The QA Lab Technician is responsible for in-process and finished product quality and food safety, maintaining accurate records, leading investigations and plays a primary role with ensuring the highest standard of our products.

Essential Responsibilities:

• All plant personnel have the responsibility to monitor and report any deviations from our food safety and quality programs to your immediate supervisor.
• Collect and perform testing on finished product at designated time periods including, but not limited to: butterfat, particle size, and freezing point.
• Verify packaging is correct at all stages.
• Verify raw milk loads prior to receipt.
• Perform visual inspections, ATP swabbing, and H2O2 residual testing.
• Perform sensory evaluations on finished product.
• Perform daily calibration checks and maintenance on lab equipment.
• Maintain accurate and complete laboratory testing records.
• Lead role in identifying deviations related to quality or food safety, conducting. investigations, identifying root cause and implementation of corrective actions.
• Prepare various chemicals for use in a safe manner.
• Perform various testing and verifications as needed including, but not limited to: allergens, rework, slurries, and CIPs.
• Collect and perform testing on barn samples provided by each load received for components, herd health, and microbial growth.
• Perform plating primarily using the petrifilm method and maintain a clean work area.
• Pipette incubated samples to be tested using EPIC (a bioluminescence system which detects ATP).
• Perform weekly cleaning of lab area and other assigned MSS items.
• Plays a key role in driving awareness around QFS, Sanitation and GMPs.
• Participate in the site’s food safety walk through program with identifying.
• Hold responsibilities in helping keep the site SQF, FDA and SMB audit ready at all times. 

Knowledge and Experience:

• High school diploma required, bachelor’s degree in science field preferred.
• Manufacturing experience with an emphasis in food and QFS preferred.
• Competency in Microsoft Windows and Office preferred.
• Good communication skills.

Ability to prioritize and multi-task is required.