Quality Associate/Technician

Superior Skilled Trades is partnered with a growing food manufacturing company seeking a detail-oriented and dependable Quality Assurance (QA) Technician to join its team in Hackettstown, NJ.

This position is responsible for ensuring food safety, product quality, and regulatory compliance throughout the manufacturing process. The ideal candidate will have strong attention to detail, excellent documentation skills, and an interest in quality assurance within a food production environment.

The QA Technician will perform product testing, conduct facility inspections, monitor production processes, and support food safety initiatives while ensuring compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), FDA regulations, and company quality standards.

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  Perform in-process and finished product quality testing, including moisture, peroxide, and free fatty acid (FFA) testing.

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  Inspect incoming raw materials and ingredients to verify quality and compliance with specifications.

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  Monitor and document production temperatures, including fryers, coolers, and storage areas.

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  Conduct routine GMP inspections throughout production and warehouse areas to ensure food safety and sanitation standards are maintained.

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  Verify allergen control procedures and identify potential cross-contamination risks.

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  Perform environmental monitoring, sampling, and sanitation verification as required.

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  Identify nonconforming products, initiate product holds, and assist with product evaluations and release procedures.

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  Investigate customer quality complaints by reviewing production records, traceability documentation, and retained samples.

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  Perform and document calibration checks on scales, thermometers, and other quality testing equipment.

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  Conduct routine glass and brittle plastic inspections to identify potential contamination hazards.

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  Maintain accurate quality control logs, inspection reports, testing records, and product traceability documentation.

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  Identify equipment deficiencies, submit maintenance work orders, and verify corrective actions are completed.

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  Support internal and external food safety audits and ensure compliance with HACCP, SQF, FDA, and FSMA requirements.

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  Communicate quality concerns, food safety issues, and corrective action recommendations to management and production teams.

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  Maintain a clean, organized, and safe laboratory and production environment.

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  Participate in required training and support continuous improvement initiatives.

• Strong attention to detail with the ability to identify quality concerns and maintain accurate documentation.

• Basic computer skills, including data entry, recordkeeping, and report preparation.

• Basic mathematical skills and the ability to interpret testing results and production data.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to follow established procedures, safety guidelines, and quality standards.

• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and time-management skills.

• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with production and quality teams.

• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

• Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including weekends as operational needs require.

• Must be authorized to work in the United States and able to reliably commute to Hackettstown, NJ.

• Previous experience in quality assurance, quality control, food manufacturing, or a related production environment.

• Familiarity with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), HACCP, SQF, or FDA food safety regulations.

• Experience performing product inspections, quality testing, or maintaining quality documentation.

• Knowledge of food safety, sanitation procedures, and manufacturing quality standards.

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Biology, Chemistry, or a related field preferred.

• Candidates with an interest in food science, manufacturing, or product quality are encouraged to apply.

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods throughout the shift.

• Ability to lift, push, pull, and carry materials as required.

• Ability to climb stairs and ladders in a manufacturing facility.

• Comfortable working in hot, humid, wet, and industrial production environments.

• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, hearing protection, face shields, respirators, and protective clothing when necessary.