QA Food Scientist / Technician - CareerPaths NW

Our client, a leader in the frozen seafood industry, is seeking a dedicated QA Technician and Senior QA Food Scientist/Technician to join their Quality Assurance team. The company specializes in a wide range of frozen value-added and commodity products, including finfish, shellfish, seafood appetizers, and gourmet meals, sourced from its own farms across Belize, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and China. This role is crucial in ensuring the highest standards of food safety, quality, and legality are upheld across all products.

As a QA Technician or Senior QA Food Scientist/Technician, you will work closely with the Quality Assurance Department and Manager to execute quality checks, inspections, and ensure compliance with GMP standards. Your responsibilities will include collecting data on food safety, performing quality checks, conducting traceability and mass balance audits, and monitoring the production process for continuous improvement. You will also mentor production associates on food safety issues and have the authority to stop the production line if standards are not met.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Quality Assurance Department in conducting quality checks and inspections of products, operating procedures, and GMPs.
• Collect and analyze data related to food safety, quality, and legality, and communicate findings to the QA and Food Safety Manager.
• Perform and verify operational inspections in compliance with GMP standards, including label inspections, lot code inspections, net weight checks, and sensory checks.
• Conduct traceability and mass balance audits according to the annual schedule.
• Monitor GMPs and control product, process, and packaging for non-compliance, recommending areas for continuous improvement.
• Verify that corrective and preventive actions are performed and completed.
• Mentor production associates on issues related to food safety, quality, and legality.
• Conduct orientation and annual refresher training for new hires on GMP, CCP, QA, or any related areas.
• Review and calibrate measurement instruments as required.
• Collect product samples for testing and sensory evaluation, and coordinate the submission of samples for shelf-life verification.
• Complete electronic documentation of QA logs for trend analysis.
• Stop the production line if products deviate from HACCP standards, food safety standards, or quality standards, and communicate issues to the QA and Food Safety Manager, R&D Supervisor, and Production leadership.
• Assist the Food Safety team with environmental sampling and sanitation checks.
• Support projects as assigned by the QA and Food Safety Manager.

Qualifications

• Must have experience in a meats or seafood manufacturing/processing environment.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience for a Junior QA referral; at least 7 years of experience for a Senior QA role.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, quality, and legality requirements.
• Proficient in written and verbal communication.
• Experience with traceability and mass production audits, reporting, and documentation.
• Skilled in equipment calibration and understanding its importance in quality control.
• Ability to confidently stop production if products deviate from HACCP, food safety, or quality standards, and effectively communicate findings to relevant managers and supervisors.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced production environment with a focus on continuous improvement.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a leading company in the frozen seafood industry, where your expertise in quality assurance will have a direct impact on product safety and customer satisfaction. If you have the experience and qualifications required, we encourage you to apply and become a key part of our clients commitment to excellence.