QA Specialist (Temporary)

Position Title

Quality Assurance Specialist 

Department

Quality

Reports to (Title)

QA Manager

Type of Contributor (Individual, Supervisor or Manager)

Supervisor

FLSA Status

(HR use only)

Non-Exempt (Hourly)

Backup

QA Manager

POSITION SUMMARY

Valley Fine Foods is a family-owned manufacturer of gourmet pastas & sauces with a mission to create healthful, 100% natural and convenient foods. Located near the renowned Napa Valley in California, we are inspired by the region’s rich history of fresh and local produce, gourmet cuisine, and fine wines.  Our products can be found at through retail and club locations nationwide.

Objective: Provide support and perform duties designated by Quality Assurance Manager at the Benicia, CA manufacturing plant. 

Generally, the Quality Assurance Specialists monitors and coordinates verification of HACCP Plan and Food Safety Plan Critical Control Points/Preventive Control Points as well as the entire range of standard and specialized sampling and testing of raw materials, packaging, finished product, pre-op inspections, auditing functions and environmental samples with the objective of improving and ensuring that established procedures are followed. Perform all assigned duties personally or through the indirect supervision of Quality Control Line Technicians working closely with Production Managers/Supervisors. 

The Quality Assurance Specialist will report directly to the plant Quality Assurance Manager and will be required to work a flexible schedule. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Create and execute corrective and preventive actions when non-conformance occurs and customer complaints are received.
• Communicate company policies to Quality Control Line Inspectors and other employees and enforce Food Safety, Quality and GMP Regulations. Lead by example.
• Ensure documentation is complete, accurate and properly recorded. Ensure that completed records are turned in and properly reviewed, signed off properly and stored in the appropriate location when completed.
• Ensure Safety Chain forms are completed, reviewed, and verified prior to product releases.
• Ensure transactions are completed in BC F&B portal ( i.e. Inspection Status Hold and Release).
• Help update and maintain KPI records for VFF Benicia.
• Complete tasks assigned to QA Team in ARAS and ASANA (Project Management).
• Ensure monitoring forms are the correct version and are readily available for Quality Control Line Inspectors to use.
• Ensure that HACCP and Food Safety Plan Critical Control Point deviations are properly recorded and communicated to the plant Quality Assurance Manager in a timely manner for prompt corrective actions and appropriate Company direction. Participate in compiling deviations for trending purposes as directed by plant QA Manager.
• Conduct pre-operational and operational visual inspections daily to include documenting findings with corrective actions documented and verified. Compile repeat findings for trending purposes and continual improvement as directed by plant Quality Assurance Manager. 
• ​Oversee monitoring, verification, and validation activities to ensure that all products leaving the facility(s) meet food safety and quality standards.

• Recommend measures to improve quality of product and quality systems.
• Responsible for reporting and taking any necessary action to prevent food safety and food quality problems from occurring.
• Interact with Quality Control Line Technicians, Production and Maintenance to achieve goals.
• Identify any safety or quality issues in the plant. 
• Interact with management teams to identify and resolve problems. 
• Enforce and train employees on the Food Safety, Quality, HACCP and GMP Policies.
• Lead investigations and special projects as needed under the direction of the plant Quality Assurance Manager.
• Conduct internal audits against corporate, customer and governmental standards.
• Provide support in audit preparation and participation in GFSI (SQF Audit), USDA PEEPEV, GFCO, Organic, Customer, FDA, and other regulatory audits.
• Conduct Pest Control inspection under the direction of the plant Quality Assurance Manager.
• Other duties as assigned by Quality Assurance Manager.

REQUIREMENTS

Education and Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree science, microbiology, food science, etc. or equivalent experience.   
• Food processing experience, with at least 2 years in a Supervisory role within a manufacturing environment under HACCP, USDA and/or FDA preferred.

• International HACCP Alliance based training course, Seafood Alliance Training course and FSPCA Preventive Controls Qualified Individual Training Course preferable.   

• Possess an understanding of HACCP-based food safety plans, SQF Code and the requirements to implement and maintain SQF Systems relevant to the supplier scope of certification. Previous experience as SQF Practitioner is a plus.

• Ability to analyze processes for Biological, Chemical, and Physical hazards with a thorough understanding of the science and support behind each type of hazard and each step within a production process.

• Ability to facilitate food safety/quality related training events is a plus.

• Demonstrate understanding in the areas of food safety, plant regulatory and Quality Assurance.

• Demonstrate good communication skills. Bilingual in Spanish is beneficial.

• Able to work with cross functional departments within the organization.

• Possess problem solving and corrective action/resolution skills.   

• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.  

Work Environment 

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.   

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to chemicals and must use appropriate personal protective equipment.  The employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts and outside weather conditions.  The employee is occasionally exposed to hot, wet and/or humid conditions, and extreme cold.  The noise level in the food manufacturing environment can be loud.   

TRAVEL, PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT (AS APPROPRIATE FOR THE POSITION)

• Regular required to travel between manufacturing facilities 
• Regularly required to operate standard office equipment (personal computer, photocopy machine, etc.);
• Ability to work on a computer for extended periods of time;
• Regularly required to sit for long periods of time, and occasionally stand and walk;
• Regularly required to use hands to operate computer and other office equipment;
• Close vision required for computer usage;
• Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, climb and lift up to 20 pounds;