Quality Technician

**Job Summary**

The Quality Assurance Technician, under the direction of the QA Manager, will primarily be responsible for monitoring the quality and food safety parameters of in-process and finished soy/tofu products. The incumbent also enforces standards for plant sanitation and worker hygiene.
- Ensure compliance with all company policies, procedures and standards for people safety, food safety, quality, cost control, waste reduction and complete and on-time delivery
- Promotes and follows all company and regulatory standards, including but not limited to; Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), Food Safety, Safe Operating Procedures (SOP's), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
- Effectively recognizes and investigates quality & food safety concerns and acts to correct all problems in a quick and orderly manner
- Effectively communicates quality concerns to production personnel, the QA Manager and other managers
- Monitor’s quality parameters of soy/tofu products and correctly records all parameters in the QA records; monitor and records okra moisture to help production control milk loss from the extractors daily
- Collects product, ingredients and packaging for quality evaluations
Conducts microbiological analyses of ingredients, products and environmental samples; conducts ATP swab testing for environmental samples
- Prepares microbiological media and equipment
Completes all quality records for products, ingredients and environmental samples analyzed during the shift
- Participates in sensory preference testing, triangle testing or texture profile testing for soy/tofu samples as required
- Validates the pasteurizer thermal process for each production process daily
- Conducts package testing for incoming and in-use packaging materials
- Conducts programs of sampling and analysis to maintain quality standards of raw materials and products
- Performs annual validations for metal detectors, pasteurizers, Listeria, water and PT tests
- Performs record keeping and filing of quality documentation
- Maintains & documents clear, concise and detailed records or product inspections and findings on all associated QA reports
- Supply samples for Lab testing, customer samples, external lab testing and retained storage
- Enforces quality control policies and performs personal hygiene checks
- Performs in-house micro testing (SPC and Coliforms) for all products on the lines
- Conducts production worker orientation on product quality and personal hygiene policies
- Inspects all ingredients for conformance to physical standards
- Creates and maintains records of shelf life for all products
- Monitor CCP’s once every two hours and take immediate corrective action
- Follow hold and release procedures in case of any deviation that cannot be fixed immediately
- Reports observations of any deviation to the process/procedure or a defect or non-conformance to the product which may result in a situation requiring food safety assessment and placing product on hold or scrapping the product to the management immediately

**Job Requirements**
- Degree or diploma preferably in food science, nutrition, microbiology or related discipline
- Food production experience in quality assurance is an asset
- Good verbal and written English language skills
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to work effectively both independently and in a team environment

Additional pay:

- Overtime pay

**Benefits**:

- Casual dress
- Dental care
- Extended health care
- Vision care

Schedule:

- 8 hour shift

Ability to commute/relocate:

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