QA Tech1

Job Title: QA Technician

About Firestone Pacific Foods Firestone Pacific Foods (FPF) is a top-tier, efficient processor of frozen fruit that has earned a strong reputation in the market for quality and food safety. FPF has sales relationships with leading US and international food retailers and US food service companies. The company is well positioned to achieve high double-digit annual growth in the highest growth frozen fruit category sub-segments including organic, private label and blended berry products. Agriculture Capital Fund II, an impact investment fund, acquired FPF in the fall of 2019 as part of its strategy to build out a low cost, vertically integrated supply chain of high quality, organic blueberries operating at scale to address growing global demand for this nutritious fruit. Together, FPF and Agriculture Capital seek to provide customers with product traceability back to the farm and a vehicle for creating and capturing value from Agriculture Capital’s regenerative agronomic practices. The Firestone Family began farming in the Vancouver, WA, in 1896. We are a fully integrated grower processing operation for domestic and export fruit customers. Our fruit is harvested at the peak of ripeness, processed in our state-of-the art facility, and packed for shipment, ensuring quality in every product from the farm where it was grown to the finished bag in the consumer’s freezer. Position Summary Reporting to the Quality Assurance (QA) Supervisor, the QA Technician is responsible of ensuring compliance with customer quality, food safety and regulatory requirements. QA Technicians monitor and inspect raw materials, work in progress and finished goods. This position is required to routinely communicate product deviations to the QA Supervisor and Production Leads.

Responsibilities:

• Collect fresh and frozen microbiological samples using statistical sampling methods.
• Collect finished product and packaging retention samples.
• Verify accuracy of scales, weight checkers and metal detectors according to established Standard Operating Procedure’s (SOP).
• Ensure out of specification raw materials and finished products are placed on HOLD per established procedures.
• Perform finished product quality checks per customer specifications and/or USDA grading guidelines.
• Verify product labels, package codes, target weights and packaging artwork.
• Handle chemicals and verify sanitizer concentration levels according to SOP.
• Uphold food safety and quality policies.

Job Essential Functions:

• Organizational Skills
• Good Communicator
• Time Management
• Problem Solving/Analysis
• Attention to Detail
• Accountable
• Must be able to read and write in English.
• Must be able to compute basic mathematics.
• Must be vaccinated or willing to be vaccinated – COVID-19 (Individuals with medical issues or religious beliefs or practices that prevent them from getting vaccinated may request an exemption).

Physical Demands/Work Environment:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. This is a physically demanding position. The individual must be able to walk, stand and maneuver throughout the full workday. The individual must be able to lift materials up to 20 lbs. This position operates in a food processing production facility. The facility has loud machinery, wet floors and at times, cold temperatures. This document describes the general nature and level of work performed by personnel assigned to this job classification. This document is not, however, an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so assigned. Firestone Pacific Foods reserves the right to add, revise, or delete job duties at any time. Firestone Pacific Foods, Inc. is both Equal Opportunity, and At Will employer. The company does not discriminate on basis of race, age, sex, religion, marital status, or sexual orientation. Either Company or Employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time for any legally permissible reason. Reasonable accommodations will be made for qualified candidates/employees with disabilities.