Quality Technician

Bumble Bee Foods; Cape May (NJ); On-site; USD 27,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Bumble Bee Foods, LLC is seeking a Quality Assurance Technician in New Jersey to monitor production, perform inspections, and support food safety and regulatory compliance. The role requires collaboration with Operations, laboratories, and quality teams to ensure products meet specifications and company standards.

Key duties include laboratory testing of materials, calibration of instruments, SAP documentation, and participation in audits and ongoing training.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Ability to read/write, speak and comprehend English and/or Spanish.

Responsibilities

• Monitors all phases of production with the goal of identifying and alerting Operations to food safety processes, procedures, GMPs, or other conditions that are approaching a potential out-of-control status.
• Performs daily production sanitation inspections.
• Verifies that the correct spices and ingredients are being used according to applicable specifications.
• Completes SAP tasks related to the release of finished products and materials.
• Maintains proficiency in all assigned testing and inspection procedures and completes required training within established timeframes.

Education

High School diploma or equivalent preferred.

Job description

Purpose

Inspects raw materials and finished products; tests and adjusts packaging and canning equipment during processing; records inspection and testing data; and notifies the Supervisor or appropriate Management personnel of irregularities. Supports the plant’s food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements through routine inspections, testing, monitoring, and verification activities.

Duties

The duties of this position are those described below. This job description does not state or imply that the duties listed are the only duties and responsibilities assigned to the position. Employees holding this position may be required to perform other job‑related duties as requested by Management.

Compensation

$24.04 an hour

Essential Duties

These duties directly and substantially support the purpose of the position.

• Monitors all phases of production with the goal of identifying and alerting Operations to food safety processes, procedures, GMPs, or other conditions that are approaching a potential out-of-control status.
• Assists Operations in returning processes to a controlled condition and assists in determining corrective actions to eliminate or reduce future quality issues.
• Identifies variables in processing parameters that may affect food safety, product quality, plant efficiency, and overall cost.
• Performs daily production sanitation inspections.
• Performs daily Food Defense inspections.
• Participates in audit preparations.
• Verifies that the correct spices and ingredients are being used according to applicable specifications.
• Completes SAP tasks related to the release of finished products and materials.
• Performs line, equipment, and product checks, including but not limited to CCPs, fill weight, net weight, sauce weight, vacuum, headspace, double seam, metal detector, X-ray, Brix, and temperature checks.
• Performs laboratory testing of raw materials and finished products, including salt, pH, and Brix testing.
• Performs calibration of measuring instruments, including thermometers, vacuum gauges, pH meters, salt meters, scales, and other applicable equipment.
• Participates in weekly, monthly, and quarterly Quality Control inspections as assigned.
• Trains and cross‑trains employees as assigned.
• Maintains the ability and willingness to become cross‑trained in specific Quality Assurance Department functions to provide coverage for absent or key personnel.

Other Duties

Quality Assurance Technicians may be assigned and cross‑trained to perform the following duties based on department needs, production requirements, and employee qualifications:

• Can Seam and Container Inspection: Performs testing and examination of manufactured can seams and containers to verify quality and compliance with established specifications. Records all test results and identifies out-of-specification cans or products. Initiates appropriate hold procedures to isolate and secure affected product from normal distribution. Maintains required training in double seam inspection, can defects, and double seam tear‑down procedures.
• Weights and Measures: Performs testing and examination of canned and bottled products to verify weights, measurements, quality, and compliance with established specifications. Records all testing results and identifies and places out-of-specification product on hold as required.
• Receiving Inspection: Performs testing and examination of received raw materials and critical ingredients to verify quality and compliance with established specifications. Records inspection and testing results and identifies and places nonconforming materials on hold as required. Current receiving inspection activities include labels and USDA ingredients.
• Co‑Packer and Contract Shucking Oversight: Monitors co‑packer and contract shucking operations to verify compliance with GMPs, HACCP requirements, product specifications, and applicable Quality Assurance requirements. Duties may include:
  • Monitoring sodium tripolyphosphate levels at the shucking operation.
  • Monitoring clam quality according to established company specifications.
  • Verifying that product weight, food safety, consistency, and other applicable specifications are being met.
  • Communicating quality concerns or specification deviations to the shucking operation and Bumble Bee Management promptly.
  • Working flexible hours, including weekends, when required to support production and Quality Assurance needs.
  • Performs additional Quality Assurance inspections, testing, verification, documentation, and monitoring activities as assigned by Management.
  • Maintains proficiency in all assigned testing and inspection procedures and completes required training within established timeframes.

