Quality Assurance Specialist

About Us:

Maple Valley Cooperative is one of the nation’s leading producers of certified organic maple syrup products. We are dedicated to producing and marketing high-quality, organic maple syrup products with fair, safe and sustainable methods while respecting our farmers, employees, customers, vendors, the land and our communities. We are looking for a versatile and skilled individual to join our team as a Quality Assurance Specialist.

Position Overview: The Quality Assurance Specialist is a key member of the Operations Team responsible for ensuring the quality and safety of organic food products. This role includes conducting regular product testing, environmental monitoring, and ensuring compliance with organic certification and regulatory standards. The specialist will conduct root cause analysis, develop corrective actions, perform audits, and maintain food safety programs to ensure regulatory and customer compliance maintaining detailed records throughout.

Key Responsibilities:

● Production Oversight: Ensure that the production team is following precise quality protocols, maintaining consistency in various areas.

● Testing and Compliance: Conduct regular testing on food products to ensure adherence to quality standards and food safety requirements.

● Environmental Monitoring: Perform routine sanitation testing of equipment and environment, including heat tanks, kettles, bottling lines, water tanks and drains.

● Root Cause Analysis and Corrective Action Implementation: Record and address deviations from standards, implementing corrective actions and re-testing to confirm hazards are eliminated.

● Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all products meet organic certification requirements and adhere to food safety regulations, maintaining thorough documentation for audits.

● Record-Keeping: Maintain detailed records of testing results, deviations, and corrective actions to ensure transparency and traceability in production processes.

● Food Safety Teams: The QA Specialist will be a member of various food safety teams and committees. Examples are HACCP, Food Defense.

● Training: Prior experience in a food safety environment is preferred. The QA technician will be trained and certified in various food safety programs and HACCP certified.

Qualifications: -

• High school diploma or equivalent; English speaking
• Valid Driver’s License and vehicle required for lab sample testing
• Proficiency with computers, Google Workspace or MS Office -
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail -
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team -
• Strong multi-tasking and time management skills
• Experience in Food Safety and obtained food safety certifications preferred

Wage: Dependent on skill level and experience

Benefits:

• Competitive salary
• Health Stipend and Wellness Program
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan with Employer match
• Cooperative investment matching
• Discounted products and more

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $22.00 - $27.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Health savings account
• Opportunities for advancement
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Preferred)

Experience:

• Food Production, QA: 1 year (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Preferred)

Work Location: In person