Quality Control Technician

**POSITION OVERVIEW**

The primary role of the Quality Control Technician position is to complete Quality Control (QC) activities and testing required for the manufacture of food products for Vitalus Nutrition. The QC Technician is a member of the Quality Department and provides support to other roles within the department as required. This is a Regular Part Time role working 24 hours a week.

**VALUES: Integrity, Care & Expertise (ICE)**

**PURPOSE: Improving Lives - By unlocking the Nutritional Value of Milk**

**KEY RESPONSIBILITY AREAS**

**Quality Control & Laboratory Operations**
- **Quality Control**:

- Perform all chemical, physical, and organoleptic tests in the scope of testing
- Trending of analytical data.
- Monitor and maintain laboratory supply inventories and spare parts for all laboratory equipment. Collaborate with procurement on ordering materials in a timely manner.
- Perform environmental swabbing and water sample collecting.
- Assist in process/product/assay validation protocols, testing, planning, performing and reporting.
- Perform the qualification, calibration and maintenance of equipment and instruments in the laboratory.
- Update NIR curves as required to ensure instrument is kept up to date.
- Assist with Production equipment comparison analysis to maintain a secondary testing option
- Organize and maintain shelf life library for powder samples based on prescribed sample holding times.
- Contribute with the writing, review, and completion of standard operating procedures and other document control documents.
- Participate actively with cleaning and sanitation (e.g. end of day cleaning, wiping down surfaces and sinks, and turning off equipment).
- Contribute to the compliance of the FSSC 22000 system requirements, Vitalus policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs), statutory, regulatory and customer requirements.

**Data Entry and Analysis**
- Data entry into Navision (both the microbiological and analytical results) for COA creation, trending, and QA review
- Identify and report out of specification results to appropriate personnel
- Monitor results daily from external labs for completion and out of specification result.
- Notify in a timely manner of any issues/out of specification results
- Report and/or troubleshoot any discrepancies or lack of information on samples submitted (to the microbiological testing labs or for the analytical testing samples)

**Internal Support & Service**
- May be required to coordinate and/or participate in cross-functional internal committees on behalf of Quality.
- Provide internal training on laboratory equipment and methods for cross training with Quality department and Production.

**COMPETENCIES (Knowledge, Skills, Ability)**
- Knowledge of a range of Regulatory Requirements, Operating Procedures (SOPs), Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP).
- Good knowledge of quality control statistics and documentation, as well as adherence to standard operating procedures.
- Maintains an awareness of new and emerging methods in quality control and laboratory testing equipment
- Time management skills, multitasking skills, and the ability to prioritize tasks within a fast-paced environment.
- Evaluate problems, make rational recommendations, and implement solutions.
- Deal with changes, delays, or unexpected events in a calm and timely manner.
- Communication
- Demonstrates effective interpersonal, listening, and presentation skills.
- Finds ways to improve efficiency, reduce costs and focuses on improving quality, business/scientific processes, products and systems.
- Identifies patterns and cause and effect relationships, and knows what information is missing. Generates recommendations, ideas and solutions.
- Normally receives mínimal instructions on routine work, more detailed instructions on new assignments.

**MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS**
- Bachelor of Science degree or equivalent, with a concentration in Chemistry/Microbiology and two years of experience; or
- Associate Degree in Science with an emphasis in analytical instrument testing, preferably, and three years’ experience in a laboratory; or
- Experience with analytical and microbiological procedures related to foods preferred.
- Capability to work in a team environment with varied departments and diverse personalities.
- Highly detail oriented with good oral and written communication skills.
- Interest in quality control related to food products, testing, and implementation of new approaches in analysis.

**EMPLOYER SUMMARY**:
Vitalus Nutrition’s purpose is, “Improving lives by unlocking the nutritional value of milk” and one way we do that is by taking high-quality Canadian milk, isolating the valuable components, and transforming them into specialized ingredients for the nutritional and industrial markets. We are a trusted international supplier of specialty ingredients including Milk Protein Concentrates, Milk Protein Isolates, and VITAGOS for la