QA Technologist AM Shift

King's Hawaiian Bakery•Torrance, CA

About The Position

The QA Technologist serves as a senior technical resource for Quality Assurance and reports directly to the Plant QA Manager, with a dotted-line reporting relationship to the QA Supervisor. The role assists QA Management with projects and with developing, implementing, maintaining, training on, and evaluating the effectiveness of plant food safety and quality functions. The position calls for a food safety- and quality-focused, collaborative employee who can work independently, multitask, pay close attention to detail, and use sound problem-solving and decision-making skills. The role performs routine raw-material and finished-product quality assurance and control functions, supports compliance with food safety and quality standards, contributes to audits and corrective actions, and assists with SQF certification activities. The QA Technologist also analyzes process data, supports continuous-improvement efforts, helps investigate food safety and quality issues, prepares reports, and serves as a technical resource and trainer for QA Technicians and Operations personnel.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED equivalent.
Two to three years of QA/C experience in food manufacturing or related fields.
Strong working knowledge of common food QA/C laboratory methods.
Strong working knowledge of HACCP and prerequisite programs.
Working knowledge of current SQF Level 1 or 2 or BRC certification requirements.
Hands-on GMP, food safety, and quality-system audit experience.
Familiarity with current food regulatory requirements and standards, such as cGMP.
Demonstrated problem-solving skills.
Effective verbal and written communication, including the ability to write technical procedures and reports.
Ability to work effectively in a team-based, fast-paced environment.
Demonstrated project-management and/or project-execution skills.
Intermediate to advanced computer skills, including MS Excel, Word, and Outlook.
Ability and willingness to work a flexible schedule.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or another related technical field.
Bilingual English/Spanish.

Responsibilities

Perform assigned routine raw-material and finished-product QA/C functions, including process audits, laboratory testing and equipment calibration, product sensory evaluations, and non-conformance product protocols such as holds.
Conduct process and system audits and develop and implement corrective actions to support compliance with food safety and quality standards.
Assist the SQF Practitioner with certification compliance by performing validation audits and updating and developing food safety protocols.
Collect, review, interpret, verify, and analyze process QA/C data to identify process-improvement opportunities.
Participate in departmental and cross-functional continuous-improvement projects as assigned by the QA Manager.
Assist QA Management in determining root causes of food safety and quality issues and developing and implementing corrective action plans.
Assist QA Management in generating and issuing food safety and quality reports.
Serve as a senior technical resource for QA Technicians and other Operations personnel.
Train new QA Technicians as required by QA Management.
Perform other relevant duties assigned by QA Management.