Quality Assurance Specialist jobs in Elkhart, IN

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The role of the Lab Manager is a position that has three primary job functions. Overall, this position will function as a laboratory manager for the entire company, ensuring that the lab performs within governmental regulations and customer requirements. This includes proper monitoring and documentation by the lab manager to see that both Creighton Brothers and Crystal Lake are meeting the standards and goals of both the company and governmental agencies. Secondly, the position will be responsible for training plant employees on all required food safety programs. Finally, this position will serve as the management role of the lab, maintaining the lab, managing daily lab activities, scheduling lab employees, and performing other general management roles as necessary. All duties are to be performed in an exemplary and professional manner.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: (non-exclusive list)

Laboratory Duties:

· Aid in the hiring and training of lab personnel

· Maintain qualification and training records of continuing education of all lab Personnel and recommend for further training.

· Review current literature for new and/or improved methodology. Continuously review new methods. Perform and or coordinate validation studies.

· Oversee use of Database system and authorize modifications to layout as needed, troubleshooting. Maintain database organization.

· Hold bi-annual in-house laboratory reviews. Follow up with review of written corrective action and follow up with quarterly reviews to see that corrective actions are satisfactorily implemented.

· Develop standard operating procedures for all laboratory analysis.

· Maintain Laboratory Safety Manual.

· Maintain laboratory spill control center.

· Maintain Maintenance and Calibration Manual for Lab.

· Maintain stock cultures to QC media and perform validation studies.

· Verify all samples are properly entered into the computer database and assigned control numbers.

· Maintain MSDS records.

· Ensure that employees have quality work practices, follow GMP's, maintain sanitary conditions and ensure that product quality is maintained. Report to management any conditions or practices that may adversely affect food safety and quality.

· Supervises Quality Assurance personnel and laboratory activities which include scheduling work assignments.

· Investigate customer complaints for root cause and help create corrective actions.

· Prepares and initiate process deviation reports and trends.

· Monitors the collection, preparation, and handling of internal and external laboratory samples for chemical and microbial analysis.

· Monitors and assists sanitation activities as needed, provides support with environmental sampling and product contact swabbing.

· Monitors and enforces the hold/release activities, providing process deviation reporting when needed as well as following up with disposition.

· Responsible for the facility food safety inspections, in-process inspections, mock recalls, label audits, thermometer calibration and other inspections/audits as required. Included but not limited to updating quality related manuals as required (customer specific documentation, SQF, HACCP, FDA Food Safety plans labels, etc.)

· Responsible for annual GMP, SQF, HACCP training and any additional training needed. This includes an annual HACCP assessment.

· Ensures external documentation is maintained (Letters of Guarantee, Certificates of Insurance, external lab report, etc.) Works with external pest control service as necessary. Maintains appropriate pest control documentation.

· Responsible for the inspection of Kosher segregation and tracking through facility to ensure no cross over with non-kosher material.

· Maintains and monitors inventory of all laboratory supplies.

· Must work cooperatively and integrally with inter department personnel (plant supervisor, sales, FSIS Inspectors).

· Report at monthly plant safety and supervisor team meetings.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS INCLUDING EDUCATION AND SKILLS:

· College level education is required – a BS degree in Food Science.

· Knowledge of general lab operations, previous lab job experience, general managerial experience, and the role the lab dept. plays in a food production facility.

· Capable of performing misc. computer programs – such as MS Word and MS Excel –knowledge of other lab related computer software is desired.

· Competent and professional communication skills (i.e., written and verbal.)

· Ability to handle multiple tasks at once – the ability to deal with stressful situations.

· Ability to treat co-workers with respect and courtesy.

· Possess good decision-making skills.

· Ability to handle all lab operations and always keep safety in mind.

· Ability to keep up to date in the industry – always researching and searching for new ideas to improve the company’s products.

· Possess high organizational skills.

· Possess a strong sense of ethics regarding business and professional matters.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The Company is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against anyone with regard to race, sex, national origin, color, religion, age or any disability, in compliance with Title VII of Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended, or the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Disclaimer: Although this job description lists and identifies the primary duties of the listed position, it is not an exclusive list. As with all positions within the company, the very nature and diversification of an egg production facility requires that all employees remain flexible to cover a wide variety of duties that may need to be covered.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Vision insurance

Experience level:

• 10 years

Schedule:

• 10 hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• Food safety: 10 years (Preferred)

Ability to Relocate:

• Warsaw, IN 46580: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person