QA Technician

QA Technician  

COMPANY OVERVIEW:  Lawler Foods is a leading manufacturer of gourmet cheesecakes, cakes and pies that are used in restaurants, hotels and other fine foodservice establishments around the world. Lawler Foods' business has been built on the solid foundation of "home-made" taste and quality, using the finest natural ingredients to bake creamy cheesecakes, moist layer cakes, and grandmother-quality pies. The company operates out of Humble, Texas. Customers include national restaurant chains, wholesale clubs, and retail outlets in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe.  www.lawlers.com

Pay Rate: TBD

QUALITY CONTROL TECHNOLOGIST: 

Perform Quality Control functions in the laboratory and in the manufacturing facilities to include analytical tests, evaluations, and quality audits.  Monitor and carry out components of the food safety & quality management system from incoming materials to finished products for compliance to specifications &/or policy and to ensure product quality, safety, & legality.  Provide technical support with an emphasis on customer expectations, continuous improvement opportunities, and productivity requirements.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Perform routine audits throughout the facilities to ensure compliance to food safety & quality programs and policy, GMPs, and sanitation standards Take action on noncompliant issues &/or notify the appropriate supervisor or manager.
• Perform sampling and microbiological testing of equipment, facilities, utensils, air, water, etc. to audit sanitation practices and monitor environmental conditions as related to relevant microorganisms.
• Prepare reports and provide assistance / recommended corrective actions for deficiencies resulting from sanitation audits and environmental monitoring.
• Collect finished product and raw material samples for evaluation and testing in the QA lab.
• Perform analytical tests, and product evaluations on raw materials and finished products for compliance to specifications and policy.
• Perform sensory evaluation of raw materials and finished product.
• Prepare shipments of samples for microbiological & analytical tests to be performed at an outside laboratory and coordinate shipments with sample shipping clerk to ensure that samples are delivered on time and in good condition.
• Collect production check sheets, reports and documentation – maintain files according to the company record retention program.
• Communicate with other departments within the company on out-of-specification products & materials, foreign material issues, and other matters of noncompliance.  
• Provide technical assistance and troubleshooting as needed to support the food safety and quality of our products.
• Keep informed on current developments & technology, regulatory issues, customer requirements, and other significant issues related to our business and inform QA management as needed.
• Participate in continuous improvement activities, meetings, committees, seminars, and training events as required.
• Maintain laboratory facilities and equipment in accordance with good laboratory practices.
• Manage the inventory of laboratory supplies to meet operational requirements.
• Oversee daily and periodic instrument calibration on laboratory equipment and maintain the QA instrument calibration log as required.
• Coordinate shelf life testing according to schedule – facilitate sensory and microbial testing, compile results, maintain documentation according to departmental policy.
• Maintain retention samples for finished products per customer requirements.

EXPERIENCE PREFERRED:

• Minimum of 2 years overall food industry experience in positions of increasing responsibility in Food Safety, Quality Assurance, &/or Technical Services.
• Certificate of training and actual experience in HACCP.
• Knowledge of &/or experience with the GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) including BRC or SQF.
• Experience in and knowledge of issues related to food safety & quality and the food industry.
• Very good analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

• Ability to review & interpret data and prepare reports, presentations, & recommendations as needed to upper management.
• Good communication & interpersonal skills.
• Solid computer skills – Microsoft Office, manufacturing / quality databases.

Gryphon Investors:  http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160718005738/en/Gryphon-Investors-Acquire-Lawler-Foods

The Original Cakerie Ltd. is one of four premium dessert manufacturing companies owned by Bain Capital managed by Dessert Holding's.  We are a rapidly growing company comprised of The Original Cakerie Ltd. (London Ontario & Delta British Columbia), Lawler's Desserts (Houston, TX) Atlanta Cheesecake Company (Atlanta, GA) and Stephen Charles (Aurora, Colorado) We are poised for continued growth by bringing high quality products to both retail grocery and food service across North America. Led by a senior team with strong company pedigrees and experience driving improvement, we have exciting opportunities to be a part of this high performance, growth focused organization.  

The Opportunity!

We are looking for a Quality Assurance Technician  for our London location. 

• As a member of the QA team the Quality Assurance Technician will participate in the development and administration of the Original Cakerie Food Safety and Quality System.

What You'll Do:

• Process /product monitoring, evaluation and problem solving
• Develop and maintain product/process specifications, SOP"s
• Customer/consumer complaint evaluation
• Participate with new products team in specification development and new product implementation
• Conduct various audits to monitor conformance to regulatory and corporate requirements

Position Requirements:

Must Have

• Must have experience in Food industry, HACCP, GFSI, and SPC
• food science degree/diploma or equivalent
• Computer literate and able to use Word, Excel, and Windows
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to travel to the US and other Canadian facilities
• Experience with microbiological (plating) testing.

Nice to Have

• Experience with Preventative Controls for Human Foods (FSMA/SFCR), BRC and Six Sigma certification
• Experience with Sanitation principles, processes, and evaluation
• Experience in microbiological enumeration and evaluation
• ERP systems knowledge(Navision)
• Investigative and research capability
• Various Lab equipment handling experience ie. moisture balance, water activity meter, micro testing equipment,
• Experience with 3M petri-films as well as other rapid microbiological testing methods, mini-tab software knowledge or similar

Shift Schedule:

• Availability:  Monday - Sunday Flexible hours are a must
• 40 hour work week

Please apply and attach a copy of your resume. We thank you in advance for your interest in The Original Cakerie. Due to volume, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Throughout the selection process, accommodations for applicants with disabilities are available upon request.  Please notify Employee Experience. if required.    "The Original Cakerie is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all applicants"

Dessert Holdings company (Lawler's Desserts, Atlanta Cheesecake Company or The Original Cakerie) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to abide by all federal and state laws prohibiting employment discrimination; therefore, Dessert Holdings company (Lawler's Desserts, Atlanta Cheesecake Company or The Original Cakerie) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, military status, pregnancy, or disability or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state and local antidiscrimination laws. 

 Apply Now!