QA Technician

Technician - Quality Assurance

At Pilgrim's, safety is a condition, which means the safety of our team members comes first - always.

The Quality Assurance Technician position is responsible for performing physical and visual inspections to verify product specification, quality, and food safety procedure compliance. This position reports to the Quality Assurance Lead and/or Supervisor.

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned by Supervisor as production demands may require:

• Must comply with all Food Safety Quality Assurance policies and USDA regulations. Modeling and coaching these expectations to facility team members.
• Complete inspections to verify product meets internal and customer specifications and take appropriate actions when a non-compliance is observed.
• Conduct product reviews to meet product grading, packaging, and weight compliance procedures.
• Monitors team members work practices and addresses any deficiencies by informing the team member of the nonconformance and reporting the issue to their supervisor.
• Monitoring product processing areas and practices to mitigate any potential for foreign material contamination.
• Inspects equipment for cleanliness and proper working condition prior to start up, or during process (based on shift) and records findings in a neat and legible manner.
• Responsible for collecting, tracking, and implementing numerical data.
• Must be able to communicate properly with all levels of management and USDA.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by Supervisor to support production demands as may be specified by customer or client.

Non-essential duties and functions:

• Must be able to work varying days (including weekends) when processing schedules change
• Maintain a positive work atmosphere by acting and communicating in a manner so their work is done efficiently and cooperatively with coworkers and leadership teams.

Basic qualifications:

• Must have minimal computers skill and/or willing to learn company software to complete their job assignments.
• Must be able to move, open, and inspect plant produced products.
• Must be able to stand on concrete surfaces up to four (4) continuous hours with a minimum of 8 hours per shift.
• Must be physically able to navigate to all areas of the processing facility and follow all safety procedures.
• Must be able to perform strenuous work in a damp environment with a wide range of temperatures.
• Must be dependable and prompt with strong integrity and work ethic.
• Must be able to work independently and exhibit PPC's values to uphold the Quality Pillar and FSQA programs.
• Must have the ability to understand and follow instructions and to learn the methods and practices used in poultry processing

Education & experience:

High school diploma or equivalent

License and certification required:

None

Job skills:

• Math with knowledge of averages, percents, and fractions.
• Good communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Must be able to read and write English.
• Must be able to use a calculator.
• Must know how to use a ruler.

Work environment:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to wet and humid conditions and moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to high precarious places, extreme cold; and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually very loud.

Protective equipment:

• Ear plugs/mugs
• Rubber gloves
• Cotton gloves
• Hair/Beard Nets
• Apron
• Goggles

Safety factors to be aware of:

• Know how to use and locate the emergency stop switch.
• Know location of primary and secondary emergency exits.
• Know and use proper lifting techniques.
• Always be aware of pallet jack traffic (electric and hand jack).
• Use caution on wet floors – wear proper footwear.

Note: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the daily work being performed by partners assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, or customer specifications and processes required of personnel so assigned.

EOE/Vet/Disabled