QA Lab Tech-Nights

Michael Food; Mars Hill (ME); On-site; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Michael Foods, Inc. in Mars Hill, Maine is seeking a Quality Control Technician to perform comprehensive quality attribute testing to ensure product safety and adherence to HACCP, GMP and SQF standards. You will verify CCPs, PCs, and CQPs, and help maintain documentation and safety.

You will support root cause analysis, train production staff on GMPs, and maintain a safe, sanitary workplace while upholding quality across all processes.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 1 year of work experience in a similar job function.
• Associate’s degree or equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience preferred.
• Prior experience in food manufacturing, quality assurance, or laboratory testing.
• Excellent computer literacy (MS Office, Word, Excel).
• Read and comprehend simple instructions and write basic correspondence.
• Effectively present information in one-on-one and small group settings.
• Ability to follow written, oral, or diagram-based instructions.
• Strong leadership skills and ability to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Conduct routine verification checks for CCPs, PCs, and CQPs.
• Support root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Maintain accurate documentation for quality, environmental, and inspection results.
• Verify incoming materials meet required specifications.
• Ensure outgoing products comply with specifications.
• Assist in training production personnel and ensure GMP compliance.
• Audit quality management systems and report safety concerns.
• Audit processing parameters for product safety and quality.
• Communicate shift information to staff and ensure safe work practices.
• Maintain safe and sanitary workplace and report GMP concerns.

Skills

Computer literacy

Leadership

Independent work

Analytical thinking

Communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate’s degree

Tools

MS Office

Word

Excel

Job description

Business Unit Description

Michael Foods, Inc. is a leader in the food processing and distribution industry with business in egg products, refrigerated grocery and potato products. We offer exciting job possibilities throughout our organization where you can enhance your career, sharpen your talents and make an impact. Join our company and be part of an innovative team that’s First in Food.

Location Description

Michael Foods, Inc. located in Mars Hill, Maine. Pineland Farms is one of the largest food manufacturing organizations located in Aroostook County. Our Mars Hill facility has over 200 incredible team members who work together to provide our customers with the best possible potato product.

Responsibilities

This position is responsible for performing comprehensive quality attribute testing to ensure all products comply with established specifications and safety standards. The technician plays a vital role in upholding product safety, consistency, and quality throughout the manufacturing process. This includes ensuring strict adherence to food safety protocols such as HACCP, GMP, and the SQF Food Safety Code for Manufacturing, among other relevant standards.

This position has the responsibility to comply with Safety work rules at all times as well as an obligation to reinforce Safety as a Core Value. Ensures that all policies, procedures and activities, related to Food Safety & Quality, are followed and complied with uniformly, in an effort to reduce product and process variability.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct routine verification checks for Critical Control Points (CCPs), Preventative Controls (PCs), and Critical Quality Points (CQPs).
• Support problem solving efforts by assisting with root cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation for all quality, environmental, and pre-authorization inspection results.
• May be responsible for verifying incoming materials to ensure they comply with required specifications as required by work location.
• Ensure outgoing products comply with required specifications.
• Assist in training of production personnel and ensure personnel are following proper procedures and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).
• Ensure compliance with required quality management system standards through regular audits and maintenance, and promptly report all food safety and human safety concerns to the appropriate personnel, such as the Safety Manager or FSQ Manager.
• Audit and document processing parameters critical to product safety and quality.
• Immediately report any food safety risks to Production and QA Supervisors and report all Quality and GMP concerns to the department Lead and/or Supervisor to ensure compliance with GMP requirements across the facility.
• Ensure all non-conforming finished goods are placed on HOLD for further evaluation.
• Perform visual inspections on lines prior to start-up and conduct pre-op swabbing using a bioluminometer.
• Responsible for testing and organization for retention library, this may include samples where necessary.
• Conduct quality testing for product requiring technical knowledge of chemicals, lab equipment and measurements.
• Maintain working knowledge of all instruments used for routine and non-routine sample testing and troubleshooting
• Communicate relevant information effectively to employees on the shift and to on-coming employees at shift change.
• Accountable for a safe and healthy workplace for everyone. Adhere to all safety policies and procedures and incorporate safety and health in all jobs and tasks.
• Adhere to 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.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support quality and safety initiatives.

Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• 1 year of work experience in a similar job function

PREFERRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:

• Associate’s degree (AA) or equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience
• Prior experience in food manufacturing, quality assurance, or laboratory testing.
• Excellent computer literacy (MS Office, Word, Excel)
• Read and comprehend simple instructions, as well as ability to write basic correspondence.
• Effectively present information in one-on-one and small group settings.
• Add and subtract two-digit numbers and multiply and divide using 10s and 100s.
• Perform basic operations with U.S. currency, weight, volume, and distance measurements.
• Ability to follow written, oral, or diagram-based instructions.
• Handle problems involving multiple concrete variables in standardized situations.
• Strong leadership skills
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Regularly required to sit, talk, and hear.
• Frequently required to reach with hands and arms.
• Occasionally required to:
• Stand and walk
• Use hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls
• Climb or balance
• Taste or smell
• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.
• Vision requirements include:
• Close and distance vision
• Color and peripheral vision
• Depth perception
• Ability to adjust focus

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Regular exposure to wet and/or humid conditions.
• Frequent exposure to moving mechanical parts.
• Occasional exposure to:
• High, precarious places
• Risk of electrical shock
• Vibration
• Noise level is usually loud.

The pay range for this position is $17.85 to $21.42 per hour.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: High school diploma or equivalent 1 year of work experience in a similar job function PREFERRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS: Associate’s degree (AA) or equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience Prior experience in food manufacturing, quality assurance, or laboratory testing. Excellent computer literacy (MS Office, Word, Excel) Read and comprehend simple instructions, as well as ability to write basic correspondence. Effectively present information in one-on-one and small group settings. Add and subtract two-digit numbers and multiply and divide using 10s and 100s. Perform basic operations with U.S. currency, weight, volume, and distance measurements. Ability to follow written, oral, or diagram-based instructions. Handle problems involving multiple concrete variables in standardized situations. Strong leadership skills Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision Demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret information PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Regularly required to sit, talk, and hear. Frequently required to reach with hands and arms. Occasionally required to: Stand and walk Use hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls Climb or balance Taste or smell Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Vision requirements include: Close and distance vision Color and peripheral vision Depth perception Ability to adjust focus WORK ENVIRONMENT: Regular exposure to wet and/or humid conditions. Frequent exposure to moving mechanical parts. Occasional exposure to: High, precarious places Risk of electrical shock Vibration Noise level is usually loud.