Quality Technician- 1st Shift- 6:30AM to 3PM

Quality Technician

POSITION STATUS: Full-Time, Permanent

LOCATION: Whitehall, OH - DEPARTMENT: Quality

REPORT TO: Quality Supervisor - EFFECTIVE DATE: 8/5/2025

This role is responsible for upholding product quality and food safety within assigned production areas by adhering to regulatory, company, and customer requirements. The position ensures all products meet established specifications, supports root cause investigations and corrective actions for deviations, and partners with cross-functional teams to sustain compliance and drive continuous improvement in safety, food safety, and quality initiatives.

Key Mandates

• Ensure compliance with all regulatory, customer, and company standards
• Drive a culture of food safety and quality across the facility
• Promote continuous improvement practices and initiatives
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation for traceability and verification
• Escalate and help resolve issues impacting product safety, legality, or quality

Primary Responsibilities This list is not all inclusive, other duties assigned as necessary by management. Food Safety and Compliance:

• Conduct internal audits and equipment calibrations to verify food safety and product quality
• Investigate deviations, consumer complaints, and assist with root cause analysis
• Follow and enforce programs and policies that support SQF, regulatory, company, and customer standards
• Support the implementation, maintenance, and improvement of the SQF system
• Review production records and documents for completeness, accuracy, and compliance
• Collaborate with other departments to implement corrective and preventive actions

QA/QC Duties:

• Perform timely qualitative and quantitative testing on raw materials, in-process products, and finished goods
• Accurately document test results and maintain records for traceability
• Troubleshoot testing instruments and support evaluation of test methods
• Assist with validation of production lines and equipment
• Escalate food safety and quality issues and assist with root cause and corrective action (RCA) efforts

Health & Safety:

• Perform all tasks safely, efficiently, and accurately to support optimal plant performance
• Adhere to environmental, health, and safety (EHS) policies and serve as an active member of safety initiatives

Entrance Qualifications Education and/ or Experience

• Minimum 2 years of quality assurance experience (food manufacturing preferred)
• High School diploma or Equivalent required.
• Associate or bachelor's degree in Quality Assurance, Food Science, Chemistry, or related field preferred
• Knowledge of food safety, microbiology, and sanitation concepts
• Familiarity with regulatory certifications (Kosher, Organic, RSPO, Non-GMO, Gluten Free) preferred
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)

Communication and Analytical Skills:

• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to apply mathematical reasoning to practical situations
• Highly organized with excellent troubleshooting and prioritization skills
• Able to think critically in a fast-paced environment

Other Skills and Physical Demands:

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Capable of standing, walking, bending, twisting, and lifting for extended periods
• Ability to lift and move up to 50 pounds
• Interacts professionally with honesty, integrity, and respect
• Must be comfortable working in an environment that handles pork products, alcohol, gluten, milk/dairy, and potentially tree nuts and peanuts

Core Competencies

• Creative Thinking: re-examining traditional strategies and practices, and proactively looking for new ideas and ways to improve products, services, and work processes. A person with this competency looks at problems and opportunities from a unique perspective, seeing patterns and themes that are not immediately apparent to others and taking time to refine and shape a new idea so it has a higher likelihood of success.
• Information Seeking: Investigates and researches information, digs to resolve discrepancies; obtains information or opinions internally and externally to gain insight or expertise – makes well informed decisions.
• Initiative: Initiates courses of action that will lead to improved performance/effectiveness of the Business Unit Team. Sees a need and takes action to address; questions the way things are done and initiates changes where necessary; sticks with an issue until it is resolved
• Self-confidence: Willing to take on a new challenge or assignment displaying confidence and enthusiasm; emphasizes the positive and upside aspects of difficult situations – every situation provides an opportunity for learning.
• Results Orientated & Can Do Attitude: Strives to beat or meet project deadlines; sets own high standards for quality of work; seeks ways to use time and resources more cost effectively; highly organized with the ability to set priorities and multi-task.
• Team Leadership: Works cooperatively with others promoting team participation as a means to generate more ideas, greater consensus & engagement, and a higher level of commitment to delivering results. Creates the environment and processes for the team to build its capacity to take on increasing accountability for results over time; building team expertise, skills, knowledge and performance levels; ensures understanding, consensus and input by keeping team members informed about decisions, the rationale behind them, how they align to the overall business objectives and site objectives.