Quality Control Assistant

Lancaster Farm Fresh Co-op; Lancaster (Lancaster County); On-site; USD 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in organic farming is seeking a Quality Control Assistant passionate about sustainable eating. This role involves ensuring product quality, conducting audits, and collaborating with farmers to maintain high standards. The ideal candidate will thrive in a team-oriented environment, demonstrating strong attention to detail and problem-solving abilities. Join a nonprofit co-operative dedicated to delivering the best local organic produce and making a positive impact in the community. If you are eager to contribute to a mission-driven organization, this is the opportunity for you!

Benefits

Competitive medical, dental, and vision coverage

4% match for 401(k)

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Paid sick days

Free summer CSA share

Discounted organic food and drink

Qualifications

• Proficiency in databases and decision-making impacting staff and customers.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills required.

Responsibilities

• Assist in quality control decisions and maintain product standards.
• Conduct audits and communicate quality issues with farmers and staff.

Skills

Attention to detail

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Teamwork

Decision-making

Flexibility

Time management

Critical thinking

Education

Two years of experience in quality control

Experience with organic produce

Tools

Food Connex

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Lancaster - Lancaster, PA

Position Type: Seasonal

Salary Range: Undisclosed

Description

Quality Control Assistant

Are you passionate about clean, sustainable eating? Enthusiastic about working in a people-first culture committed to living the good life and eating the good food while being good people? Awesome! Keep reading…

Who we are – Lancaster Farm Fresh Co-operative is a nonprofit organic farmers' co-operative of over 100 farmers in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. We focus on creating healthy, high-quality foods from our highly maintained and enriched soils on our small-scale family farms. LFFC serves all of Eastern Pennsylvania, New York City, and most of the tri-state area by connecting the farmer and customer, delivering the best local organic produce, value-added products, and humanely raised and pastured animal products to retail establishments, co-ops, restaurants, and institutions.

The perks of working here –

• Competitive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 4% match for 401(k)
• Paid time off, paid holidays off, and paid sick days
• Free summer CSA (community-shared agriculture) share
• Access to employee store with discounted organic food and drink
• Being part of something that will make you feel good at the end of the day

Position Summary –

LFFC's Quality Control Assistant assists with planning, coordinating, and directing the LFFC control program designed to ensure the continuous production of products consistent with established standards. Conducts audits of production facilities to ensure company standards are maintained, and product integrity is preserved. Consults with supervisors and leads to resolve quality, production, efficiency, and utilization problems. This position also initiates, implements, and enforces quality assurance and food safety programs that maintain the best quality and food safety by managing resources and the warehouse's quality and food safety activities.

What you’ll be doing –

• Serves as the assistant for making quality control decisions
• Helps determine rejections with supervisor and makes proper adjustments in inventory
• Assures quality product consistent with specified crop standards for each product
• Participates in ensuring optimal storage conditions are maintained
• Processes all returns before a shift is done. Ensures all returns are inspected to determine if they meet quality criteria to return to stock.
• Communicates with farmers on quality control issues, rejections, and praise
• Communicates through a daily email with staff on quality control issues, rejections, and praise
• Documents farmer rejections
• Helps to create and review LFFC Crop Standards Guide for all farmers
• Assists as needed to investigate customer complaint issues and implement corrective action in the warehouse with timely responses and solutions
• Identifies food safety and process improvement ideas for implementation
• Other assignments to be determined

Qualifications

Who you are –

• Proficiency with learning and using databases. Some experience with Food Connex is a plus but not necessary.
• Making decisions that impact staff, customers, and the Co-op
• Attention to detail with high accuracy
• Taking the initiative, including problem-solving
• Working with others in a group or team
• Taking responsibility for work outcomes and results
• Being responsible for the health and safety of others and safe handling of product
• Being flexible about work hours and schedule
• Continuously learning and teaching others
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Lead and develop individuals and team
• Use logic, reasoning, and research to identify and solve problems
• Use data metrics to analyze work systems and develop cost-effective solutions
• Exercise good judgment and decision-making
• Manage one's own time and the time of others
• Manage conflicts to the most favorable resolution
• Two years of experience working in fresh produce quality control and at least one year of experience with organic produce
• Experience with receiving, stocking, handling, and shipping fresh produce
• Knowledge of proper storage requirements and sensitivities of fresh fruits and vegetables
• Experience with and knowledge of material handling equipment
• Knowledge of best safety practices, including food safety in a warehouse environment
• Comfortable with Microsoft Office Suite programs and databases

This job description is intended to describe the general requirements for the performance of this job. It is not a complete statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Other duties, not listed here, may be assigned as necessary to ensure the proper operations of the team.

Reports to the Facilities/Warehouse Manager.

Physical Requirements –

• Ability to lift up to 55 lbs. without assistance, on occasion
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, twist, sit, and perform a variety of other physical functions as needed
• Ability to work in varying environments, including the ability to withstand cold temperatures with proper protective clothing for periods of time
• Ability to work nights and weekends as needed.

Essential Functions / Tasks:

Requirements:

Physical:

• Vision: Ability to read data and the computer screen.
• Hearing: Hearing required to hear customers and co-workers make requests.
• Gripping: Frequently.
• Lifting: Frequently.
• Stooping: Frequently.
• Squatting: Frequently.
• Push/Pull: Frequently.
• Kneeling: Occasionally.
• Climbing: Occasionally.
• Bending: Frequently.
• Reaching: Frequently.
• Equipment Operation: Occasionally.
• Carry Objects: Frequently.
• Sitting: Infrequently.
• Walking: Frequently.
• Standing: Frequently.
• Work environment: Warehouse environment.
• Climate: Cool 50-degree environment throughout the year.

Mental & Psychological Demands:

• Comprehension: Understands and retains directions.
• Reading/Writing: Excellent reading/ writing skills.
• Speaking: Communicate effectively with co-workers and customers.
• Decision Making: Use advanced problem-solving techniques.

Attention to Task/Detail:

• Critical Thinking Skills: Organize tasks and set priorities.
• Multi-Tasking: Perform and/or direct multiple tasks simultaneously.

Interaction with Others:

• Customer Service: Ability to interact with the public in a positive and friendly manner.
• Co-workers: Ability to interact with team members in a positive and friendly manner.

Lancaster Farm Fresh Co-op is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. Candidates from ALL walks of life are encouraged to apply.