Food Defense Responsibilities

Engage in our “see something say something” Food Defense Program. This will include any necessary training requirements upon hire, then annually. Employee must follow all aspects of the Food Defense plan and have specific training in their area.

• Ensure that there are no chemicals and nonfood grade lubricants or physical contaminants in the process areas and report immediately to Supervisor if there is any infraction.
• Ensure that no personal belongings are stored in the process areas and report immediately to Supervisor if there is any infraction.
• To report immediately to Supervisor any suspicious activities
• To report immediately to Supervisor any unescorted visitor or contractor infraction.
• Ensure that employees, visitors and contractors, are wearing the Company approved uniform and are following GMP and any other applicable Company policies. Report immediately to Supervisor if there is any infraction.

Required Personal Protective Equipment

• Bump cap, hearing protection, hair net, beard net, eye protection, gloves, proper footwear, uniform or smock.

Physical Requirements

Additional job-specific training as assigned or required

All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with a disability.

• Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized. This factor is important if the amount and kind of climbing required exceeds that required for ordinary locomotion.
• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery or erratically moving surfaces. This factor is important if the amount and kind of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.
• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.
• Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
• Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
• Crawling: Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances.
• Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.
• Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires the substantial use of the upper extremities and back muscles.
• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole arm as in handling.
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Includes those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly or quickly.
• Hearing
• Vision: Attention to the surroundings when operating a forklift.
• Repetitive motions: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands and/or fingers.

Degree Of Physical Exertion Required For The Position.

• Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 lbs. of force occasionally and/or up to 20 lbs. of force frequently, and/or up to 10 lbs. of force constantly to move objects
• Heavy Work: Exerting up to 100 lbs. of force occasionally and/or up to 50 lbs. of force frequently, and/or up to 20 lbs. of force constantly to move objects

Environmental conditions the employee will be subject to in this position.

• Inside environmental conditions: Protection from weather conditions, but not necessarily from temperature changes.
• Outside environmental conditions: No effective protection from weather.
• Extreme cold: Temperatures below 32 degrees for periods of more than one hour.
• Extreme heat: Temperatures above 100 degrees for periods of more than one hour.
• Noise: There is sufficient noise to cause the worker to shout in order to be heard above the ambient noise level.
• Vibration: Exposure to oscillating movements of the extremities or the whole body.
• Hazard: Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, working on scaffolding and high places, exposure to high heat or exposure to chemicals.
• Atmospheric conditions: One or more of the following conditions that affect the respiratory system or the skin: Fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases or poor ventilation.
• Oils: There is air and/or skin exposure to oils and other cutting fluids.

Education/ Experience/ Skills Required

• High School diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Ability to read/write, speak and comprehend English and/or Spanish

Bumble Bee Foods, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/ affirmative Action employer. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We do not discriminate based on race (including hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, veteran status, or any other protected status under federal, state, or local law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center as a result of your disability. To request accommodation, contact Bumble Bee Foods, LLC Human Resources Representative.

About Bumble Bee Seafoods

The Bumble Bee Seafood Company is passionately pursuing its purpose of feeding people’s lives through the power of the ocean. We are an iconic 125-year-old year‑old fishing company that consistently aims to deliver delicious, healthy, and affordable food to consumers while working hard to find new ways to protect the ocean and those that rely on it. Bumble Bee is firmly anchored in a commitment to connect the world to the ocean by re‑defining sourcing, producing, and enjoying products from and inspired by the ocean.

Bumble Bee’s full line of seafood and specialty protein products are marketed in the U.S., Canada and over 50 markets globally under leading brands including Bumble Bee®, Brunswick®, Clover Leaf®, Snow’s®, and Beach Cliff®. For more information about the company, visit TheBumbleBeeCompany.com. For product information, visit www.BumbleBee.com.