Quality Assurance Technician - PM Shift

Summary

Natra Chocolate America is looking for a Quality Technician to provide technical support to the QA department and be a liaison between QA and all other departments on the afternoon shift. The relevance and importance of this individual’s activities in contributing to quality and safety is the development, implementation and enforcement of the Food Safety and Quality requirements for plant operations. This role will primarily support Quality Assurance functions however it may provide additional support for R&D.

Shift: Afternoon shift, Monday to Friday.

Job Duties

• Provide technical support to all departments for relevant documents and requested information (product specifications, shelf life data, customer requests, inquiries, complaints)
• Develop customer certificates of analysis (COA) for finished products
• Conduct all aspects of ingredient and packaging receiving (COA review, in-plant sampling and testing, processing of samples for external analysis)
• Conduct scheduled and random inspections and audits of the facility
• Conduct product label compliance reviews of new and updated
• Provide feedback to operators on QA standards and requirements
• Follow-up on corrective and preventive action items from inspections and audits
• Conduct scheduled calibration functions for in-plant equipment (thermometers, scales, lab equipment)
• Conduct regular record review for completion and QA trends
• Contribute to the Food Safety program by being an active member of the HACCP team
• Coordinate the documentation control program and the non-conforming products program
• Maintain a QA program for monitoring supplier quality, including audits, controls, and other qualifiers
• Conduct risk analyses, verification, validation activities, and formal design reviews, as applicable
• Promote and advocate quality achievement and performance improvement across the organization
• Deal with any customer complaint investigations or product issues
• Persuade staff to adopt and incorporate quality methods into their work
• Create and maintain QA control documentation
• Review and improve quality control procedures in Natra and suppliers' factories, from the raw material stage through to the finished product
• Select, analyze and approve raw materials and other ingredients from suppliers
• Compile, check and approve product specifications and labelling
• Participate in educational and training opportunities applicable to the position
• Ensure ongoing compliance with local, national, and international standards and legislation, address issues of safety and quality

Adhere to all prescribed Regulatory and Company requirements for Occupational Health, Safety and Environment, Food Safety and Quality Systems, HACCP, Sanitation and GMP’s

Qualifications

• Minimum 3+ years of direct work experience within the food, confectionary or consumer packaged goods manufacturing industry QA systems, regulations, guidelines, and associated standards
• Post-secondary education: BSc (Chemistry, Food Science, Agricultural and Environmental Science) or related discipline
• Direct knowledge of various QA methodologies, requirements and audits (i.e. HACCP, Environmental Pathogen Monitoring, BRC, SQF, etc.)
• General knowledge of food safety programs (HACCP, Environmental Pathogen Monitoring, BRC, SQF or equivalent)
• Able to develop, review, and maintain metrics and quality audits
• Comprehension of lab instruments

Requirements

• Knowledge of regulatory labeling issues, food chemistry, microbiology, product formulation control and documentation, and statistical process control
• Must possess excellent communication skills for liaising and communicating with vendors, customers, external authorities and internal departments
• Practical experience with risk management, product testing, capability studies, and control plans
• Highly motivated and self-directed capable of multi-tasking, and able to work with minimal supervision
• Extremely detail-oriented and analytical thinker
• Able to interface directly with cross-functional teams
• Ability to create and review technical documentation, including project plans, test procedures, and design documents
• Able to develop, review, and maintain metrics and quality audits
• Demonstrated analytical, organizational and problem-solving abilities
• High level of proficiency with Microsoft Office productivity suite
• A well-defined sense of diplomacy, including solid negotiation, conflict resolution, and people management skills
• Able to build and maintain lasting relationships with other departments, key business partners, and government agencies
• Strong work ethic and positive team attitude
• Comfortable working in processing environment
• Knowledge of Spanish or French (an asset)
• Training and knowledge of Six Sigma techniques and Lean Manufacturing (an asset)
• Experience and understanding of food manufacturing (an asset)
• Highly motivated and self-directed, capable of multi-tasking
• Ability to work under pressure with minimal supervision
• Ability to implement changes to a system, when directed
• Excellent written, documentation and verbal communication skills
• Strong work ethic and positive team attitude
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to work independently, using sound judgement and under strict deadlines
• Highly flexible, with solid interpersonal skills that allow one to work effectively in a diverse working environment
• Experience with ERP Systems (Microsoft Dynamics preferable) is an asset
• Strong working knowledge of MS Office applications (proficient in Excel)
• Working Knowledge of Spanish or French would be an asset

Diversity and Accessibility at Natra Chocolate America

Natra Chocolate America is committed to celebrating diversity and to creating a workplace culture that embraces individuality. At Natra Chocolate America we are also committed to creating a workplace free of barriers that is accessible to all. Where requested, and in consultation with the applicant regarding his/her individual accessibility needs, all reasonable accommodations will be made available to persons with disabilities to support full participation in our recruitment processes.

Natra Chocolate America is proud to be an equal opportunity organization and takes pride in our recruitment and hiring standards.

Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Thank-you for your interest in Natra Chocolate America

About Natra:

Spanish multinational Natra is today one of the leading companies in Europe specializing in chocolate products for the private label brand and other food companies, as well as in cocoa derivatives. Natra’s consumer goods division is responsible for the manufacturing of chocolate tablets, countlines, spreads and Belgian chocolates and specialties, which are commercialized mainly in Europe, with Germany, France, Belgium, Holland, Spain and United Kingdom as main markets. Similarly, the company is committed to its expansion into markets beyond Europe, with special focus placed in North America and China. Furthermore, via its industrial goods division, Natra provides cocoa-derived products (mainly cocoa powder and butter, and chocolate coatings) for the international food industry. The company currently has five specialized production centers in Spain, Belgium and France, as well as permanent commercial presence in Europe, United States and Asia. In addition to its main activity in the chocolate industry, Natra has a controlling stake in the Spanish multinational Natraceutical, which is specialized in the commercialization of natural nutritional supplements in Europe through its company Laboratories Forté Pharma.

Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract

Salary: $45,000.00-$55,000.00 per year

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday