QA Technician

Hlf 2023 • Portsmouth, NH

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The QA Technician plays a crucial role in ensuring product quality and food safety within the manufacturing environment. This position involves verifying adherence to safe work practices, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), and food safety standards. The technician will conduct various quality checks, maintain accurate records, and communicate any non-compliant conditions or quality concerns to leadership. Responsibilities extend to supporting R&D trials, providing feedback to manufacturing teams, and assisting with audits and continuous improvement initiatives. The role requires a detail-oriented individual with strong observational skills and the ability to work effectively in a plant setting.

Requirements

• High School diploma or GED
• Strong basic math, measurement, documentation, and practical problem-identification skills
• Reliable, detail-oriented, and able to use sound judgment, urgency, and professionalism when completing routine checks or escalating issues.
• Demonstrated ability to read, write, and communicate clearly in English, including accurate completion of quality and food safety records.
• Ability to communicate quality and food safety expectations in a respectful, clear, and effective manner with hourly employees, leads, supervisors, and QA leadership.
• Must be available for overtime as needed
• Ability to flex schedule to support business needs.

Nice To Haves

• Associates degree or above preferred, but not required
• HACCP certification preferred
• 3+ years prior experience in quality assurance, food handling, food processing, sanitation, laboratory, or manufacturing preferred.
• Knowledge of GMPs, sanitation requirements, HACCP, allergen control, foreign material prevention, and food safety programs preferred.

Responsibilities

• Verify employee adherence to safe work practices, GMPs, and food safety expectations; promptly communicate unsafe or non-compliant conditions to QA and Operations leadership.
• Perform assigned quality, food safety, GMP, prerequisite program, and HACCP verification activities according to established procedures and frequencies.
• Confirm product specifications are signed off by Line Leads and Line Supervisors prior to lines being started.
• Complete audit, in-process, pre-operational, finished product, and other quality records accurately and on time; ensure required corrections are completed according to cGMP and documentation standards, escalate gaps as appropriate, and maintain records so they are filed, accessible, and archived as required.
• Conduct product evaluations in accordance with 50CFR.
• Identify out-of-specification, potentially non-conforming, or questionable products and materials; place product on hold and/or escalate to QA leadership according to site procedures and support timely disposition decisions.
• Complete daily sanitation and pre-op inspections, using visual and analytical methods such as ATP and protein swabs.
• Complete daily sensory and organoleptic evaluations and ensure findings are documented clearly, accurately, and escalated when results do not meet expectations.
• Support R&D trials, plant trials, and first productions by completing assigned quality checks, documenting observations, verifying product and process requirements, and escalating food safety or quality concerns in real time.
• Provide real-time feedback to manufacturing employees and leaders regarding housekeeping, GMP adherence, product handling, and audit-ready behaviors.
• Ensure scales and thermometers being used by the manufacturing team are calibrated and function as intended.
• Update pre-operational findings tracking sheet each day and report findings to QA Supervisor/Manager.
• Participate in Tier meetings or shift handoffs as needed to communicate quality observations, open issues, holds, trial observations, and follow-up needs.
• Perform other quality, food safety, sanitation verification, documentation, trial support, and plant support duties as assigned.
• Identify recurring product quality concerns, documentation gaps, GMP observations, or process opportunities and communicate them to QA leadership and cross-functional partners.
• Participate in continuous improvement, corrective action, and problem-solving activities as assigned by providing accurate floor observations and practical input.
• Support product and process improvement efforts that improve made - right - first-time performance, reduce repeat defects, strengthen audit performance, and reduce customer and consumer complaints.
• Quarantine or place non-conforming materials on hold according to site procedures, maintain hold identification and documentation, and support QA leadership with investigation and disposition follow-up.
• Support preparation for and execution of GFSI, customer, regulatory, internal, and GMP audits by maintaining accurate records, following procedures, and supporting timely corrective actions.
• Provide practical feedback on quality and food safety procedures, job aids, training materials, and forms to improve usability and daily execution.
• Assist with training and onboarding new Quality Assurance Technicians by demonstrating proper inspection, verification, documentation, escalation, and GMP practices.
• Maintain the lab and quality workspace in a clean, organized, audit-ready condition and ensure required consumable supplies are available.

Benefits

• Equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED