Quality Assurance Technician I - PPF - Post Consumer Brands

Headquartered in Lakeville, Minn., Post Consumer Brands, a business unit of Post Holdings, Inc., is dedicated to providing people and their pets with delicious food choices for every taste and budget. The company’s portfolio includes beloved brands such as Honey Bunches of Oats®, PEBBLES®, Grape-Nuts® and Malt-O-Meal® cereal, and Peter Pan® peanut butter, as well as Rachael Ray® Nutrish®, Kibbles ‘n Bits® and 9Lives® dog and cat food. As a company committed to high standards of quality and to our values, we are driven by one idea: To make lives better by making delicious food accessible for all. For more information about our brands, visit www.postconsumerbrands.com and follow us on LinkedIn for the latest news.

It’s an exciting time in pet food! Post Holdings, Inc., recently announced an agreement to acquire Perfection Pet Foods, a leading manufacturer of private label and co-manufactured pet food and baked treats. The transaction is anticipated to close by the end of the calendar year in 2023. This role is part of the Perfection Pet Foods team of 250+ employees who will soon join the Post family to help grow the pet food business.

Visalia, CA is home to 360,000 square feet of manufacturing, packaging, warehouse, and office space. Approximately 250 employees work here, utilizing the latest technologies and systems, capable of producing extensive, diverse, and innovative pet food products. Visalia is in California’s San Joaquin Valley and the gateway to Sequoia National Park, part of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. It also has a minor league baseball team, the Visalia California Oaks, and several colleges and universities.

Essential duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment while making critical product quality decisions when required. 

• Must maintainaccurate and organized records of quality assuranceactivities and audits to ensure high quality and food safety requirements are met. 

• Laboratory activitiessuch as analytical testing and sensory evaluation using established company procedures and protocols. 

• Air testing, PRP Verification, glass/hard plastic checks, and take swabs and samples.   

• Process quality checks throughout the facility as required by food safety protocol up to and including pre-operational checks, sanitation verification, raw ingredienttesting, finished product testing, and packaging checks. 

• Provide a high level of support to the next customer/person in line by asking or answering any questions to ensure accuracy. 

• Adhere to the following: HAACP guidelines, standard operating procedures (SQF), and/or good manufacturing practices (GMPs), master sanitation schedule (MSS), daily routine list (DRL), integrated pest management (IPM), and all sanitation procedures. 

• Complete job duties that support all plant safety, food safety, quality and environmental practices while maintaining a clean and sanitary work area.  

• Complete documentation related to cleaning and sanitation of equipmentwith accuracy and attention to detail. 

• Follow quality assurance procedures by labeling containers, inventory control, and preventative maintenance programs.   

• Report any food safety issues, repairs, security breaches, product tampering or contamination, or other suspicious behavior to upper management. 

• Attend and participate in initial and ongoing training.Assist in training plant personnel with all the quality assurance functions. 

Qualifications and Competencies: 
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill or ability necessary to perform this job successfully: 

Education/Experience: 

• High school diploma or an equivalent education 

• Bachelor's degree in agriculture, food science or related field a plus. 

• Understanding of manufacturing production line process and testing procedures. 

• Minimum of one to three (1-3) years of experience in a quality lab environment and 
  previous knowledge of GMPs. 

Skills: 

• Beginning to intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Outlook, Excel,Power Point, and Access. 

• Excellent punctuality and attendance. 

• Self-motivated, proactive, and able to work independently and as a team. 

•  Ability to work effectively under tight deadlines. 

•  Ability to read and comprehend work instructions and SOPs. 

Physical Requirements: 

• Continuously required to communicate with other employees and stand at workstation. 

• Regularly lift and/or move objects weighing up to 20 pounds; occasionally lift and/or moveobjects weighing up to 50 pounds. 

• Regularly use close visual acuity/color vision to prepare and analyze data and figures,read lab equipment, and detect product defects. 

• Climb ladders and occasionally work at heights of 30 feet. 

• Walk, type, push, pull, lift, grasp, hear, smell, and work long hours. 

Environment: 

• Exposed to work near moving parts/equipment. 

• Exposed to major amounts of dust and odors. 

• Exposed to moderate to severe noise levels. 

• Exposed to outdoor/uncontrolled weather conditions. 

• Occasionally exposed to chemicals used in the manufacturing process. 

Note: Valid Driver’s License required for insurance purposes. Plant Management retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of this position at any time.  

Offers of employment will be determined by factors including but not limited to job-related skills, experience, relevant education and/or training and geographical location of the open position. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status or any other characteristics protected by law.  

Pay: The pay range for this position is up to $21 per hour. Rate of pay is determined upon qualifications and experience. 

We offer competitive benefit plans and programs to eligible employees, including but not limited to:  

• Medical  

• Prescription drug  

• Dental  

• Vision  

• Life Insurance  

• Disability coverage  

• Employee assistance programs (includes counseling, coaching, online programs, etc.)  

• 401(k)  

• Paid time off  

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:  

At Post Consumer Brands, we are genuinely committed to diversity, equity, AND inclusion and understand that the presence of diversity alone does not create an inclusive and equitable workplace. Furthermore, our commitment to DEI is rooted in our values and how we work. Our DEI Advisory Committee works to bring our beliefs and commitments to life through our four focus pillars: Community, Workforce, Workplace, and Marketplace.