Job Description

Job Posting

Quality Assurance Specialist supports the QA Manager in maintaining and improving food safety and quality programs across the facility.

This role ensures that all quality processes, documentation, and compliance requirements meet company standards and regulatory expectations. The Specialist is responsible for investigating customer complaints, supporting internal and third-party audits, and assisting with continuous improvement initiatives. In addition, this position oversees the Document Control Assistant to ensure all production and material records are accurately completed, reviewed, and retained in accordance with quality system requirements.

Duties and Resposibilities include:

Document Control and Record Management➢ Oversee the Document Control Assistants (DCA) to ensure all production-related records are collected after each run, reviewed for food safety and quality compliance, and properly filed according to record retention requirements.➢ Provide daily guidance and direction to the DCA, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and compliance in all documentation processes.

Quality Systems & Documentation➢ Develop, write, and revise Quality Control SOPs and records.➢ Monitor and validate procedural changes to ensure consistent execution.➢ Ensure production records are reviewed and filed for compliance and retention.➢ Track non-conformances from internal, customer, and third-party audits.➢ Support 3rd party inspections.

Customer Complaints & Investigations➢ Help to investigate and document customer complaints.➢ Draft CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Action) reports for management approval.

Inspections & Monitoring Programs➢ Perform Glass and Plastic Monitoring Program inspections and ensure timely corrective actions

➢ Maintain the Belt Inspections Program and follow up on any required actions.➢ Manage Hold designations, update the Hold log, and maintain records in the ERPsystem.➢ Oversee the quality retain sample cage and ensure timely evaluations.

Food Safety & Compliance➢ Report food safety issues to the QA Manager.➢ Oversee the Pest Control Program, including reporting issues and following up on technician recommendations.➢ Support sanitation validation programs.➢ Promote and follow GMPs, Food Safety, and Food Defense protocols.➢ Comply with all Health and Safety regulations and company policies.

Product Quality & Sensory Evaluation➢ Lead daily sensory evaluations (taste testing) to ensure product quality and consistency.➢ Monitor finished product quality and escalate deviations.Supplier & Material Oversight➢ Assist in supplier monitoring programs.➢ Write Supplier Non-Conformance Reports and communicate with suppliers regarding unsatisfactory materials.

Team Support & Cross-Functional Collaboration➢ Assist during customer visits and third-party audits.➢ Support onboarding of new QC team members.➢ Participate in quality improvement initiatives and cross-functional projects.➢ Work closely with production, sanitation, maintenance, and R&D teams to resolve quality issues.

Administrative & Other Duties➢ Send 1st production samples for third-party and customer testing.➢ Order and manage quality-related inventory supplies.➢ Participate in recalls and traceability exercises as needed. ➢ Participate in product tastings to ensure acceptability.➢ Perform other duties as assigned by the QA Manager.

Working conditions➢ Work indoors. Some work may involve being outside inspecting property and buildingfor short periods of time.➢ Compliant with ventilation, cleanliness, space, lighting, and temperature.

Qualifications

➢ Science related degree or diploma (e.g., food science, chemistry, microbiology, pharmaceutical)

➢ 3 years of experience in the food industry overseeing Quality.➢ HACCP qualification (ideally advanced level).➢ Experience writing SOPs and customer complaint reports.➢ Experience performing direct and root -cause investigations of non-conformances in a food manufacturing environment. ➢ Great attention to detail with accuracy, especially in regard to product specificationsand production documentation.➢ Able to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment, including multitasking.➢ Must have shift flexibility in order to provide support; may involve some weekend work.➢ Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint, with the ability to create and manage documents, spreadsheets, email communications, and presentations effectively.➢ Strong oral and written communication skills.

Physical requirements➢ Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. ➢ Sitting involved. ➢ Standing involved.➢ Walking and climbing stairs involved.➢ May repeat the same movement.➢ Typing involved.