Quality Assurance Inspector (Processing)

Ocean Mist; Castroville (CA); Hybrid; USD 29,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

Ocean Mist Farms in Castroville, CA is seeking a Quality Assurance Inspector (Processing) to monitor and evaluate product quality across field and processing operations, ensuring compliance with quality standards, customer specifications, and food safety requirements.

This role requires collaboration with Operations, Sales, Food Safety, and Production teams to ensure consistent product quality and continuous improvement throughout the supply chain.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent; QA/food safety training preferred.
• 1–3 years in QA, produce inspection, agriculture, or related field preferred.
• Ability to read and communicate in English; bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
• Valid California driver's license and ability to meet insurance requirements.
• Willingness to travel to remote/regional locations.

Responsibilities

• Perform timely and accurate quality inspections on commodities, lots, processes, and equipment.
• Evaluate product quality against Ocean Mist Farms' standards and customer specs.
• Identify quality concerns and communicate deviations from specifications.
• Complete and maintain inspection reports and logs.
• Collaborate with Operations, Sales, Food Safety, and Production to resolve issues.
• Support corrective actions and verify issue resolution.
• Identify trends and opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Follow GMPs, sanitation, and food safety procedures.

Skills

Quality inspection

Attention to detail

English communication

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

High school diploma

QA/food safety training preferred

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Quality Assurance Inspector (Processing)

Regular Full-Time Manual Labor Castroville, CA, US

7 days ago Requisition ID: 1108

Salary Range: $20.72 To $22.50 Hourly

The Quality Assurance Inspector is responsible for monitoring and evaluating product quality to ensure compliance with Ocean Mist Farms' quality standards, customer specifications, food safety requirements, and operational procedures.

This role requires collaboration with Operations, Sales, Food Safety, and Production teams to ensure consistent product quality and continuous improvement throughout the supply chain.

The position is based in Castroville, California, and requires travel to remote growing regions. Depending on the assigned area and seasonal business needs, temporary relocation may also be required.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

All Assignments

• Perform timely and accurate quality inspections on all commodities, lots, processes, and equipment, including externally sourced products from California, Arizona, and Mexico
• Evaluate product quality based on Ocean Mist Farms’ standards and customer specifications, including weight, color, condition, appearance, packing, and temperature
• Identify and promptly communicate quality concerns, discrepancies, and deviations from established specifications
• Accurately complete and maintain inspection reports, logs, and electronic records
• Collaborate with Operations, Sales, Food Safety, Production, growers, and harvesting teams to investigate and resolve quality concerns
• Support corrective actions and verify that identified issues have been appropriately addressed
• Identify quality trends and opportunities for continuous improvement
• Follow all applicable food safety, sanitation, safety, and operational procedures

Field Assignment

• Conduct pre-harvest, harvest, and post-harvest product evaluations
• Monitor crop maturity, sizing, defects, appearance, environmental conditions, and harvest readiness
• Perform daily field inspections and collect quality-related samples and data
• Evaluate harvesting practices for compliance with established quality and product-handling standards
• Partner with growers and harvesting personnel to address quality concerns
• Support field food safety programs, grower evaluations, field audits, shelf-life studies, and special projects
• Recommend harvest timing, handling procedures, cooling, icing, packaging, carton selection, palletizing, and product disposition
• Participate in a rotating schedule consisting of approximately five weeks in Field operations and one week in Facility/Cooler operations, subject to business needs

Processing (Value Added & Heartichoke) Assignment

• Monitor production processes for compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), food safety requirements, and product specifications
• Perform production-line verifications, including temperature, weight, packaging, labeling, and other process-control measurements
• Inspect machinery, processing lines, and work areas for cleanliness, hygiene, and operational readiness
• Monitor allergen controls to ensure allergen-containing products are properly separated from non-allergen production runs
• Use precision measuring instruments and testing equipment to perform required verifications
• Verify calibration status and perform routine care or maintenance of testing equipment, as assigned
• Reinforce Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), sanitation procedures, and food safety requirements on the production floor
• Place non-conforming products on hold or quarantine in accordance with established procedures
• Assist with root-cause investigations, product disposition, corrective actions, and follow-up verification
• Communicate findings to Production employees, supervisors, and managers so processes can be adjusted and corrective actions implemented

Facility Assignment

• Inspect incoming commodities and specific product lots intended for fresh-market or value-added operations, including externally sourced products from California, Arizona, and Mexico
• Evaluate incoming and stored products for quality, condition, temperature, packing, and compliance with established specifications
• Prepare and maintain receiving, raw-product, daily, and aging inspection reports
• Provide recommendations regarding cooling, packaging, carton selection, palletizing, storage, and product disposition
• Partner with Facility/Cooler Operations, Production, Shipping, and Sales to address incoming-product and shipment-quality concerns
• Assist with the preparation and coordination of products for exhibitions, fairs, conventions, customer requests, and other special projects

Perform other related duties as assigned

Job Requirements and Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; additional training in quality assurance, food safety, agriculture, production, or a related area preferred
• One to three years of experience in quality assurance, produce inspection, agriculture, food processing, or a related field preferred
• Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English; bilingual English/Spanish skills preferred
• Basic math, measurement, computer, and analytical skills necessary to evaluate products and accurately complete reports
• Valid California Class C driver’s license and ability to meet Company driving-insurability requirements
• Ability to operate a Company vehicle, as assigned
• Ability to work a rotating schedule of approximately five weeks in Field operations and one week in Facility/Cooler operations, with flexibility based on business needs
• Ability to work either the day or night shift, based on assignment and operational needs. Shift schedules may change, including scheduling the night shift during daytime hours, and employees may be required to cover another shift due to staffing or production needs.
• Ability to travel and temporarily relocate to remote or seasonal operating locations, including Oxnard, Coachella, Yuma, and other assigned regions
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to make consistent, objective quality assessments
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across departments and operating areas
• Ability to work independently, follow detailed procedures, prioritize assignments, and communicate concerns appropriately
• Ability to quickly learn and accurately apply new processes, procedures, and inspection requirements