QA Associate - 1st Shift

Looking for a job in the heart of South Reno? Pacific Cheese has been family owned and operated for over 50 years. We offer a generous and affordable benefits package including health, dental and vision. We also provide AD&D, LTD, STD, Employee Life Insurance at no cost. In addition to paid vacation, sick and holiday time as well as a 401(k) retirement plan with employer match. We're currently hiring Quality Assurance Specialist for 1st Shift schedule starting 6:00am Monday-Friday (occasional overtime). QA Associate Pay Range $21.00/hour and up, based on experience. SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY: Gives recommendation in improvement of quality control and assurance. Conduct all monitoring activities to assure finished product comply with food safety and quality specifications. Assists in enforcing compliance with company GMP guidelines on the line. Reports/Document all food safety, sanitation and quality issues and deviations to management. Perform Daily Operation and Sanitation Inspections per shift as delegated. Perform Air Quality Tests as delegated. Perform High Pressure Air Quality Tests as delegated. Comply with all Plant, Customer, State, Federal, OSHA, EPA, FDA, USDA, HACCP, and SQF guidelines and regulations for food safety, quality, and employee safety. Follow Good Manufacturing Practices requirements to ensure food safety, safe work practices DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Prepare needed paperwork at start-up Grade Product by conducts in-line inspection audit on finished products and packaging Conduct inspection of machine performance in production lines, as per QA manual and procedures. Ensures proper documentation and frequency of inspection. Collect and manage samples for testing and Quality Keeping samples - including "plug" sampling as needed and retain sample. Collect and manage customer requested samples. Complete required DV/return tasks to include inspection, counting and placing in on hold. Assist in the Sample Retain Program testing. Maintain Retention area in a clean and organized condition Monitor QA Hold area to ensure locked Informs of discrepancies and assists in assessment of corrective actions. Works closely with all departments on quality issues. Monitors product and in-feed raw material rejects Perform Daily Temperature Monitoring per shift as delegated Complete Hold Tags as need and correctly (Orange and Red). Print Put Away sheets for file and compile Hold Tags to review Assist Pre-Op and ATP sanitation assessment for lines prior to start-up, and the Environment Monitoring Program. Ensures quality assessment tools are in optimal performance and calibrated as schedule. Check utensils in/out and document appropriately Performs cross training for other positions in the department. Attends all department and company required trainings Maintain grading area on production floor and lab in a clean and orderly condition Performs other duties as assigned. REQUIREMENTS/WORK CONDITIONS: Work is performed in a warehouse/production type atmosphere where the temperature is as low as 32 degrees (typically 45-55 degrees). Noise level in production environment may require the use of hearing protection. Requires standing for long period of time frequently twisting, turning, bending, stooping, pushing, pulling and lifting material up to 50lbs. Pacific Cheese is a drug free workplace; pre-employment includes drug screen. Pacific Cheese is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status or any other characteristic prohibited by federal, state or local laws.