Quality Assurance Technician

Richardson International Limited; Winchester (VA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Richardson International Limited in Winchester, VA, is seeking a Lab Technician to support QA and ensure the safety and quality of our food products across production and packaging processes.

You will gather samples, run analyses, perform floor audits, communicate findings to Operations and Warehouse teams, and help maintain documentation to ensure compliance with HACCP and customer specifications.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Preferred Bachelor's degree in food-related field.
• Experience in quality assurance testing is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Gathers samples and analyzes finished product against customer specs and HACCP requirements.
• Identifies non-conforming product, investigates problems, and recommends solutions.
• Conduct routine floor audits of production and packaging areas to verify shapes, specs, storage, labeling, and coding.
• Completes multiple quality analysis tests.
• Communicates with operations about product quality and with warehouse staff on approval details and lot coding.
• Ensures codes match packaging and customer specs.
• Maintains documentation of analyzed product and retention samples for quality purposes.
• Identifies food safety hazards and issues.
• Works with department managers to improve procedures to ensure finished product safety.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Quality assurance

Attention to detail

Analytical thinking

Team collaboration

Education

High school diploma or GED

Bachelor’s Degree in food-related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Summary

Our Lab Technician is a valuable role for our facility. This role is critical to ensuring we keep our food safe, and of the highest quality. To do this, the QA Technician performs food safety and product quality review on production and packaging processes, and evaluates all finished goods coming out of the production area. This role is a valuable partner to Operations that is responsible for effectively identifying and communicating food safety and quality problems to the involved departments.

Major Duties & Responsibilities

• Gathers samples and analyzes finished product with respect to customer specifications and HACCP requirements.
• Identifies any non-conforming product and food safety issues, investigates problems, and recommends solutions.
• Conduct routine floor audits of production and packaging areas to confirm correct product shapes, specifications, storage, packaging, labeling, and coding.
• Completes multiple quality analysis tests.
• Communicates with operations staff regarding product quality and warehouse staff regarding approval details and lot coding.
• Ensures all codes are accurate and identical to that on the packaged product and meets customer’s specifications and profiles.
• Maintains accurate documentation of analyzed product, compiling all proper steps in logging, product storage and expiration monitoring to ensure top quality.
• Prepares marketing samples for shipment, making sure all information is properly labelled and carefully packed to avoid product damage.
• Responsible for the identification of food safety hazards and issues.
• Perform necessary inspections of incoming ingredients, outgoing finished goods, or returned finished goods.
• Work with department managers to proactively identify and implement solutions and/or modifications to current procedures and programs to ensure the continuing safety of the finished product.
• Measure product samples and report dies that are out of specification.
• Hold any product manufactured out of specification and communicate with all involved departments regarding disposition.
• Maintain and review retention samples for quality purposes.
• Partner with company leadership to proactively identify and execute on continuous improvement opportunities in the areas of: safety, food safety, quality, productivity, and sanitation.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

• Must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent from an accredited institution.
• Must be able to work weekends, holidays and overtime as needed.
• Must have experience with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint).

Preferred Education, Experience, and Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree in food related field. (Food Science, Chemistry, Microbiology, Biochemistry, etc.)
• Experience in quality assurance testing.
• Work experience with DGPC.
• Knowledge of DGPC products and procedures.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to crouch, kneel, and stoop 3+ hours per shift.
• Must be able to reach above shoulders 3+ hours per shift.
• Must be able to bend, sit, stand, and walk 6+ hours per shift.
• Must be able to balance 8+ hours per shift.
• Must be able climb and work off ladder 3+ hours per shift.
• Must be able to work in dusty environment 8+ hours per shift.
• Must be able to work in high heat/humidity 6+ hours per shift.
• Must be able to push/pull for 6+ hours per shift.
• Must be able to perform simple grasping, fine manipulation and feel 8+ hours per shift.
• Must be able to lift/carry up to 50 pounds 3+ hours per shift.

About Richardson International

Richardson International is a global agriculture and food processing leader, with deep-rooted grower relationships spanning over 165 years. Our journey has seen our business expand and innovate, allowing us to supply quality food products and ingredients to markets near and far. We are always improving our facilities, processes, and products to continue to deliver on our commitment to excellence. Across borders, our network collaborates to fuel our ongoing growth. Join our growing team and set a strong foundation for a career full of exciting possibilities.