Salm Paratners is GROWING and WE NEED YOU. We have a position on our Quality Assurance team. We are looking to add a QA Technician that will perform inspections and testing activities and maintain records related to the quality control of all product manufactured within the facility. The QA Technician will complete sanitation activities for the production areas as needed, in compliance with all safety, food safety, SQF, GMP and USDA-FSIS requirements. The QA Tech also acts as Food Safety Representative.

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following:

• Comply with all SQF and USDA regulatory issues and food safety requirements, and act as Food Safety Representative.
• Complete a facility-wide pre-op visual inspection to confirm sanitation status of production areas prior to beginning daily production; write up Corrective Actions as needed, and address and resolve issues prior to start-up.
• Conduct Sanitation Standard Operating Procedure (SSOP) inspections twice per shift while plant is in production; complete inspection form and file.
• Communicate daily with the USDA representative, addressing all issues in a timely manner.
• Review Certificates of Analysis for all received raw goods.
• Assist Stuffing Room Operators with brine set-up; take water samples and maintain hourly salt/brine log tracking to specification.
• Ensure compliance to HACCP Plan by completing periodic net weight checks, color readings, Perfect Package checks, hourly temperature checks, hourly metal detector checks, drive unit/water temperature checks, salt pH/temperature checks, and assisting with smoke tests as needed.
• Collect product samples during the production run; conduct length/weight analyses, periodic sensory evaluations and complete appropriate forms.
• Collect and package product samples for testing by Food Safety Net Service (FSNS) daily; complete Sample Submission forms.
• Check Metal Detector Rejections and Leaker logs for completeness and maintain file.
• Calibrate test equipment (pH meter, colorimeter, thermometers, etc.) and verify scales for accuracy throughout the facility.
• Monitor the cooler temperatures daily.
• Complete pathogen swabs and water sample checks periodically.
• Collect in-process cook/chill data using Data Logger probe weekly; download data from probe to spreadsheet for review and analysis.
• Maintain Reprocessed Product Logs, entering process/reprocess date and new code date into the system, and maintaining files.
• Collect information and documentation related to foreign material incidents.
• Assist with the decision to place product on QA Hold or remove from Hold as necessary; send Hold notifications to communicate, complete appropriate forms and update the Hold Log.
• Participate in organoleptics to evaluate product for extended shelf life, formulation changes, etc.
• Ensure partner compliance with all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) as required.
• Follows all lockout/tag-out procedures without fail.
• Follow all safety rules and regulations per established company policies.
• Support the Lean Manufacturing initiatives of the company.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.