Quality Assurance

Quality Assurance

SCOPE: The QAT serves as the technical specialist for sanitation, product quality, food safety, and all quality programs and processes and communicates all quality results to the Company, stakeholders, and team.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Providing bacterial, yeast, and mold testing, plating and other actions to collect, test, measure, record and communicate quality and sanitation data to the QA manager

Keeping files and samples for all tests and providing samples to external organizations

Tracks results and products for possible holds on shipments

Monitors and tests cleanup crew results, provides feedback to management for corrective action

Tests and reviews environmental quality, as well as facility for bacteria and yeast and molds contamination problems, equipment contamination problems, and process contamination issues

Provides for all required documentation and records for all areas of the QA department testing program

Ensures that chemical supplies for Quality testing and plating are properly used and inventoried to guarantee availability

Provide regular daily, weekly, and monthly reports on product quality testing that are reliable and results oriented

Communicate quality metric and inspection results to appropriate parties

* Assist with all local, state, customer/third party, and federal audits, dairy partner inspections, organic and kosher/certifications inspections, and non-GMO verification

Ensure product loss is minimized

Ensure areas of responsibility are kept neat and clean, communicating any safety hazard immediately to a member of management

Comply with all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), and any/all established processes , whether established by manager, by the company or by law as well as assist with the communication, training, and enforcement of these

Work in a safe manner and comply with all health, safety, security and emergency requirements that are communicated, whether established by manager, by the company or by law

Communicate any safety hazard to a member of management

Comply with all Company policies communicated through your Employee Manual, trainings, notice boards or other postings, or by a member of management

Participate in weekly team meetings, biweekly huddles, safety meetings and other Company meetings as requested

Ensure work is produced in the most sustainable manner

Maintain excellent attendance and work ethic

Scheduling flexibility to work different shifts when required and to work weekends to support operation of a 24/7 facility

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education and Experience

* BA in Food or Dairy Science or equivalent, preferred

* Technical experience in managing quality assurance programs and processes, preferred

* Must have a valid California Driver's License and clean driving record. Occasional travel is required to dairy farm inspections, between creamery and warehouse/office, and other off-site locations

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities ? Comprehension of basic business math calculations ? Ability to measure and convert measurements in volume and weight ? Ability to communicate effectively in English, both written and verbally, with cross-functional team members, management, dairy partners, inspectors and auditors, vendors, and certifying agencies (organic, kosher, NON-GMO Project) and other team members

Ability to communicate orally and verbally in basic Spanish, preferred but not required

Must be proficient computer literate with Microsoft Office, Excel, and accounting/inventory control programs

Must possess an aptitude for smart technology, particularly iPhone/iPad, as well as willingness to expand technical knowledge in these areas

Must possess strong, positive interpersonal skills and be able to build relationships, at all levels ? Ability to troubleshoot problems related with your area of responsibility

Ability to work calmly under pressure and use sound judgment to make Quality decisions

Ability to perform with a high level of professionalism in a dynamic and diverse environment

Must be organized, possess strong listening skills and a strong attention to detail ? Must be self-motivated ? Willingness to help in urgent situations and participate in company, team and community building events

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT

Working in a manufacturing environment. ? Extended periods of standing, sitting, walking, climbing, bending, stooping, pushing, pulling, and stooping, turning the head and torso, reaching, grasping, bending and flexing the arms, legs, wrists, hands, and fingers. - Repetitive at times.

Full organoleptic (sight, smell, taste) as well as audio and vocal senses are necessary to evaluate and make sound decisions on product quality and production processes

The ability to climb and balance is essential

Temperatures range from -10° to 100° degrees Fahrenheit

Ability to withstand noise produced by manufacturing machinery up to 90 decibels

Ability to lift, hold and/or carry 55+ pounds of product unassisted

Working on a computer and looking at the computer screen

Flexibility to work different shifts when required and to monitor and test sanitation or quality parameters when non-compliance occurs

Flexibility to work on call after hours and to work weekends