Vacation Relief - QA Lab Tech

Darigold; Boise (ID); On-site; USD 30,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k matching

Life & disability coverage

Paid time off & holidays

Parental leave (8 weeks)

Job summary

Darigold is seeking an experienced Vacation Relief – QA Lab Technician to join our Boise plant. The role involves maintaining documentation per PAMO, calibrating lab equipment, and providing timely product testing to ensure quality.

You will support environmental monitoring and assist during audits while adhering to corporate quality standards. Ideal candidates have 1–2 years in the food industry, a related BA/BS, and the ability to work across shifts in a fast-paced lab setting.

Qualifications

• BA or BS preferred in Food Science, Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry.
• 1–2 years of experience in the food industry is preferred.
• Must be able to climb product tank ladders up to 40ft high.
• Must be able to lift/push/pull 50lbs.
• Must be flexible and willing to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be willing to learn every job in the lab along with maintenance of all lab equipment.
• Must be willing to work all shifts assigned.

Responsibilities

• Maintain documentation and records of all testing in compliance with Pasteurized Milk Ordinance requirements.
• Calibrate laboratory equipment, conduct validation testing, and maintain calibration documentation.
• Provide timely and accurate testing of products.
• Ensure proper laboratory procedures are followed as outlined by Darigold’s Corporate Quality Department and Rainier Laboratory Department.
• Maintain environmental swabbing program, track and report results.
• Ensure products’ analytical, micro, and organoleptic properties follow product and regulatory specifications, including tasting on expiry date and communicating results to QA leadership.
• Obtain finished product and raw line samples for micro and analytic testing; prepare samples ensuring sterility and avoiding contamination.
• Receive samples in an organized manner, maintaining integrity.
• Perform extra tests when needed and troubleshoot.

Skills

Organizational skills

MS Word

MS Excel

PowerPoint

Independent work

Communication skills

Education

BA/BS in Food Science

Job description

Darigold is seeking an experienced and motivated Vacation Relief – QA Lab Technician to join the team at our Boise plant. Darigold is the fifth largest dairy cooperative in the United States based on milk volume and one of the largest privately held organizations headquartered in the state of Washington. Since 1918, our producers have taken pride in producing dairy products with unsurpassed quality. Today we are one of the nation's largest agricultural cooperatives, producing over 8.5 billion pounds of milk every year. Through innovative technology and our efficient, flexible production capabilities, we deliver value-added products and customer-driven solutions. Darigold is now known throughout the world for bringing fresh, wholesome dairy products and ingredients from the Northwest to people all around the globe.

What You Will Do:

• Maintain documentation and records of all testing in compliance with Pasteurized Milk Ordinance requirements
• Calibrate laboratory equipment, conduct validation testing, and maintain calibration documentation
• Provide timely and accurate testing of products
• Ensure proper laboratory procedures are followed as outlined by Darigold’s Corporate Quality Department and Rainier Laboratory Department
• Maintain environmental swabbing program, track and report results
• Ensure that all products’ analytical, micro, and organoleptic properties follow product and regulatory specifications. This includes:
  - Tasting products on their expiry date to ensure product quality
  - Communicating test results to QA supervisor, QA Manager, and other Management as deemed necessary
• Obtain finished product and Raw line samples for micro and analytic testing
  - Prepare samples for testing, ensuring sterility and avoiding contamination
  - Receive samples in an organized manner, maintaining integrity
• Performing extra tests when needed, ability to think critically and troubleshoot
• Performs environmental monitoring duties around the facility as required by program standards
• Third party audit review and response, assisting as needed during audits
• Validating methodology
• Regulatory compliance
• Trouble-shooting issues
• Special projects
• General cleanliness and sanitation of the site and laboratory

What You Will Bring:

• Excellent organizational skills
• Proficient in the use of MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment, with minimal supervision
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to perform analytical and micro tests that results agree with a standard and/or duplicate testing by a recognized laboratory as well as a basic understanding of microbiology and familiarity with plating methods
• BA or BS preferred in Food Science, Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry
• 1 – 2 years of experience in the food industry is preferred
• Must be able to climb product tank ladders up to 40ft high
• Must be able to lift/push/pull 50lbs
• Must be flexible and willing to work in a fast-paced environment
• Must be willing to learn every job in the lab along with maintenance of all lab equipment
• Must be willing to work all shifts assigned

Benefits of Working at Darigold:

We understand that as an employee, benefits that support you and your family in and out of work are important. We’re proud to offer eligible positions a competitive total rewards package that includes:

• 401k with competitive employer matching
• Employer paid life & disability coverage
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• 8 weeks paid parental leave
• Education assistance
• Employee assistance program
• Community giving through matching donations
• Access to great dairy products & participation in our employee butter purchase program
• $1.50/hours night shift differential (where applicable)

Our Commitment to Diversity:

Achieving our vision to Lead Dairy Forward requires cultivating and supporting a team with varying backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We are committed to providing a workplace based on mutual respect where all employees feel included and can bring their best and authentic selves to work every day. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and Aff… We welcome all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, marital status, creed, religion, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. As a condition of employment applicants offered a role will be required to successfully pass our pre-employment background screen, receive a negative drug screen result & confirm eligibility to work in the U.S. We participate in E-Verify - please follow the links for details, English / Spanish & view our Right to Work Statement, English / Spanish .

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.