Food Safety Quality Assurance Technician / Op Lead

FSQA/Operations Lead

The FSQA/Operations Lead is an entry-level role responsible for supporting the facility's food safety and quality programs by performing hands-on monitoring and verification activities on the production floor. This individual ensures compliance with regulatory, customer, and internal standards related to food safety, sanitation, and product quality. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to document review, microbiological sampling, validation of quality checks, internal audits, understanding standard operating procedures, and training.

High school graduate preferred 1+ years of experience in a food manufacturing or quality environment preferred. Basic understanding of food safety, HACCP, and GMPs. Strong attention to detail and good communication skills. Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment, including extended periods on the production floor. Experience in teaching / training adults helpful.

Role and Responsibilities

FSQA

Perform routine food safety and quality checks on the production floor, including temperature verification, metal detection, labeling, shelf-life studies, and foreign material controls.

Monitor the effectiveness of food safety and quality checks completed by all South Mill employees.

Collect microbiological and environmental samples in support of the facility's Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP).

Verify compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and escalate any deviations to FSQA leadership.

Support internal audits by performing assigned inspection tasks, documenting observations, generating work orders / corrective actions, and providing feedback to responsible areas.

Standard Operating Procedures: Understand all SOPs, identify gaps that require procedures, and maintain accuracy of all current procedures.

Conduct cleaning verification using ATP swabs and record results accurately.

Assist in coordinating and carrying out training for all employees including but not limited to annual refresher, new hire, quality standards, and customer requirement trainings.

Assist the FSQA team in preparing for and assisting with 3rd party audits.

Coordinate and carry out Team 1 Food Safety Audits of all Production Areas.

Maintain the Food Safety documents and ensure accurate completion of all required checklists and logs; report any discrepancies promptly. Assist with document collection, filing, and review under direction from FSQA leadership.

Maintain a clean and organized work area in compliance with safety and sanitation standards.

Operations

Create, review, and print product labels, ensuring accuracy and compliance with customer, regulatory, and company requirements.

Assist Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable functions by scanning, indexing, and maintaining electronic records within DocStar and other document management systems.

Maintain organized and accurate electronic and physical records to support operational, financial, and compliance requirements.

Provide administrative support to FSQA and Operations teams, including data entry, document control, report preparation, and filing activities.

Coordinate and manage routine office and administrative tasks to ensure efficient daily operations and effective cross-functional communication.

Support the maintenance of records, forms, and documentation required for food safety, quality, operational, and regulatory compliance programs.

Support distribution and customer service operations by delivering produce orders to local customers as needed, ensuring on-time delivery, product integrity, accurate recordkeeping, and professional customer interactions.

Preferred Skills

Familiarity with computers, in the use of Microsoft Office and Excel.

Good verbal and written ability in English and Spanish.

Ability to function well in team environment.

Strong public speaking ability, especially in teaching adult learners.

Good communication and interpersonal skills.

Strong attention to detail.

Note: The following job demands represent the basic knowledge, skill, and/or ability necessary to perform this job successfully. The job duties found below are not the only tasks required for the job. You may be assigned other duties and tasks as well. Other duties and tasks may include working with production crew, working with sanitation crew, driving company vehicles, making deliveries, customer service and sales. Candidate for this position must be able to meet the minimum demands listed below and sign the affirmation below indicating the same.

Physical Demands

• Always required to speak and comprehend either English, Spanish or both. Bi-lingual is a plus.
• Always required to sit, stand or walk.
• Always required to see with or without corrective lenses.
• Frequently required to utilize fine motor coordination in hands and arms.
• Frequently required to lift up to 10 pounds; occasionally required to lift up to 20 pounds.
• Occasionally required to balance, stoop or crouch.
• Occasionally required to climb stairs.

Work Environment

• Always required to act professionally.
• Always required to work in a produce cooler for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally exposed to hazardous conditions requiring personal protective equipment.

Cognitive Skills

• Always required to think, evaluate and make decisions.
• Occasionally required to analyze, study, compare and report.

MVR is required for this position.