Quality Assurance Technician

**REPORTS TO: Quality Assurance & Food Safety Manager**

**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Support and execute the Company's Food Safety programs at the facility in conjunction with Operations, Maintenance, Sanitation, and all other plant functional areas to ensure food safety, legality, and quality.
- Ensure compliance to Regulatory Requirements (CFIA, USDA, FDA), food safety programs (HACCP), and finished product specifications.
- Perform and/or assist in daily quality and food safety related decision making based on established processes to ensure products meet quality and food safety standards.
- Perform startup/ shut down procedures as per QA protocol and process. This may include equipment start-up/shut down, laboratory disinfection/cleaning, incubator/ refrigerator checks, pH, documentation reviews and approvals.
- Assist with environmental monitoring program for all relevant parts of equipment and areas of the facility (TPC, Listeria, ATP). Ensure results are populated/updated in Environmental Monitoring System.
- Assist with analysis of sanitation/environmental data to determine root cause of deficiencies and provide sanitation and operations team feedback on performance and necessary improvements.
- Actively performs on-site quality checks on the production floor in all areas
- Product holds on floor, product sample collections (daily product cuttings) and quarantine management requirements as required.
- Reports non-compliances and takes corrective actions to assure compliance to all quality & food safety requirements daily.
- Perform sample receipt functions as per laboratory protocols. This may include assigning identification/reports aseptic sampling.
- Prepare solutions, reagents and /or growth mediums as outlined per Laboratory Technical Procedure and /or work instructions. Position may require handling of hazardous chemical/materials.
- Prepare and conduct microbiological/chemical analyses. Enter test results/ data into the laboratory database. Enter data onto laboratory forms.
- Maintaining an attitude of continuous process improvement and training of employees at hourly and salary levels
- Provides technical expertise to the Manufacturing Operations regarding product quality, food safety, and good manufacturing practices
- Developing a constructive work environment through excellent interpersonal, team building skills, open communications, encouraging input and constructive performance management.
- Follow all occupational health and safety and good laboratory practices.
- Participate in proficiency programs, projects and internal or external audits when required.
- Participate in projects and meetings with the goal of improving food safety ad food quality.

**SKILLS REQUIRED**
- Communication: Excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to provide technical support to operations personnel.
- Time management: Efficient organization of daily routine responsibilities and additional projects.
- Problem solving: Ability to recognize and resolve non-compliance issues.
- Knowledge of HACCP, CFIA Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, BRCGS Standards

**EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND / WORK EXPERIENCE**
- High school diploma or equivalent required.
- Experience in Quality Assurance, Technical and Operations.
- 1 year work experience in the food Industry required.
- Knowledge and understanding of quality assurance principles, food science and meat processing; preferred.

**Benefits**:

- Dental care
- Extended health care
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- RRSP match
- Vision care

Schedule:

- 8 hour shift
- Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

- Hamilton, ON: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Application question(s):

- What are your salary expectations?

**Experience**:

- Quality Assurance: 1 year (required)
- Food industry: 1 year (preferred)