Quality Assurance Technician -

California Dairies, Inc. is the leading dairy processing cooperative in California. As a farmer-owned cooperative, we operate several processing facilities located throughout California. CDI employees are highly valued and are provided with competitive benefits packages and career growth plans.
We offer a generous benefits package that includes:

• Hourly Wage: $24.97 - $31.21
• Family medical/dental/vision
• Retirement plans
• Paid holidays
• Paid vacation
• Tuition reimbursement
• Loss prevention and safety bonus programs

Summary
A Quality Assurance Technician will provide assistance to the Quality Assurance Department with quality audits, swabbing, coli form plating, calibrating, antibiotic testing, and other various laboratory functions. Support and enforce USDA, SQF / QA, GMP, HACCP, Safety policies and procedures, and production needs. "Food Safety and Quality" are the responsibilities of this position. In the absence of a Quality Assurance Technician, responsibilities will be covered by another Quality Assurance Technician or by the Quality Assurance Manager.
Essential Functions

• Perform weekly tasks, which include environmental swabbing airplates, thermometer calibration and others.
• Perform noon and midnight inventory of fluid silos.
• Monitor wastewater, pH, EC, and COD.
• Micro plating, WPN, antibiotic confirmation testing, and TA testing.
• Daily send-outs to DA and Sierra for testing.
• Pull customer samples and re-test samples.
• Clean and maintain clean lab areas.
• Complete all paperwork neatly and correctly.
• Complete all filing of documentation in an accurate and timely manner.
• Follow all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
• Follow all Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points(HACCP).
• Responsible for the care and maintenance of company tools and laboratory equipment.
• Updating quality & procedure manuals, calibrations, wastewater reports, swabbing, and air quality monitoring.
• Follow all safety and working rules.
• Must have the ability to get along with co-workers, management personnel, customers, vendors, and employees in accordance with company policies and working rules while ensuring a harmonious and conducive work environment.
• Maintain a positive attitude and contribute towards a quality environment.
• Excellent regular full-time attendance in support of company objectives.
• Use initiative and judgment in making decisions, keeping with California Dairies, Inc.'s best interests.
• Perform other duties as assigned by management.

Qualifications

• 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.
• Must work in a safe and efficient manner and follow all safety procedures, including the use of safety equipment.
• Must be willing to ask for assistance when the process is unclear.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Dairy Science, Food Science, or Microbiology, or Associate in similar areas and/or five years experience in a laboratory setting.
• Excellent English verbal and written communication skills.
• Basic computational skills are required.
• Simple math reasoning is required.

Language Skills
English is required as the spoken language. A well-modulated tonal volume is required with excellent diction skills needed.
Reasoning Ability
Must have the ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions given in written, oral, or diagram form. Must have the ability to discern when issues may require input from levels of authority within the corporation.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
Must be able to acquire and maintain a Mojonnier/Oven Solids Tester license.
Certified Industry Supervisor certification in Drug residue testing
ADA/FEHA
The Company will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and California's Fair Employment and Housing Act.
EEO
The Company is an equal employment opportunity employer.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. The company will make reasonable accommodations that do not cause undue hardship to the company if such accommodation enables individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
Sitting/Standing/Walking: The Quality Assurance Technician, during the course of an 8-12 hour workday, will do all three. They will walk several hundred feet over uneven surfaces swabbing, testing, plating, and other laboratory duties.
Lifting/Carrying: Each workday, the Quality Assurance Technician may lift up to 75 pounds on an infrequent basis.
Pushing/Pulling: Each workday the Quality Assurance Technician frequently pushes/pulls while using lab equipment and swabbing.
Bending/Stooping: Both are done regularly during the course of a workday.
Squatting/Kneeling/Crawling: Each workday squatting and kneeling are done on an infrequent basis. Crawling is done occasionally during the course of a workday.
Twisting/Turning: Frequent twisting and kneeling are done while doing regular duties each workday.
Climbing/Balancing: Some vertical ladder climbing is required. Balancing ladders and machinery is required while performing duties during the course of a workday.
Reaching: Frequently reaching from floor level to shoulder level done during an 8-hour workday.
Grasping/Manipulating: Frequent use of hands and fingers while using lab tools and equipment.
Equipment: pH meter, conductivity meter, dissolved oxygen meter, C.O.D meter, C.E.M., Foss, charm testing, phosphates reader, centrifuge, food quantifier, L.U.M.- T reader, CO2 tester, refractometer, salt meter, scales, and thermometers.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. The company will make reasonable accommodations that do not cause undue hardship to the company if such accommodation enables individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Employees will be subject to temperatures from 34 to over 100 degrees. An employee may come into contact with the following: ammonia, acids, caustics, chlorines, paints, particles, oils and lubricants, steam, pneumatics, fumes, and hazardous gases, sealing compounds.
Personal protective equipment, including but not limited to hearing protection, bump caps, hair and beard nets, gloves, and eye protection, must be used in the performance of duties. Proper lifting techniques must be employed at all times.
Note: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and requirements, which may change from time to time based on business needs. When appropriate, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.