QA Specialist- SQF at TCHO Chocolate

OVERVIEW:

The Quality Assurance Specialist provides support and continuous improvement to the Company’s Quality Food Safety Management System (QMS). This position is responsible for leading efforts involved in continuous improvements, process control development, and sanitation. The critical technical function is to assist the QA Department Head to execute projects, develop, record, implement, maintain, provide training and ensure effectiveness of site’s food safety and quality functions. The individual must have a quality conscious attitude with emphasis towards a teamwork approach to accomplish project goals and implement solutions to problems. The individual will work independently, be able to multitask, recommend solutions and provide technical expertise based on the quality process from the beginning of manufacturing to the end. This position also carries the responsibility to mentor and influence team members in a professional manner and promote a culture of Food Safety among all team members and associates.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILTIES:

o Serves as TCHO’s primary SQF Practitioner.

o Conduct regular audits and inspections and report results with CAPA plan in the monthly SQF meeting.

o Maintain accurate records and documentation related to SQF Compliance and ensure the facility audit readiness and compliance with SQF standards and State and Federal Regulatory requirements.

o Lead all efforts pertaining to sanitation and ensuring sanitation cleaning assignments are performed and documented.

o Create, update maintain Master Cleaning Schedule and Sanitation SOPs as needed. Inspect premises for unsanitary practices and conditions and report to management. Verify cleaning solutions and sanitizers concentrations are correct.

o Serve as the primary point of contact with third party lab regarding microbiological sampling data, including scheduling, coordinating and documenting testing results. Collect facility environmental swabs according to site microbiological sampling plan to validate and verify effectiveness of sanitation and GMP programs. 

o Responsible for timely completion of scheduled equipment calibrations, ordering of sanitation supplies, uniforms, QA Lab supplies.

o Responsible for training new hire and current employees and ensuring employee training matrix is completed.

o Responsible for completing various QMS reports including weekly, monthly, quarterly and/or annual QA reports (ex.KPI, trend analysis, lab expenses)

o Responsible for reviewing food safety and quality records including but not limited to FGs, Packaging and RMs specifications, COAs, EMPs, Production/WH Records, Labels, Sanitation records. Verify that production documentation adheres to site document control policy and correct formulations and processing parameters are met pre and post production in order to support site’s positive release program

o Responsible for placing non-conforming products, packaging and/or equipment on Hold that do not meet specifications and recommends solution to the issue.

o Responsible for monitoring and verifying operational, quality and critical control points (CCPs) according to the facility’s HACCP program, verify line clearance and QA sign-off (labels, lot code, BBD, scale verification)

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Create, update, and maintain FSQA standard operating procedures (SOPs), forms and registers.

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Assist with investigation, follow-up, and logging of customer complaints. Identify root cause and implement corrective and preventive action plans.

o Perform pre-operational, change-over and/or allergen change-over inspections with operations and sanitation team. Utilize ATP swabs and allergen swabs according to the site’s allergen control and sanitation plan to validate and verify effectiveness of allergen-related sanitation activities. 

o Coordinate with operations and R&D team on aged and short code products for re-work including dissemination of work instructions, shelf-life extension evaluation and assuring re-work team members adhere to GMPs. 

o Collect ingredients and finished good samples according to the site’s sampling program. Document and communicate results to appropriate internal teams to support efficient production and disposition of ingredients and finished products according to third party testing results. Maintain site ingredient/raw material and finished product retention library. Coordinate with R&D to optimize retention program.

o Assure that production team members are correctly performing monitoring activities through routine (daily) production floor audits of records, CCP and weight checks, labels and adhering to GMPs and Safety protocols.

o Provide assistance for verifying product claims (Organic, Fair Trade, Kosher, Nutritional, Fair Trade, Ingredient Statements, etc.) and assist in maintaining certification documentation for these certifying bodies.

o Be present for audits by third parties, customers, regulatory bodies and certifying agencies (FDA, CCOF, Kosher, Non-GMO, Gluten-Free).

o Provide assistance and

work with Production, Procurement, Warehouse, R&D, Sales and Marketing to identify root cause and resolve quality issues

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Perform traceability exercises on requested product(s) and lead mock traceability exercises.

o Communicate, document and log process deviations / nonconformances as they occur. Assist in root-cause analysis and troubleshooting of process deviations and failures, including those resulting in consumer complaints.

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Provide ongoing updates to Sr. QA Manager and/or CEO on product observations, analytical results, and quality and/or food safety issues.

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Assume Sr. QA Manager duties during her/his absence.