"QA/QC Professional - Food Product & Safety Lab"

Position Highlights

The Food Product and Safety Lab (FPSL) within the School of Animal & Comparative Biomedical Sciences is seeking a Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) Professional. This position maintains quality and food safety practices and leadership to assure that food processing and packaging facilities maintain an effective food safety system to include Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs) and continued compliance and certification to USDA requirements.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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Duties & Responsibilities

• Ensure that all required maintenance and quality control logs and forms are filled appropriately and timely.
• Maintaining Food Safety and Quality Management programs (including SSOP, GMP & HACCP and site security) in line with USDA requirements and others.
• Work with the facility manager to ensure that all storage areas are functioning according to regulations and maintaining safe internal temperatures.
• Assisting in maintaining the Pest Control program at the plant, development, implementation, and monitoring of an ongoing food safety program
• Serve as HACCP coordinator for the facility.
• Continuously improving standards set by facilitating and executing Problem Solving/Problem Solving Group (PSG) activity within the area.
• Analyze and report on Quality Performance Metrics through analysis of Performance Data, identify performance gaps, trends, and improvement opportunities.
• Ensure that factory-based Quality audits are carried out to verify compliance against defined standards and codes of practice.
• Food Safety awareness creation by training and information campaigns to employees, students, and staff.
• Identification of and continuous monitoring for potential sources of contamination within each product flow.
• Perform assigned technical tasks/duties associated with department processes and procedures.
• Collaborate and provides technical support to appropriate functions and employees to assure regulatory compliance, food safety, and quality of company products.
• Supervise and coordinate lab samples and ensure prompt turnaround time for results to ensure elevated level of productivity and efficiency.
• Responsible for execution and documentation of the Plant Food Safety Program.
• Test and inspect products at various stages of the production process to ensure product quality.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Basic to Moderate knowledge of specific Quality Assurance or Regulatory Affairs technical fields (food safety, regulatory, chemistry, microbiology, consumer affairs, supply chain).
• Ability to influence others and negotiation skills.
• Knowledge of Food Laws & Regulations - Stay up-to-date and ensure compliance with food laws and regulations according to USDA FSIS.
• Knowledge of quality standards and tools to enhance food safety and quality.

Physical Requirements

• Performing General Physical Activities -- Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting no more than 40 lbs, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials for extended periods of time.
• Ability to sit, walk and/or stand for up to 8 (or more, possibly) hours a day.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry, Food Science, or related field.
• 1 year of relevant work experience required.
• Experience with implementation of quality assurance, quality control and management system programs and activities, and proven track record of driving quality performance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in chemistry, Food Science, or related field

Compensation Guidance

The Rate of Pay Field represents the University of Arizona's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. The University considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, and internal equity.

The Grade Range Minimum, Midpoint, and Maximum Fields listed below represent a full range of career compensation growth over time in this position and grade. Each unit typically sets starting pay between minimum and midpoint upon hire. The university offers compensation growth opportunities within its career architecture. To learn more about compensation, please review our Applicant Compensation Guide and our Total Rewards Calculator.