Quality Assurance Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

ABOUT UDA :

UDA is a local, family-owned, dairy cooperative committed to serve the needs of our members, community, and customers by providing high quality milk and dairy products.

As the only milk marketing co-op in the state, UDA oversees the production, processing, and marketing of Arizona’s finest milk products from farm to Retail in 48 hours or less.

From sweet cream and butter to non-fat dry milk, UDA provides milk products to manufactures and supermarket chains throughout the Grand Canyon State.

Our motto at UDA is United in Excellence. The dairy industry’s success isn’t built on one dairy or brand, it’s built on the community as a whole - this includes our amazing employees.

When you join UDA, you’re not just joining a business, you’re joining a family. Since 1960 UDA has been headquartered, operated, and managed in Arizona.

We strive to provide our employees with rewarding career opportunities aimed at long-term stability, growth, and advancement.

We put our heart and soul into our products and value our team who show up, every day and do the work.

Job Summary / Objective

The Quality Assurance Specialist is an integral part of the team that will help support the food safety and quality programs at United Dairymen of Arizona through special projects relating to FSMA, GFSI and partner audit requirements.

This also includes coordinating GAP assessments, new equipment startups and qualification, non-conformity root cause analysis, and follow-ups to ensure corrective actions are complete and effective.

This role will work with cross-functional teams to ensure inspections, corrections and corrective actions are implemented and effective as well as perform administrative duties in support of QA management.

Schedule : Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities :

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following :

• Identify gaps in quality and food safety programs and suggest steps for improvement.
• Collect, prepare, and analyze data for reporting.
• Leads effectiveness checks in process change management.
• Review, compile, and analyze information to prepare reports.
• Revision and development of standard operating procedures.
• Investigate quality issues to identify root causes and ensure issues are addressed and resolved.
• May be required to lift and transport up to 40 pounds.
• Prepare and present materials / findings both internally and externally.
• Prepare equipment validation reports and compile qualification reports for new processes.
• Root cause analysis for deviations, non-conforming product, and customer complaints
• Assist in customer requests.
• The Quality Specialist will work closely with production to ensure the highest level of food safety and quality is maintained throughout the process from raw product receiving to finished product packaging.
• The Quality Specialist must have working knowledge of HACCP / FSMA / GMP’s.
• Occasional need for flexible hours, such as during QA audits
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to interact professionally with internal teams and external customers.
• Ability to manage tasks and projects with timelines to complete.
• Ability to lead multiple business initiatives in a manufacturing environment.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel and PowerPoint, and experience with document management systems..
• Requires ability to read, hear, speak, and comprehend and carry out verbal and written instructions.
• Experience : Food manufacturing industry experience is a plus Familiarity with process control systems is a plus Knowledge of chemical cleaning processes (CIP and COP) field PHYSICAL
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Qualifications :

General Skills & Abilities needed to complete job successfully :

• Knowledge of common start-up processes in a USDA factory and Good Manufacturing Procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to be a self-starter who will be responsible for common routines. Goal-driven with the ability to multi-task.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical procedures and data
• Ability to write reports and procedures
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers.
• Ability to work as a team and individually to accomplish the needed work.
• Knowledge of Sanitation Standard Operation Procedures (SSOP’s) in the food manufacturing industry.
• Knowledge of common traceability procedures in the food industry.
• Ability to problem-solve, while working under pressure, and thrive in a very fast-paced environment.
• Ability to use basic hand tools, meters, pH meters, or related items
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accuracy in data analysis and documentation
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Experience : (required)

Minimum 2 years quality assurance or quality control experience working in a food production environment or processing plant

Education / Certifications : (if n / a is applicable please note N / A)

Required Preferred Education (degree / certifications) Bachelor of Science degree in related sciencesHACCP Certification preferred

Work Environment & Demands Physical and environmental demands for this position are indicated below : (check all that are applicable)

Physical Demands :

• Requires ability to walk and stand for 8 or more hours at a time.
• Requires ability to safely operate equipment.
• Requires ability to work safely within the laboratory environment.
• Requires ability to visually observe the condition of surroundings.
• Requires ability to stoop, bend, reach, lift and carry items up to 55lbs often.
• Requires ability to push and pull items frequently up to 55lbs.
• Requires ability to climb ladders and stairs of various heights including floors of 100ft or more.
• Requires ability to hear and speak and frequently hear and speak in very noisy environments.
• Requires ability to work in varying extreme hot, cold, and wet temperatures and conditions.
• Requires ability to work in confined spaces occasionally.
• Requires ability to work safely with hazardous chemicals

Other Duties

The above job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by employees assigned to this job title.

This is not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Employees will be expected to perform duties that do not appear on the job description.

Management reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.

EEO Statement :

UDA is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.

BENEFITS :

• Medical, Dental & Vision plans
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with employer match
• Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Health & Wellness Programs
• Paid Time Off
• Shift Pay Differential
• Education Assistance
• On-site Fitness Center
• On-Site Health Clinic

The duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list; employees may be subject to additional, or altered, tasks and the scope of the role may change as necessitated by business demands.

UDA will not consider any application submissions from unauthorized third-parties, consulting, or external staffing firms and will not be held subject, or liable, to any terms, fees, or penalties associated with a submission.

UDA is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.

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