Quality Assurance Lead

Cooke Aquaculture Inc.•Machiasport, ME

1d•$19 - $22•Onsite

About The Position

The Quality Assurance Lead Hand (Monitor) is responsible for daily quality and food safety verification activities on the production floor at the True North Maine location in Machiasport. The role supports the QA Supervisor through inspections, monitoring, verification of procedural compliance, identification of deficiencies, and communication of corrective actions. It serves as a first level of leadership and technical support, providing day-to-day guidance to QA Technicians. The position conducts quality and food safety monitoring, participates in root cause investigations, delivers short coaching sessions and procedural training, performs scheduled inspections, and completes special requests and weekly risk assessments. The role works in a seafood processing plant and QA support environment, with regular presence on production lines, inspection areas, and refrigerated or wet areas. Appropriate personal protective equipment is mandatory.

Requirements

Seafood processing or food manufacturing experience.
Knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, BRCGS, SFCR, and food safety programs.
Strong organizational and communication skills.
Ability to perform inspections and make objective quality decisions.
Intermediate computer and documentation skills.
Reliability, punctuality, attention to detail, and accuracy in completing monitoring and verification tasks.
Ability to identify and escalate quality, food safety, documentation, production, and GMP concerns.
Commitment to food safety, product quality, regulatory compliance, and accurate records.

Responsibilities

Conduct a QA assessment once per day throughout processing operations.
Complete scheduled environmental swabbing programs and submit the environmental swab plan to the lab the week before swabbing.
Perform raw material temperature verification activities.
Monitor compliance with food safety, GMP, HACCP, BRCGS, BAP, and customer requirements.
Follow up on customer complaints and communicate inspection updates to the INspec Manager when required.
Participate in root cause analysis investigations for quality, food safety, customer complaint, GMP, environmental monitoring, and documentation-related non-conformances.
Gather initial facts and evidence for investigations through interviews, observations, records review, photographs, and trend analysis.
Conduct short coaching sessions on quality and food safety expectations, inspection methods, documentation requirements, and GMP compliance.
Maintain records of training topics, attendee participation, and effectiveness verification activities.
Identify recurring knowledge gaps, recommend additional training to the QA Supervisor, and verify employee understanding through observation, questioning, and follow-up assessments.
Identify non-conformances and initiate corrective actions.
Conduct monthly inspections, including Pest Control Program and Glass and Brittle Plastic Program inspections.
Conduct quarterly facility and building inspections.
Review one SOP and one Work Instruction each week.
Develop and complete knowledge assessment questions based on reviewed procedures.
Verify QA Technician understanding through verbal questioning.
Conduct short training sessions on proper methods, forms, and sign-off requirements, and submit hard copies to the QA Manager.
Report training results and procedural gaps to the QA Supervisor.
Complete special requests from Sales and QA Management.
Conduct weekly risk assessments for floor-level QA concerns and escalate significant issues to the QA Manager.
Provide day-to-day guidance and technical support to QA Technicians, lead by example on the production floor, communicate concerns clearly and respectfully, and adapt to changing production needs and management direction.