Quality Assurance (QA) Technician

Puris • Harrold, SD

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Quality Assurance (QA) Technician supports the Harrold, South Dakota site by managing food safety programs and quality requirements from raw material receipt through shipment to the customer. The role performs testing, monitoring, inspections, record review, and verification to ensure products meet company, customer, regulatory, and certification requirements. It helps keep the site audit-ready and supports customer sampling and preparation of quality documents. The technician works closely with Production, Sanitation, Warehouse, Operations, and supply chain teams to maintain food safety standards, address quality issues, and keep records complete, accurate, and traceable.

The role also supports audits, investigations, validation activities, product trials and evaluations, food safety and quality management systems, and employee training. The technician serves on the Food Safety Team and Organic Fraud Prevention Team, supporting their plans, monitoring, training, verification, and continuous improvement activities.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Knowledge of GMPs and food safety is a plus.
• One or more years in a manufacturing environment or some type of agricultural experience preferred.
• Willingness to learn new things and help others.
• Ability to read and understand work-related written sentences, paragraphs, and directions.
• Effective time-management skills and ability to prioritize tasks.
• Ability to perform physical labor.
• Ability to wear PPE, including hearing, eye, and hand protection.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, and reach for extended periods.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds regularly, and occasionally more with assistance.
• Manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination for handling tools and machinery.
• Ability to climb stairs and ladders as needed.
• Comfort working in varying temperatures, including hot, cold, and humid conditions.
• Ability to wear required PPE, including gloves, safety glasses, hard hats, hearing protection, and steel-toed boots.
• Visual and auditory ability to detect safety hazards and machine malfunctions.
• Ability to push, pull, squat, kneel, or twist as needed during the shift.
• Ability to perform repetitive motions consistently and safely.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of GMPs and food safety.
• One or more years in a manufacturing environment or some type of agricultural experience.

Responsibilities

• Conduct daily inbound pea grading and outbound shipment grading, testing, release, and quality verification.
• Track inbound and outbound truck movements and maintain accurate records of test results.
• Grade and test inbound raw materials and finished products, document results, and communicate findings to appropriate stakeholders.
• Perform allergen testing on peas, splits, trucks, and other materials as required.
• Conduct quality inspections and laboratory testing for ingredients, in-process materials, and finished products.
• Review and generate Certificates of Analysis (COAs) for shipments.
• Review and maintain production sample logs for accuracy, traceability, and regulatory compliance.
• Conduct internal audits, document findings, and support resolution of non-conformities and corrective actions.
• Maintain site document control systems, including document accuracy, version control, and compliance with company standards.
• Review and verify preventive control programs, including monitoring, verification, and corrective action records.
• Support quality investigations, validation activities, product trials, and product evaluations.
• Support continuous improvement in food safety culture and food safety and quality performance.
• Support food safety policies, procedures, records, and training documentation.
• Ensure accuracy, traceability, and compliance of export documentation and sample records.
• Participate in monthly Quality meetings and prepare documentation reviews, trend analyses, action items, and follow-up activities.
• Conduct quarterly FOSS calibrations.
• Identify, document, investigate, and escalate out-of-specification results and quality concerns.
• Collaborate with operations, production, and supply chain teams to ensure product quality, customer requirements, and regulatory compliance.
• Support third-party, regulatory, certification, and customer audits through preparation, documentation review, audit participation, and corrective-action follow-up.
• Serve on the Organic Fraud Prevention Team, supporting implementation, training, monitoring, and continuous improvement of the Organic Fraud Prevention Plan.
• Provide cross-functional support for organic compliance initiatives and business continuity related to fraud prevention and supply chain integrity.
• Serve on the Food Safety Team, supporting food safety plan reanalysis, hazard evaluations, verification activities, deviations, corrective actions, and preventive measures.
• Assist in reviewing and maintaining food safety and quality management systems for compliance with SQF, regulatory, customer, and certification requirements.
• Support employee training programs related to food safety, quality systems, prerequisite programs, and regulatory compliance.

Benefits

• Medical insurance plans starting as low as $31 per paycheck, beginning the first of the month after hire.
• Dental coverage.
• Vision coverage.
• Free digital health care for all employees.
• Life insurance covered at 100%.
• Short-term disability insurance covered at 100%.
• Flexible health and dependent care spending accounts.
• Retirement plan contribution of 50% of each dollar saved, up to 6%.
• 80 hours of PTO accrued annually.
• 8 paid holidays.
• Attendance rewards.
• Gas stipend to support commuting.
• Other free resources.

What This Job Offers

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