Quality Technician

OSF Quality Technician Job Description Position Summary The Quality Technician is responsible for supporting the facility’s food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance programs within a Ready-to-Eat (RTE) food manufacturing environment. This position performs routine inspections, in-process checks, documentation review, environmental and product monitoring, and verification activities to ensure all products meet company, customer, and regulatory requirements. The Quality Technician plays a critical role in maintaining compliance with GMPs, HACCP, SQF/BRC standards, USDA/FDA regulations, and internal quality systems. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Food Safety & Quality Monitoring Perform routine line inspections and production checks throughout the shift. Verify compliance with GMPs, sanitation, personnel practices, and allergen controls. Conduct pre-operational and operational inspections of production rooms, packaging lines, and equipment. Monitor Critical Control Points (CCPs) including metal detectors, cook/chill temperatures, seal integrity, label verification, and other food safety checks. Perform scheduled weight, code date, label, packaging, and seal checks. Verify products meet established specifications for appearance, texture, weight, temperature, and packaging integrity. Inspect finished goods for defects prior to release. Documentation & Recordkeeping Complete and review QA forms, CCP logs, sanitation records, and production paperwork accurately and in real time. Verify all required documentation is completed correctly by associates. Escalate missing, incomplete, or inaccurate records to supervision. Maintain traceability documentation including lot codes, ingredient verification, and production records. Support document control and filing of QA records. Sampling & Testing Collect product samples for: Microbiological testing Shelf-life studies Retain samples Customer or third-party testing Conduct routine testing such as: Viscosity Water activity Temperature verification Net weight checks Sensory evaluations Perform environmental monitoring and swabbing as required. Packaging & Label Verification Verify correct labels, sleeves, film, and packaging materials are in use. Confirm allergen statements, lot coding, expiration dates, and product identity are accurate. Inspect seals, closures, and package integrity throughout production. Verify changeovers are completed correctly to prevent label mix-ups and cross-contact risks. Non-Conformance & Corrective Actions Identify and document product or process deviations. Place affected product on QA hold when required. Notify supervisors and management of food safety or quality concerns immediately. Assist with investigations involving: Foreign material Customer complaints Packaging defects Process deviations Support corrective and preventive action (CAPA) activities. Compliance & Audit Support Support internal, customer, USDA/FDA, and third-party audits. Ensure compliance with: HACCP plans SQF / BRC requirements GMPs SOPs Regulatory requirements Participate in food safety and quality training programs. Qualifications High school diploma or GED required 1–3 years of quality assurance experience in food manufacturing preferred RTE food manufacturing experience strongly preferred Knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, allergen controls, and food safety systems Experience with SQF, BRC, USDA, or FDA regulations preferred Required Skills Strong attention to detail Ability to work independently on the production floor Strong documentation and recordkeeping skills Good communication and escalation skills Basic math and measurement skills Ability to interpret specifications and SOPs Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and quality documentation systems Physical Requirements Ability to stand and walk for extended periods Ability to work in refrigerated and production environments Ability to lift up to 25–35 lbs Ability to wear required PPE including hairnets, beard nets, gloves, smocks, and safety footwear Work Environment Fast-paced food manufacturing environment Exposure to refrigerated, wet, and cold conditions Frequent interaction with production, sanitation, warehouse, and maintenance teams Must be available for weekends, overtime, and shift flexibility as needed #J-18808-Ljbffr