Position Summary:
The Quality Assurance Lab Technician will perform routine quality assurance processing plant inspections, sampling and sample preparations for microbiological testing, laboratory and administrative duties, maintain accurate and legible records, have the ability to prioritize work effectively, in addition to reviewing work for quality and completeness, and assist other personnel in a professional manner. The Lab Technician will also safely operate testing equipment involving potential microbiological, chemical and temperature hazards, accurately identify and restock lab supplies to maintain a current lab supply and inventory rotation, prepare samples for testing to include the use of PCR testing platforms and equipment, and other related duties as assigned.
Key Responsibilities:
- Perform pre-operational checks and sanitation inspections in adherence to procedure.
- Provide overall professional assistance to production and managerial staff.
- Approve release of raw materials and finished products, while verifying adherence to stated specification and standards.
- Perform accurate microbiological preparation, testing, counting and examinations of raw materials, in process products, and finished goods.
- Provide day to day support to the production department by performing routine inspections of processing plant and production lines.
- Report and take necessary action to prevent food safety and food quality issues from occurring.
- Maintain various production, raw material, testing, and quality control records in an organized manner.
- Identify out of specification products to satisfy customer and regulatory requirements and promptly notifies management of any deficiencies to pass established standards.
- Perform environmental swabbing, line checks, and any other duties as assigned.
- Record and enter data, and other reports, promptly and accurately.
Required Education & Experience:
- Degree in Food Science, Microbiology or related field (preferred).
- Perform organoleptic testing on required product samples including fresh and at code products
- Petrifilm plating procedures and incubators, PCR testing procedures.
- Common laboratory equipment, methods, and procedures.
- Requirements that apply to proper aseptic sample collection, transport, storage testing, and disposal.
- Operate, calibrate, and maintain laboratory equipment to include CEM, scales, pipettes, incubators, autoclaves, stomachers, and PCR equipment.
- Experience: 1-3 years Food microbiology or Food processing quality assurance laboratory (preferred).
- US customary units and metric system including weights and measures.