Quality Specialist I - $1,000 sign-on bonus

Meet Us: King Arthur Baking Company is an award-winning, audience-leading baking company with a strategic vision to be the resource for baking education and inspiration.  Through traditional and new media, in-person and virtual education, we strive to be a leader in helping novice and expert bakers alike.  We're not going anywhere - we've been part of the family since 1790. We work to build stronger communities and increase access and the connection to real foods. We take pride in our responsible sourcing and our "never bleached" guarantee. And we work closely with farmers, millers, and suppliers in a continued commitment toward sustainability. Our wheat flour is grown and milled right here in the United States. Flour this good uses only the purest ingredients, free from GMOs.  As a founding B Corporation, we are committed to using the power of business as a force for social and environmental good. We believe every employee's contributions make our company what it is: vibrant, successful, and committed to spreading the joy of baking. We are a welcoming and inclusive 100% employee-owned company.

The Position: The Quality Specialist I provides on-site Quality support to Merlin Manufacturing during the second shift to ensure compliance to Quality Policies and Procedures. They independently conduct non-conforming material and equipment investigations, including partnering with Quality Systems Manager in dispositioning impacted product and equipment. They build, maintain, and provide training for programs within the manufacturing facility needed to ensure compliance to both FDA regulation and Safety Quality Foods (SQF) code. They conduct necessary Quality testing as outlined by Quality Systems Manager. They partner closely with Quality Specialist II, Production Supervisor, Production Team Lead and Maintenance Team Members. This role is scoped to Merlin Manufacturing.

The Benefits: Yes, we have the regular "stuff" - medical, dental, vision, company paid short- and long-term disability, life insurance, earned time to rest, paid holidays to have fun, a 401(K) with a company match. But here's what makes us different: 40 paid volunteer hours a year, profit sharing*, participation in the Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP)* and knowing that those working with you are dedicated and engaged co-employee owners that believe in you and your extraordinary abilities to move us all forward. How do you put a value on that?

Reports to: Quality Systems Manager

Location: Onsite, White River Junction, VT

Pay: $21.42-$26.52. Pay is based on candidate experience and qualifications.

$1,000 sign-on bonus with first paycheck

Hours: 10:00am-6:00pm, Monday to Friday

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Independently conducts non-conforming material and equipment investigations on second shift, recommends disposition decisions to Quality Systems Manager and completes necessary documentation associated with product/equipment holds
• Partners with Production Supervisor and Team Lead to ensure compliance to Quality Policies and Procedures is maintained
• Maintains Quality Inspection and Testing Programs, including maintenance of associated testing equipment, as assigned by Quality Systems Manager
• Maintains assigned SQF programs, including authoring procedures and updating Standard Operating Procedures and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures, completing monitoring activities, and maintaining required registers
• Conducts Quality inspections, including Start of Run and Final Release checks, follows up on any findings/non-conformances, communicates to key stakeholders and documents results
• Collaborates on building and delivering Redzone Quality Check training, annual refresher trainings, new policy/procedure training, and re-trainings
• In the absence of key personnel, assumes responsibility of Food Safety and Quality tasks based on one up, one down SQF requirements
  1. One Up: Quality Systems Manager
  2. One Down: N/A

Education and experience

• 5+ years of experience in Production and/or Quality with at least 2 years of a Quality-focused role, preferably in Food Manufacturing
• HACCP Certification (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point)
• Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt or above
• Experience with Production and Quality Management Software
• Proficient in ERP systems (Enterprise Resource Planning)

Competencies

• Communication and collaboration: Demonstrates effective verbal and written communication skills to peers, cross-functional partners and leadership. Ability to collaborate and negotiate through difficult conversations and potentially unpopular decisions to maintain compliance to policies and procedures
• Highly organized, motivated and detail oriented: Demonstrates the ability to independently manage multiple priorities, maintain high attention to detail under high pressure situations and hit required deadlines while maintaining a positive and collaborative attitude
• Solutions oriented: Proactive in both identifying and providing constructive solutions to potential issues and non-conformances. Willing to put action to those findings and open to feedback related to identified solutions from peers, cross-functional partners and leadership.
• Risk Assessment: Demonstrates ability to determine scope and impact of a non-conformance, ability to perform sound risk assessment to ensure appropriate next steps are taken, including escalating when appropriate, understanding of production equipment and willingness to continually expand knowledge of equipment, processes and product to better inform future risk assessments

Physical requirements/work environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical requirements
  1. Ability to stand/sit for extended periods of time.
  2. Ability to view computer screens for extended periods of time.
• Work environment
  1. Maintain a composed and professional demeanor within a busy, open office environment
  2. Adjustable workstations & wireless headsets

Safety

• Understands that safety is the responsibility of everyone at the organization
• Is responsible for providing a safe and ergonomically sound work environment, identifying unsafe conditions and correcting these conditions immediately
• Engages in safety and compliance training programs and encourage 100% team participation in same

Supervisory Responsibility

• N/A

Travel

N/A

Environment

• Adheres to company-wide green norms, looks for ways to reduce, reuse, recycle
• Educates oneself on KAB environmental campaigns
• Strives to continually improve and implement new processes to reduce our environmental impact

Uniform

• Business casual.

Other Duties

• Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

It is the responsibility of every employee to contribute to a positive work environment through cooperative and professional interactions with co-workers, customers, and vendors.

There's room at our table for you! Apply today.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors protected by law. King Arthur Flour provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities to allow them to participate in both the application process and during employment. Such individuals are encouraged to seek accommodations to allow them to apply for a position, participate in the application process, and meet the essential functions and requirements of the position.

*Amounts vary based achievement of financial targets. Participation based on hire date and program entry date.