifts as needed.
• Must be able to work 8 and 12 hour shifts as needed.
• Assist with resolution of non-conformances and corrective actions.
• Monitor all areas of the plant for GMP compliance.
• Input lab data daily.
• Weekly collection of outside lab samples.
• Function as a training resource to the laboratory and production.
• Manage laboratory documentation including filing.
• Review and update laboratory SOPs annually.
• Become an expert in all laboratory processes and procedures and serve as a resource for all laboratory technicians.
• Must become a certified plant operator (CPO) within 1 year of hire.
• Must become a SQF practitioner and HACCP certified within 1 year of hire.

Non-Essential Job Duties:

Will perform other related work as assigned by the Quality Assurance Manager or Plant Manager.

In the absence of this employee, tasks will be covered by Quality Manager.

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 accommodations may be made to enable teammates with disabilities to perform the essential functions.