Lab/QA Technician - Full-time

Position:  LAB/QA TECHNICIAN                                                                                               

Department:  LAB and Quality Assurance                       

Full-Time/Part-Time: Full Time

Reports to (Title): Lab and QA Manager

FLSA:    Hourly, Non - Exempt

Job Summary:

Employee’s primary role is to conduct analytical testing and evaluation of our products to ensure that finished products are made within the customer’s specification. Must keep complete and accurate records of all testing and evaluations. This employee will need to demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills as they work with production and office personnel continuously throughout the production process to ensure finished product is within specifications.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Ensures laboratory equipment is calibrated and functioning properly
• Manages customer and raw material specification requirements
• Follows established test methods and procedures as defined by the SOP.
• Generates customer reports and documentation when applicable (i.e. COAs, placards)
• Analyzes, summarizes and reports data to necessary personnel
• Communicates test results and provides the recommendations for operations personnel to ensure finished product is within specification
• Maintains a clean and safe laboratory.
• Must be able to produce complete and accurate records of all testing and evaluations
• Conducts food safety/quality checks of metal detectors at defined intervals during the shift
• Conducts weekly tests of magnets as part of food safety program
• Other functions as assigned by area supervisor and/or manager.

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of computers and business related software.
• Demonstrated ability to manage several activities / projects at once, to organize / prioritize work
• Must stay current with assigned workload and be able to problem solve
• Demonstrated ability to be mobile in the work environment.
• Knowledge of statistics would be desirable.

Education and Experience requirement

·High School diploma or GED required.

·1+ years of quality and/or lab experience in the food industry is required.

·Science based Associates or Bachelors degree preferred.

Reasoning Ability:

• Ability to gather all relevant information, decipher data and make decisions from lab tests which translate into finished products meeting meet customer specifications.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.
• Ability to work in fast paced, high pressure atmosphere
• Must be able to formulate instructions to the production team/production workers

Demands and Work Environment

• The employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle and grasp with both hands, substantial movements (motion) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers; reaching and pulling with hands and arms.
• Prolonged standing
• Walking onto the production floor over moderate distances is required
• May occassionally move/drag/lift excess of 25 lbs
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include having accurate color vision.
• Occasional turning and twisting at the waist.
• This employee may be exposed to temperatures ranging from 40 – 85 degrees while in the production area
• Exposure to wet conditions while in the production area
• Noise level is moderate while in the production area

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• n/a

WHY DO I WANT TO WORK AT SMITHFIELD FOODS?

At Smithfield Foods Packaged Meats Division we are always looking for talented associates. We are committed to recruit, retain and promote employees with a diversity of backgrounds and life experiences. We seek individuals with outstanding characteristics of leadership and a bias toward action. The successful applicant should desire a broad base exposure to all aspects within the business enterprise while taking pride in ownership of results within a cross functional team.

Smithfield Foods Packaged Meats Division is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action (EEO/AA) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veteran status or status as an individual with disability.

Smithfield Foods Packaged Meats Division participates in the E-Verify program
 

Disclaimer

This position description is not intended, and should not be construed to be, an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts or working conditions associated with the job.  It is intended, however, to be an accurate reflection of those principal job elements essential for making decisions related to job performance, employee development and compensation.  As such, the incumbent may perform other duties and responsibilities as required.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.