Quality Assurance Technician

Who We Are

At Freshpet, our goal is to change the way people nourish their pets forever. We strive to strengthen the bond between people and our pets so that we both live longer, healthier, and happier lives while being kind to the planet. We believe that if we can create fresh, real foods that pets love and help them live healthier lives, that their pet parents will also enjoy the many benefits of a rich life shared with a pet.

We started off with a mission to change the way pet parents feed dogs and cats, but we also wanted to be a company that had a thoughtful approach to how we operate. We wanted to do things differently, make great products but be gentle to the planet, good to the people who touch our business, and leave a positive impact with everything we do. We work hard every day to ensure that the original vision is met, starting with making the highest quality foods in our kitchens to running our business with integrity, transparency, and social and environmental responsibility. IT’S AMAZING WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU START COMPLETELY FRESH!

What You Will Do

Looking for a self-motivated and quality driven individual for a Quality Assurance Technician position. The ideal candidate will bring in the knowledge and expertise in GMPs and HAACP programs and ensure compliance with product standards, food safety standards and all regulatory requirements. The QA Technician will be responsible for verifying the execution of Quality systems and processes, perform various product tests, evaluate occurrences, implement corrective actions, and document all data.

How You Will Make an Impact

• Conduct hourly production line audits to evaluate compliance to product standards, food safety standards and regulatory requirements. Document audit data
• Perform routine product tests during audits, including temperature, pH, oxygen, CEM moisture, net weight, particle size, vacuum, and packaging integrity to determine conformance to standards
• Be familiar with Freshpet HACCP programs for all products. Conduct and/or verify required HACCP food safety tests
• Perform product organoleptic evaluations on all pet food batches produced for conformance to standards and document test results
• Work with operations to evaluate nonconformance occurrences and implement corrective action. Document data on Corrective Action Log
• Isolate and place nonconforming products or ingredients on hold and document hold by entering data on Hold Log and circulating information to Operations and Quality Management
• Inspect incoming ingredients for conformance to ingredient specifications, collect representative samples for testing and document audit data
• Collect routine product, ingredient, or water samples for microbiological or chemical testing, shelf-life evaluations or to use as retention samples
• Conduct Vacuum Tank Packaging tests on Roasted Meals, Vital Complete Meals, and Single Serve products to evaluate packaging and seal integrity
• Test diluted sanitizers and foot bath solutions to verify concentration and record data
• Audit sanitation and perform ATP hygiene tests on food contact surfaces and equipment to determine sanitation effectiveness. Document swab data
• Take swab and sponge samples from established locations to evaluate plant Micro conditions. Record data
• Test cooling water for sanitary conditions and add biocides as needed to control water quality. Record test data and chemical addition levels
• Monitor plant TPR tests and collect required samples for testing
• Provide technical support to Shift Supervisors and Line Leaders
• Additional related responsibilities as necessary
• Any trained or qualified individual will serve as backup to this position

What You Will Bring

• High School Diploma or equivalent required
• Associate Degree in Science Area preferred
• Minimum 2 years’ experience working in Food Safety/Quality Systems, preferably in food or pet food
• Capable of performing and understanding mathematical calculations. Understanding of ratios, percentages, and fractions
• Basic understanding of Biology and/or Chemistry and associated technical terms
• Basic computer skills to read and write emails and enter data on spreadsheets
• Basic understanding of food Good Manufacturing Practices
• Capable of following instructions and conducting routine Quality Assurance tests
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Sound ethics

What We Offer

At Freshpet, we offer a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package, including medical, dental and vision insurance, basic and optional life insurance, short- and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts, and a 401(k) plan with company match, paid parental leave, pet insurance, tuition assistance, a generous PTO plan and so much more!

Our Commitment to a Diverse Workforce:

At Freshpet, we embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, sex, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique.

Freshpet aims to foster, cultivate and preserve a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our employees are our most valuable assets. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities and talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture, but our reputation and company’s achievement as well. Freshpet is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Disclaimers

We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we are not able to sponsor visas.

Freshpet is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. Please, no phone calls or emails. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Freshpet via-email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of Freshpet. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Freshpet as a result of the referral or through other means.