QA Tech

F&S PRODUCE WEST LLC•Riverside, CA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Responsible for verifying and documenting the requirements to ensure food safety. Execute daily quality activities to assess incoming materials, work in-process / product runs, quality, labeling, final inspections, analysis and testing of finished products, and food safety related sanitation. Assure that customer specifications are achieved, and the facility/Plant meet local, state, and federal food safety and health regulations. Partners with operations management team to ensure food safety best practices and processes. Ensures regulatory food safety compliance. Verifies the daily production plan, and any immediate needs to be addressed. May conduct pre-operation and other inspections, may reject materials or products, completes environmental swabbing and quality testing. Maintain documentation in support of fresh food specification requirements. Conduct and facilitate internal and external quality audits, documenting findings and next steps. Work with receivers to verify the documentation of temperature and inspection of delivery trucks (Assure accurate completion of Receiving logs). Ensure FIFO is followed, proper allergen segregation. Use the PPRO app to do receiving inspections, as well as setting up the app and check reports in PPRO. Complete established USDA swabbing and shelf-life tests of product samples as required. Calibrate test equipment-Scales and Thermometers. Ensure thermometer calibration logs are complete. Collect samples, fill out order sheets, pack and ship samples to the lab, as required. Maintain and organize Food Safety and Quality Assurance daily records. Maintain and monitor inventory product retains and spot-check department documentation for accuracy and compliance. Monitor / evaluate cleanliness and 5S standards. Document downtime related problems and corrective actions taken when associated with a QA hold or action that interrupts production. Perform all quality checks and preventive critical control points (CCP) monitoring (temperature logs, sanitation, labeling checks, net weight, package integrity, and package integrity checks). Collaborates and makes recommendations on food safety and quality decisions regarding ingredient, raw product, in-process product and finished product conformance. Prevents and helps with researching information for management to respond (corrective action / preventive action) and follow up to Government (Federal – USDA / FDA / etc., State, County and City) inquiries. Review documents and verify plant recipes/ specifications, labeling, etc. Support internal and external food quality/safety audits & report and track corrective actions. Print traceability forms from the QMS. May track the quantity of swabs, test strips, chemicals, and other supplies for the QA dept. May spend time reviewing market research, trends, and collaborate on projects. Escalates difficult matters to the QA Supervisor or QA Manager as necessary. Performs other duties as needed.

Requirements

High School Diploma or equivalent required.
College level education or related degree helpful.
Experience working in a chilled food environment.
Prior HACCP certification, Food Handler, and other certification desirable.
Excellent communicator, verbally and in writing.
Proficient use of MS Office software and a working knowledge of common applications used.
Experience using Supplier Database, or Product Life Cycle Management software; Produce Pro.
Knowledge of common start-up processes in a USDA factory and Good Manufacturing Procedures.
Demonstrated ability to be a self-starter who will be responsible for common routines.
Ability to analyze data using spreadsheets, formulas, statistical tools, etc.
Must be highly organized and detail-oriented.
Ability to work within a fast-paced environment and multi-task effectively.
Demonstrates the ability to remain professional and diplomatic when working under pressure.
Ability to apply logical thinking and exercise sound judgment to arrive at appropriate business decisions.

Nice To Haves

College level education or related degree helpful.
Prior HACCP certification, Food Handler, and other certification desirable.
Experience using Supplier Database, or Product Life Cycle Management software; Produce Pro.

Responsibilities

Verifying and documenting requirements to ensure food safety.
Executing daily quality activities to assess incoming materials, work in-process/product runs, quality, labeling, final inspections, analysis and testing of finished products, and food safety related sanitation.
Assuring customer specifications are achieved and the facility/Plant meets local, state, and federal food safety and health regulations.
Partnering with the operations management team to ensure food safety best practices and processes.
Ensuring regulatory food safety compliance.
Verifying the daily production plan and any immediate needs to be addressed.
Conducting pre-operation and other inspections.
Rejecting materials or products.
Completing environmental swabbing and quality testing.
Maintaining documentation in support of fresh food specification requirements.
Conducting and facilitating internal and external quality audits, documenting findings and next steps.
Working with receivers to verify the documentation of temperature and inspection of delivery trucks.
Ensuring FIFO is followed and proper allergen segregation.
Using the PPRO app for receiving inspections, setup, and report checking.
Completing established USDA swabbing and shelf-life tests of product samples.
Calibrating test equipment (Scales and Thermometers).
Ensuring thermometer calibration logs are complete.
Collecting samples, filling out order sheets, packing and shipping samples to the lab.
Maintaining and organizing Food Safety and Quality Assurance daily records.
Monitoring and evaluating cleanliness and 5S standards.
Documenting downtime related problems and corrective actions taken when associated with a QA hold or action that interrupts production.
Performing all quality checks and preventive critical control points (CCP) monitoring.
Collaborating and making recommendations on food safety and quality decisions regarding ingredient, raw product, in-process product and finished product conformance.
Assisting with researching information for management to respond to government inquiries and follow-up.
Reviewing documents and verifying plant recipes/specifications, labeling, etc.
Supporting internal and external food quality/safety audits and reporting/tracking corrective actions.
Printing traceability forms from the QMS.
Tracking the quantity of swabs, test strips, chemicals, and other supplies for the QA department.
Reviewing market research, trends, and collaborating on projects.
Escalating difficult matters to the QA Supervisor or QA Manager.
Performing other duties as needed.