Food Safety & Quality Technician

Ensign-Bickford Industries; Aurora (MO); On-site; USD 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company as a Food Safety and Quality Technician, where you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the highest standards of food safety and quality. This position involves supporting quality lab functions, conducting verifications of food safety systems, and developing Standard Operating Procedures. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams and participate in audits, making a significant impact on product quality and safety. If you are detail-oriented, possess a strong scientific background, and are passionate about quality assurance, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Biology, Chemistry, or Microbiology required.
• 2+ years of relevant experience or equivalent education.

Responsibilities

• Support quality lab functions and environmental monitoring.
• Conduct verifications of food safety and quality systems.
• Develop and implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Skills

HACCP

GMPs

Food Safety

Communication Skills

Organizational Skills

Analytical Skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in a science field

Certificate in Quality Engineering

Tools

MS Office

Electronic data recording tools

Job description

This opportunity is located within our AFB International business, the global science and technology leader in pet food palatability. We develop and produce a full range of liquid and dry palatability enhancers using high-quality ingredients proven to optimize companion animal response and consumption.

Job Description

The Food Safety and Quality Technician will provide quality support and coordinate quality efforts at the manufacturing site by performing the following duties:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Support quality lab functions, such as compositing, hanging Hold Tags, gathering sample requests, releasing raw materials, entering and testing samples.
2. Support the environmental monitoring program by performing swabbing activities, collecting samples, and ensuring proper testing is performed.
3. Support the AFB Quality Management System (QMS) to ensure all practices are executed in accordance with these standards.
4. Conduct verifications of the food safety and quality systems, hazard analysis, sanitation processes, prerequisite programs, manufacturing processes, and finished products.
5. Develop, maintain, and implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Work Instructions as required.
6. Support operations by training and developing employees on food safety and quality-related programs.
7. Participate in root cause investigations and CAPA's for food safety and quality issues.
8. Participate in problem-solving initiatives in accordance with EBOS principles.
9. Assist in preparing for third-party audits, customer audits, and inspections.
10. Actively support and participate on cross-functional teams as assigned.
11. Monitor and assess production processes to identify potential hazards and quality issues, including conducting observation audits on key operator functions.
12. Conduct cleaning verification inspections, APT testing, and trending results.
13. Utilize the Micro NIR to sample incoming raw materials and contribute to a global database for raw material consistency verification.
14. Spearhead the Spectrophotometer Color project to establish a global database for product color conformity.

Qualifications

Required:

• A bachelor's degree in a science field (Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology, etc.).
• 2+ years of experience or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.

Desired:

• Certificate in Quality Engineering, Analysis, or equivalent.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, and Food Safety.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficient in Windows, Internet applications, and MS Office.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and use electronic data recording tools.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to follow instructions and respond to management directions.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret scientific and technical materials.

AFB International is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, national origin, or veteran status.