Quality Technician

Quality TechnicianJob Objective: Quality is an intricate part of Straus Family Creamery's mission. The Quality Assurance Technician is responsible for safeguarding all product quality and safety while ensuring adherence to Company and regulatory standards. The QAT ensures that the production and distribution of products always meets or exceeds all quality standards and that all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are consistently followed.Essential Job Functions:Performs audits of all areas, production and non-productionConduct approval of pre-startup activities including line/room clearance, and initial equipment checksConsistently reviews in-process batch documentation to ensure real-time compliance to product specifications, good documentation practices, company SOP's and cGMP'sEnsure materials are tested according to predefined criteria and meet requirementsAssist with Sensory Evaluation of manufactured and in process item, as requested or neededEnvironmental Management (EM) program responsibilities including but not limited to: swabbing, pre-operational inspection and investigational activitiesConduct daily line tours and filler line audits to ensure machine compliance with site quality standards. Audits should encompass various areas including startup, changeover, tank change, intervention and normal production where technician will evaluate potential risks to product quality and support resolution of problemsPerform in-process testing verifications of manufacturing/packaging data to confirm consistency in testing methodology and test dataPerform during and after sanitation inspections and approval to ensure equipment and environment conforms to site quality standards. That includes visual inspections for cleanliness, ATP swabbing, Microbial swabs, Allergen swabsSubmit daily Analytical and Micro samples to QC for appropriate testingProvide continuous and consistent quality leadership to production operators, looking for ways to improve product quality and increase technician understanding of key quality criteria and their impact on it; discusses errors directly with line personnel so corrections can be made, if requiredConduct timely food safety evaluations and dispositions of product, escalating as necessaryVerify physical values on equipment and confirms appropriate conditions for operations during useInvolve other departments, when appropriate, for timely response to observation of failure to meet expectations/standardsPlace material on hold if it does not meet requirementsAssist with Positive Release Program and PCQI reviewsUpdate Glass and Brittle Plastic inspections foreign material databases (in-house and consumer)Comply with all Company policies communicated through your Employee Manual, trainings, notice boards or other postings, or by a member of managementEnsures that chemical supplies for Quality testing, environmental and plating are properly used and inventoried to guarantee availabilityAssist with all local, state, customer/third party, and federal audits, dairy partner inspections, organic and kosher/certifications inspections, and non-GMO verificationTrain others in Quality related practices and any other duties assigned by SupervisorDaily report on out of spec resultsWrite daily reports on out-of-spec materials and operating conditionsParticipate in weekly team meetings, biweekly huddles, safety meetings and other Company meetings as requestedEnsure work is produced in the most sustainable mannerSafety and Compliance:Ensure areas of responsibility are kept neat and clean, communicating any safety hazards or non-compliance issues immediately to a member of managementMust comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), and any/all established processes, whether established by their manager, by the company or by law as well as assist with the communication, training, and enforcement of these as they pertain to food safety and qualityMust consistently work in a safe manner and comply with all health, safety, and security requirements that are communicated to you, whether established by the company, Safety Manager, by the company or by lawMust communicate any safety hazard or workplace accident or near miss, and assist with proactive communication of safety rules to all team members so as to help foster a companywide culture of safetyGeneral Functions:Strive to maintain high quality work ethic and maintain excellent attendanceEnsure proactive participation in companywide sustainability goals, ensuring work is produced in the most sustainable mannerScheduling flexibility to work different shifts when required and to work weekends to support operations of a 24/7 facilityMust comply with other duties as requestedEducation & Experience:Technical experience managing QA programs and/or processes in food production/processing, requiredPrevious work with inspectors/auditors, certifying agencies (organic, kosher, Non-GMO Project), requiredExcellent verbal, written, and oral communication skills, requiredBasic proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, requiredProficiency with Smart technology/Apple products for use with RedZone efficiency platform, requiredManagement of concurrent projects and initiatives and meeting defined deliverables, goals, and timelines, requiredPassion for organics industry, sustainability, and responsible business, preferredBilingual English and Spanish, preferred but not requiredFlexibility to work different shifts when required, to be on call after hours, and to work weekends and all holidaysPhysical Requirements:Full organoleptic (sight, smell, taste) as well as audio and vocal sense are necessary to evaluate and make sound decisions on product and production processesMust be manually dexterousAbility to work in a manufacturing/warehouse environment and withstand noise produced by manufacturing machinery up to 90 decibelsFrequent periods of sitting, turning the head and torso, bending and flexing the arms, legs, wrists, hands, and fingers - repetitive at timesFrequent periods of standing, walking, climbing stairs, on varied, sometimes uneven terrain, dirt, pavement, floors - repetitive at timesAbility to sit for frequent periods, working on a computer, looking at the computer screen and/or tablet screenThe ability to climb and balance is essentialWorking in cold, wet, humid environmentsAbility to work in high allergen environmentsAbility to withstand temperatures ranging from -10° to 100° FahrenheitAbility to lift, hold and/or carry 55 pounds, unassistedWork Location & Hours:This position is based in Rohnert Park, CA.Primarily based in a manufacturing facility with routine time spent on the production floor.Work schedule is typically Sunday through Thursday and hours will be second shift/swing.Above description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed and not construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position.Straus is an equal opportunity employer. We strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any legally protected characteristic.You do not need to match every listed expectation to apply for this position. Here at Straus Family Creamery, we know that diverse perspectives foster the innovation we need to be successful, and we are committed to building a team that encompasses a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills.