QA Tech, Lead 3rd in Birmingham

Employment Type: Hourly

Shift: Third

Work Arrangement: Onsite

Position Summary: Assist Quality Assurance (QA) Supervisor in supervising and coordinating all QA activities within the facility, assign various duties to QA Technicians. Provide leadership and communication to QA as well as to other departments. Assist with on-the-job training of new employees in the use of lab equipment and other tasks.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Communicate with appropriate management regarding quality issues and concerns. Provide corrective actions if needed, do daily follow up and reports.
• Establish and provide disposition of hold products and/or ingredients along with daily receipts and shipments.
• For food safety dispositions prepare a report of the findings for review by the QA Manager.
• Monitor QA department for supplies and micro samples. Assist in testing as needed.
• Schedule work areas as needed.
• Maintain and monitor capability weight studies for all production lines, including training of line maintainers.
• Coordinate, train, and verify with production staff the accuracy of daily batching records.
• Prioritise and provide prompt technical solutions for production and/or customer related product issues or customer complaints.
• Assist in the analysis of technical problems and be a resource for solutions to technical problems.
• Use RedZone as applicable.
• Help maintain safety training or additional training programs for employees.
• Perform and verify training of new QA Technicians.
• Coordinate with QA Administrative Assistant Clerk to ensure that all recordkeeping is uniformly complete and accurate and provide data for preparation of COAs, export documents, etc.
• Notify and advise Production Supervisor on any concerns regarding Preventive Controls deviations, GMP, sanitation, housekeeping, safety or other issues.
• Prepare, monitor and review FSMA plan and review all analytical data along with Preventive Controls so that all products are compliant before releasing product for final shipment.
• Responsible for following all food safety policies, procedures and regulatory criteria including the current SQF code, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and associated preventive controls.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science, Biology, Chemistry or equivalent experience.
• 5-10 years of experience in a food manufacturing lab environment.
• Food manufacturing lab environment experience in fats and oils preferred.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Requires leadership skills and excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Computer literate including experience with AS400, JDE, RedZone, Kronos, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Must be able to calculate and interpret various analytical data.
• Ability to approach others in a tactful manner, react well under pressure and follow through on commitments.
• Willing to develop knowledge of margarine/shortening technology and obtain HACCP certification.
• Must be able to identify and report any food safety and food security concerns.

Why Join Us:

Ventura Foods innovates and manufactures food solutions for foodservice and retail businesses. We make exclusive products for the world's most iconic restaurants and retailers, we provide ready-to-go product solutions for professional kitchens, and we make consumer brands everyone knows and loves. When you work for Ventura Foods, you get a strong foundation of training, a manager who cares about you and celebrates your success, a safe environment, and challenging work. As part of our team, your future is limited only by how much you’re willing to push yourself to get there. We invest in your growth because you invest in ours.

Ventura Foods offers career growth opportunities as well as competitive compensation and benefits:

• Medical, Prescription, Dental, & Vision – coverage beginning on your 1st day for eligible employees.
• Profit Sharing and 401(k) matching (after eligible criteria is met).
• Paid Vacation, Sick Time, and Holidays.
• Employee Appreciation Events and Employee Assistance Programs.

Physical Demands:

All jobs require sufficient physical strength and dexterity to perform the required task(s) and typically also require at a minimum: intermittent sitting, standing, walking, climbing, squatting, kneeling, pushing, and pulling. Occasional lifting and/or moving up to 50 pounds or more with assistance may also be required.

Work Environment:

Please see the job description for specific requirements of the position for which you are applying. Typical shifts are 8-12 hours per day. Additional unscheduled time after hours and on weekends may also be required. Employees must be willing and able to wear personal protective equipment as required by Company policy and/or legal requirements. In addition, certain jobs may require employees to work outside and/or in adverse temperatures which could include extreme heat, cold, and humidity; be exposed to vibrations, chemicals used in operations, fumes and food allergens (may include soy, dairy and other allergens); and be required to work in confined and dark spaces, and at heights in excess of 18 feet.

Diversity & Inclusion:

Our commitment to a diverse and inclusive environment in which all employees are treated with respect is evident in our company culture and values. We believe that fostering an environment of inclusion and a focus on diversity across our organization is vital to attracting top talent, driving innovation, and meeting the high expectations of our customers in a rapidly evolving global marketplace. Ventura Foods is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.