QFS Specialist

QFS Specialist - Cheney, WA
This is an exempt level position.

Job Summary
The Quality Specialist is accountable for ensuring the integrity of the product throughout the manufacturing process.  The Quality Specialist will provide technical support and leadership for the quality control technician team and develop and implement continuous improvement opportunities for the laboratory equipment and practices.  Focus on activities which maintain and improve the quality system for the lab.  24/7 support of the plant is required as needed.  Work closely with the Quality and Food Safety Manager and lab technicians to provide accurate and reliable lab data for controlling the product process and for meeting finished product specifications. The Quality Specialists is responsible for supporting all aspects of the quality control laboratory and leading continuous improvement initiatives within the Quality Control Department.

This position reports to the facility Quality and Food Safety Manager.
Essential Job Functions

• Serves as an active member of the HACCP team up to and including PCQI and Team leader where appropriate and implement recommendations of the HACCP/Food Safety teams in the plant
• Performs varication activities supporting the Food Safety Management program, in addition to reporting on metrics that demonstrate compliance with the Food Safety Management System (FSMS)
• Communicates with the Quality and Food Safety Manager on the state of the department and provides details on all relevant quality/food safety related incidents
• Lead role in conducting internal food safety, GMP and SOP audits
• Maintenance of Microbial Control Program; conducting swabs, trending results and corrective action implementation and follow-up
• Interacts with the Plant Sanitarian to establish and maintain acceptable sanitation at the facility
• Established and implements programs and policies that support FSMS
• Performs activities related to FSMS  goals at the facility
• Provides feedback to Department Superintendents on FSMS progress and activities in the department
• Manages corrective actions in the APeCS tracking database
• Provides support for all third party auditing, including GFSI, Regulatory and Customer visits
• Performs Job Cycle Checks on food safety related activities and proposes corrective actions for deviations
• Work with Operations to ensure that scales are calibrates/certified and functioning within limits
• Manage metal detection, magnet and sifter programs for the facility and ensures compliance with all program requirements
• Control and disposition of non-conforming product; ensuring positive release procedures are applied
• Responsible for ordering lab supplies and managing inventory
• Assist with training and developing laboratory technicians in all aspects of process control and finished product testing

Job Qualifications

• Preferred 4 year degree or equivalent 5 years Quality and Food Safety experience in a Food Manufacturing environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills a must.  Ability to communicate and interact with all levels of the organization, including senior management, customers, and regulatory officials, as needed.

Job Summary

• Employees in this position may or may not be exposed to various potential chemical and food allergens, due to the nature of our business and the requirements of the job.  If there is any reason such exposure would interfere with your ability to perform this role or work directly at a mill location, please notify the hiring manager.