Quality Assurance Tech

North Freeze Dry; Little Falls (MN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

401(k) Plan

Paid Time Off

Holidays

Job summary

North Freeze Dry, LLC operates a large freeze-drying facility in Little Falls, MN, seeking a Quality Assurance Technician to uphold food safety and product quality. The role entails testing, documentation, and collaboration with production and QA teams to ensure compliance with company standards and customer requirements.

The candidate should have a high school diploma, 1 year QA experience, and the ability to lift 50 pounds while following safety procedures. Proficiency in MS Office is required.

Qualifications

• QA activities to ensure food safety and product quality.
• Must be able to lift at least 50 pounds and stand for extended periods.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office including Outlook and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Perform quality testing on in-process and lot samples.
• Conduct food safety and quality testing on samples.
• Maintain lab equipment and calibration.
• Generate COAs for outbound orders and email to customers.
• Review lab results for specification compliance and document audits.
• Work with manufacturing and quality teams to ensure requirements.

Skills

Quality testing

Food safety

MS Excel

Lab instrumentation

Education

High school diploma

Food safety coursework

Tools

Calibration equipment

Job description

Quality Assurance Technician

Purpose of the Position

This position is responsible for performing QA activities that ensure consistent food safety and product quality of all North Freeze Dry Pet Foods Products produced. Inspects products within the production facility to ensure high quality and compliance with company standards and procedures.

Responsibilities & Essential Functions

• Perform quality testing on in-process samples and lot/load samples.
• Perform food safety, quality, and misc. testing on samples.
• Perform calibration and maintenance activities analytical instrumentation and equipment.
• Complete daily check samples on North Freeze Dry computer programs.
• Maintain clean environment for lab and lab instrumentation/equipment.
• Keep inventory of testing supplies and notify QA Manager when we need to reorder.
• Generate COA’s for all outbound orders.
• Email COAs to the customer QA department.
• Review internal lab results for compliance to specifications.
• Conduct and document audits.
• Work alongside all manufacturing and quality teams to ensure compliance with North Freeze Dry and customer requirements.
• Perform QA activities that ensure consistent Food Safety/Quality problems that arise during shift and developing appropriate solutions and corrective/preventative actions.
• Assist in the implementation of internal quality documentation including product specifications, QA procedures, etc.
• Support and adhere to the Company’s Safety Program.

Quality Technician Specific Tasks & Responsibilities

• Provide guidance to plant operators regarding standard operating procedures related to quality, sanitation, and safety.
• Release raw materials, in-process materials, and finished products from hold status when materials meet quality standards and specifications.
• Inspect raw material, in-process, and finished product retention samples
• Assist with quality project management as it relates to product testing, product specifications, process improvement and audits.
• Assist operators in quality determination as needed.

Other

• Execute the North Freeze Dry Vision, Mission, and Values (VMV’s) at all times.
• Promote a positive, proactive environment where input from team members is valued and encouraged.
• Provide back-up support for other roles, as necessary.
• Meticulous attention to detail and accuracy in work product.
• Follow proper food safety, quality and workspace safety procedures and requirements.
• Available for overtime on a scheduled or call-in basis, as necessary.
• Other duties as assigned by the manager/supervisor.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Coursework in Food Safety or related field preferred.
• 1 Year experience as a Quality Technician; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Must be able to lift at least 50 pounds and stand for an extended period.
• Demonstrated problem solving experience.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Products including Outlook, Excel and Work
• Ability to see the big picture while focusing on the process and procedures necessary to produce deliverables.
• Ability to establish and meet deadlines.
• Self-motivated with ability to allow constructive feedback to grow in position.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and team player mentality.
• Ability to thrive, adapt and accommodate to change in a fast-paced environment.

North Freeze Dry offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance including employees, child(ren), spouse and family coverage.
• Ancillary benefits include Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), Critical Illness, Accident Insurance, and Short- and Long-Term Disability coverage.
• 401(K) Program available with a company match up to 4%.
• Paid Time Off accruing on your first day and Paid Personal Days.
• 7 Company Paid Holidays.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

The work environment characteristics and physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job operates within a plant manufacturing environment. While performing the duties of this job inside the plant, the employee is frequently exposed to normal working conditions for a food manufacturing plant with a noise level that is moderate to loud noise. The role routinely uses machinery equipment, forklifts, computers, as well as laboratory instrumentation and equipment.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee may be required to stand for extended periods of time as well as use hands or fingers to reach or handle, and to reach with hands and arms. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee will frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. All vision abilities are required to encompass close-up work. On occasion, employees must be able to tolerate and endure extended seasonal hours and maintain alertness to meet deadlines.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to machinery and moving parts, airborne particles including grain dust and hazardous materials or fumes, which may require the use of PPE. The employee may be exposed to adverse weather conditions, extreme temperature changes in the plant from normal temperatures to negative temperatures, extended seasonal hours, high precarious places, and confined spaces. The noise level in some of the work environments may require the use of hearing protection.

About The Company

North Freeze Dry, LLC headquartered in Fargo, ND, is a U.S.-based co-manufacturer that produces freeze-dried companion animal food and treats. The Company’s freeze-drying facility in Little Falls, MN is one of the industry’s largest and most fully integrated freeze-drying co-manufacturing facilities. North Freeze Dry, LLC is a joint venture between Anchor Ingredients Co., LLC, a leading supplier of premium ingredients for the food and pet food industries, and Barrett Petfood Innovations, a rapidly expanding co-manufacturer of premium pet foods.

Disclaimer

This job description is not a complete description of responsibility, but reflects the general qualifications, duties and/or responsibilities necessary to perform this position. All candidates who receive a written offer of employment will be required to successfully pass a background check. North Freeze Dry reserves the right to revise the job description as circumstances warrant. North Freeze Dry. is an at-will employer, which means that either the employee or the company may terminate the relationship at any time, with or without notice, and with or without cause. We are an equal opportunity employer.

3:00pm - 11:00pm