Business Unit Overview Michael Foods, Inc. is a leader in the food processing and distribution industry with business in egg products, refrigerated grocery and potato products. We offer exciting job possibilities throughout our organization where you can enhance your career, sharpen your talents and make an impact. Join our company and be part of an innovative team that’s First in Food. Location Description Michael Foods, Inc. located in Lenox, Iowa and often called the "Pearl of the Prairie" is where you can find small town living, focused on family and friends, with big city amenities not far from reach in Des Moines, Omaha, and Kansas City. Located in southwest Iowa, Taylor county, with a population of around 1400, the Lenox area reaches far beyond the city limits with beautiful and productive fields of corn, beans, and other croplands. Lenox holds an amazing four day Rodeo every July and is home to a beautiful 36-9 hole golf course, several fishing and boating lakes, great area hunting, a beautiful city park with swimming pool, and many picnic parks. The MFI location in Lenox produces primarily pre-cooked egg patties. With its friendly atmosphere, safe environment, and progressive spirit, Lenox is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family. Responsibilities SUMMARY: The purpose of the Quality Assurance technician is to ensure proper specifications are met and documented on all incoming ingredients and packaging materials and outgoing finished products. The technicians also communicate all findings to the necessary departments. All of Michael Foods, the customers and the public will benefit from the work done by technicians who ensure safe, compliant quality products. This position has the responsibility to comply with Safety work rules at all times as well as an obligation to reinforce Safety as a Core Value. Ensures that all policies, procedures and activities, related to Food Safety & Quality, are followed and complied with uniformly, in an effort to reduce product and process variability. We have the honor and responsibility of working in food – a critical infrastructure industry during this time of global crisis. We are working around the clock to keep inventory flowing to our retailers and to help feed the world. We are hiring at many of our manufacturing facilities. This is a great opportunity for those who are now available due to hours being cut at their regular job or being sent home from college temporarily. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Perform periodic in process quality checks: Salt, Solids, Total Solids, Viscosity. Calibrate Stalk Machine, PH Machine. Complete daily temperatures for the refrigerator and incubator. Perform sample gathering of product. Verify label to specification. Complete all paperwork Assist in drafting, revision, and maintenance of plant standard operating procedures. Act as a liaison between Production, Distribution, Sanitation, Maintenance, and the Quality Department. Participate in plant food safety/quality inspections, in-process inspections, mock recall, label audits, HACCP audits, and thermometer calibrations as required. Verify sanitary condition of production lines prior to start-up and after downtime requiring maintenance activity. Verify compliance with label stated weights and associated regulations for all products. Communicate quality issues with Production and Quality Management and assist in root cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions where appropriate. Perform investigative environmental swabbing of critical production equipment/areas as a troubleshooting guide. Assist in investigations in response to customer concerns or other quality related deviations to determine root cause and appropriate corrective actions. Assist in the management of quality hold activities, including non-conforming product inventories. Ensure adherence to company Good Manufacturing Practices, customer specifications, and internal product specifications at all times. Expected to adhere to safe work practices, follow GMP and HACCP guidelines, maintain sanitary conditions and ensure that product quality is maintained. Report to management any conditions or practices that may adversely affect food safety, food quality or personnel safety. Ensures regulatory compliance at all times. If hired for part time and not needed in quality then you will be in Pre-Cook Production assisting with anything that is needed from you. Qualifications EDUCATION AND EXPEREINCE REQUIRED: EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE: High school diploma or general education degree (GED) or equivalent. LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups, customers/vendors or employees of the organization. MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. LICENSES, CERTIFICATES, REGISTRATIONS: None OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Specific skills and abilities required that are not included in other sections: Bachelor’s degree in food science or industry related degree; or equivalent combination of education and experience to perform the essential functions of the position. Proficient communication skills across various departments. Knowledge of company and regulatory policies, procedures and philosophies. Proficient organizational and time management skills. Demonstrated knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s) and ability to coach/train others on GMP’s. Basic proficiency using computer programs (MS Office) and Red Zone for collecting and analyzing data, and writing procedures and reports. Demonstrated proficiency in critical thinking and problem-solving. Ability to participate in cross-functional teams. Data collection, analysis, and reporting skills. Basic administrative duties. Ability to operate specific equipment or tools Ability to type or take shorthand and speed required Skill in working with computers and experience with spreadsheet and word-processing software. Familiarity with special terminology such as legal, medical, or scientific terms