QA Technician

COMPANY OVERVIEW:Dessert Holdingsis a leading manufacturer of gourmet cheesecakes, cakes and pies that are used in restaurants, hotels and other fine foodservice establishments around the world. Dessert Holdings business has been built on the solid foundation of home-made taste and quality, using the finest natural ingredients to bake creamy cheesecakes, moist layer cakes, and grandmother-quality pies.Customers include national restaurant chains, wholesale clubs, and retail outlets in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe. Pay Rate: $17.00/hr QUALITY CONTROL TECHNOLOGIST: Perform Quality Control functions in the laboratory and in the manufacturing facilities to include analytical tests, evaluations, and quality audits. Monitor and carry out components of the food safety quality management system from incoming materials to finished products for compliance to specifications /or policy and to ensure product quality, safety, legality. Provide technical support with an emphasis on customer expectations, continuous improvement opportunities, and productivity requirements. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Perform routine audits throughout the facilities to ensure compliance to food safety quality programs and policy, GMPs, and sanitation standards Take action on noncompliant issues /or notify the appropriate supervisor or manager. Perform sampling and microbiological testing of equipment, facilities, utensils, air, water, etc. to audit sanitation practices and monitor environmental conditions as related to relevant microorganisms. Prepare reports and provide assistance / recommended corrective actions for deficiencies resulting from sanitation audits and environmental monitoring. Collect finished product and raw material samples for evaluation and testing in the QA lab. Performanalytical tests, and product evaluations on raw materials and finished products for compliance to specifications and policy. Perform sensory evaluation of raw materials and finished product. Prepare shipments of samples for microbiological analytical tests to be performed at an outside laboratory and coordinate shipments with sample shipping clerk to ensure that samples are delivered on time and in good condition. Collect production check sheets, reports and documentation maintain files according to the company record retention program. Communicate with other departments within the company on out-of-specification products materials, foreign material issues, and other matters of noncompliance. Provide technical assistance and troubleshooting as needed to support the food safety and quality of our products. Keep informed on current developments technology, regulatory issues, customer requirements, and other significant issues related to our business and inform QA management as needed. Participate in continuous improvement activities, meetings, committees, seminars, and training events as required. Maintain laboratory facilities and equipment in accordance with good laboratory practices. Manage the inventory of laboratory supplies to meet operational requirements. Oversee daily and periodic instrument calibration on laboratory equipment and maintain the QA instrument calibration log as required. Coordinate shelf life testing according to schedule facilitate sensory and microbial testing, compile results, maintain documentation according to departmental policy. Maintain retention samples for finished products per customer requirements. EXPERIENCE PREFERRED: Minimum of 2 years overall food industry experience in positions of increasing responsibility in Food Safety, Quality Assurance, /or Technical Services. Certificate of training and actual experience in HACCP. Knowledge of /or experience with the GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) including BRC or SQF. Experience in and knowledge of issues related to food safety quality and the food industry. Very good analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Ability to review interpret data and prepare reports, presentations, recommendations as needed to upper management. Good communication interpersonal skills. Solid computer skills Microsoft Office, manufacturing / quality databases.