Job Description
Job Overview:
POSITION SUMMARY
The QA Tech Lead reports to the QA Supervisor (primary) and QA Manager (secondary) and dotted line Sanitation Supervisor and is based out of our Hendersonville, NC location. This individual will be responsible for ensuring the quality of products by reviewing production paperwork and testing incoming concentrates to ensure they meet company specifications. The QA Tech Lead must have the capacity to understand quality assurance requirements and be computer literate. QA lead should be able to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of situations where only limited standardization exists. They should possess the ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form. They should also be able to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions. At a minimum the QA Lead must be able to:
- Possess a good knowledge of the batching process and the proper way to adjust the batching process if needed.
- Provide guidance and technical support to ensure product meets quality and product safety specifications.
- Monitors ingredient usage to ensure conformance and customer specifications.
- Conduct Sanitation and QAFS audits as a independent auditor for the facility.
- Calibrate testing and analyzing equipment.
- Audits production processes, facilities and personnel practices for conformance to customer, company, GMP, HACCP, SQF and PCQI or any other applicable regulations and standards (QC, QA, FS and Sanitation)
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES (essential functions of the job)
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Responsibilities include:
- Main trainer for QA technician functions.
- Fill in as a reliver for QA tech, Microbiologists, Document Controller, and QA and Sanitation Supervisor as needed.
- Perform calibration on all lab equipment.
- Support and maintain products retain samples and sensory standards online as well as in the lab.
- Performs analytical testing on incoming concentrates/tankers to ensure they meet specifications.
- Conduct root cause analysis and product hold investigations, complete reporting and close out.
- Maintain product specifications in database.
- Maintain and evaluate expired ingredient program.
- Pre-weigh colors for batching.
- Assist in batching and production with any analytical test needed.
- Assist QA and Sanitation supervisor as needed
- Review and investigating customer complaints
- Communicate with internally including corporate regarding quality, product safety, ingredient, and formulation issues as needed.
- Serve as a back-up for the QA Manager pr QC Inspectors as needed
- Ensure out of specification product is held, evaluated and disposition obtained.
- Interfaces and effectively work cross-functionally with other (Maintenance, Production, Warehouse)
- Aid in swabbing to support plant sanitation requirements
- Ability to work overtime as needed
- Learn, understand and use CORE values
- Ensure lab supplies remain at adequate levels and process invoices as necessary
- Perform other related duties as required and assigned
LEAD RESPONSIBILITIES
- Train new employees that are hired in the work area assigned.
- Advanced knowledge of field, and root cause analysis.
- Lead by example and assist others who may need guidance and help.
- Be accessible for employees to ask questions regarding area of expertise.
- Provide positive recognition to employees who exhibit good behavior in their work area.
- Provide feedback to supervisors and managers on individual and team performance.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Minimum Required Qualifications
- High School Diploma or equivalent
- A Minimum of 3-4 years of quality assurance experience in food manufacturing
- Trained or certifiable in: SQF, HACCP, or PCQI, QA, QC, FS, Allergen, Food Defense.
Additional Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in the food/beverage industry
- HACCP Certified
- Experience in report/procedure writing
- Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Must be detailed oriented and can multi-task
- Proven organizational skills
- Must have excellent time management skills
- Ability to direct, coach and train others.
- Consultative, influential, strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
Competencies: To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies to perform the essential functions of this position. This position will require considerable knowledge of principles and practices of manufacturing, effective oral and written communication skills, excellent interpersonal skills:
- Problem solving – the individual identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner, gathers and analyzes information skillfully.
- Planning/organizing – the individual prioritizes and plans work activities and uses time efficiently.
- Quality Control – the individual demonstrates a high degree of accuracy and thoroughness, very detailed oriented, monitors own work to ensure quality, and uses feedback to improve performance.
- Quantity – meets productivity standards and completes work in a timely manner.
- Adaptability – the individual adapts to changes in the work environment, manages competing demands, and can deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
- Dependability – the individual is consistently at work and on time, follows instructions, responds to management direction, and solicits feedback to improve performance.
- Safety and security – the individual observe safety and security procedures and uses equipment and materials properly.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORKING CONDITIONS
This position requires sufficient physical ability to work in a production setting.
FREQUENT: Ability to talk and hear; ability to stand, walk, climb stairs, stoop, bend and/or crouch; push/pull; lift up to 50 pounds; use of hands and fingers to operate machinery/equipment and all manual and electronic equipment in area of responsibility. Exposure to wet and humid conditions and fluctuations in ambient temperature (seasonal). Required to taste/smell.
OCCASIONAL: Squatting, kneeling, ability to reach above and at shoulder height. Ability to wear a dust mask and perform Confined Entry using LOTO program. Exposure to toxic and corrosive chemicals.
VISION: Ability to use close and distance vision, as well as color and peripheral vision with or without correction. Must be able to visually detect obstacles and potential dangers in a fast-paced production environment involving high speed equipment and powered industrial lift equipment.
HEARING: Ability to hear in the normal audio range with or without correction. Exposure to noise levels from pumps, machinery, forklift traffic, bottle lines and exhaust fans.
This job description is not intended to contain a comprehensive list of the responsibilities that are required to successfully perform in this position. Other duties as assigned are part of every job description. The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential job functions.
Lassonde Pappas & Co., Inc provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
