Quality Assurance Specialist at Stir Foods – Orange, California

Organization Name: Stir Foods LLC.

About Our Organization:

We are the WOW flavor behind some of your favorite meal experiences. We are the partner to some of the most well-known names in food, food service and retail. You will find our products on fast-casual menus, frozen meals, retail deli, meal kits and RTE bagged salads.

We co-create and supply our partners with hot-cooked products including sauces, cheese sauces, soups, chilis and marinades. Our cold-processed products include dressings, sauces, spreads, and batters. We are a fast-growing food organization with 2 production facilities in So Cal.

Safety and Quality:

Stir Foods employees are committed to safety and quality. We adhere to, promote, and improve quality and safety policies and practices within the department and throughout the facility. Safety and quality are at the forefront of our culture.

Job Purpose:

The FSQA Specialist plays a key role in supporting the Quality department through ownership of quality assurance activities on the production floor ensuring tasks are adequately performed to the company, customer and regulatory food safety and quality standards. This includes reviewing production records, coordinating with laboratories, and escalating quality concerns when needed. In this role, the FSQA Specialist will partner cross-functionally with Production, Product Development, Procurement and Operations, and collaborate with external business partners such as suppliers to resolve quality challenges. This role contributes to improving our quality programs, including supporting GMPs, Non-Conformances, CAPAs, deviations, supplier quality initiatives, consumer complaints, and SOP development.

Job Functions:

Inspect the production, cooling and packaging processing areas in accordance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) guidelines and Stir Foods Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Perform and oversee the completion of records including sanitation records, CCPs, production quality monitoring, verifying line clearance and line set up before starting up.

Process & maintain quality holds and releases using ERP and/or equivalent systems.

Maintain and update Stir Foods documents in customer portal. Create customer documents such as COA, questionnaires, letters and statements.

Ensure proper hygiene is practiced by all employees (GMPs, procedures, attire, etc.).

Inspect and initiate non-conforming tags for raw and finished materials, as needed.

Conduct hazard risk analysis for raw materials and processes as needed.

Work independently while understanding the necessity for communicating and coordinating work efforts with other employees and departments.

Participate in shift transition, hand-off and other business meetings.

Prepare reports, memos, letters, and other documents, using word processing, spreadsheet database, or presentation software as required.

Assist with consumer complaint management, adverse event investigations, traceability exercises, and recall readiness activities.

Participate in internal audits, GEMBA walks and support general operational tasks, including invoice processing, lab supplies and other QA initiatives.

Contribute to QA compliance efforts by developing, updating, and training stakeholders on SOPs as needed.

Assist Supervisors and Managers to ensure that the Quality Team is enforcing the best practices on the Production Floor.

Learn, teach, and enforce SQF Policies and procedures throughout the facility fostering an environment where food safety is paramount. Train new QA Technicians as required.

Cross-train between sites to ensure continuous improvements.

Liaise with USDA to ensure product regulatory requirements are met.

Review, update and/or create labels to ensure compliance.

Set up product for sensory evaluation.Safety and Quality

Collaborate with Warehouse and Receiving to ensure incoming raw materials are properly received.

Participate in departmental and cross-functional continuous improvement projects as assigned by QA Management.

Monitor and enforce Good Manufacturing Practices, Good Laboratory Practices and HACCP throughout the manufacturing facility.

Assist QA Supervisor in trending KPIs, holds, releases, and complaints.

This role requires about 80% production floor presence and 20% administrative duties.

Perform other assignments, duties, and special projects as assigned by the QA Supervisor or QA Manager.

Competencies:

• Excellent communication proficiency, verbal and written
• Time Management, organizational savvy. Ability to work under pressure.
• Accountable & results driven.
• Team Player & Self-motivator
• Critical Thinking & Problem Solver
• Ability to enforce processes and controls conformance. Ability to evaluate and report product and process quality. Ability to recommend and implement product, process, and sanitation improvements.

Work Content

Physical Demands:

The employee will be on their feet. They are standing, sitting, walking, and will bend, kneel, reach,push, pull, lift items/equipment up to 50lbs. Body mechanics is crucial to meet the demand of the physical labor.

PPE Required:

Lab Coats, Safety Glasses, Face shield as needed. Slip resistant Toe protection nonslip shoes required.Hard hats required.

Work Environment:

Warehouse and production exposure will be expected. You may be exposed to fumes, temperature

Qualifications:

Experience:

Minimum of 3 year's experience in the field of Food Manufacturing.

Education:

Bachelor's degree in Science or related field required. SQF, HACCP certifications strongly preferred.

Skills:

• Knowledge of ERP, WMS, is preferred.
• Working knowledge of HACCP and pre-requisite programs required.
• Strong knowledge of FDA FSMA & USDA requirements required.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Suite is required.
• Perform duties with minimum supervision.
• Ability to demonstrate good communication skills in English and Spanish.

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may vary from time to time, with or without notice to fit a business need.