Lab Food Safety Technician (Nights)

A Typical Day

The Food Safety Technician is responsible for the accurate performance of gathering samples in accordance with HCC procedures for all microbiological and chemical tests surrounding environmental monitoring and Food Safety programs.

Job Responsibilities

• Ensure prompt transmission of accurate data and information to the plant and Food Safety staff regarding trends, concerns and plant observations.
• Conduct audits and spot checks as assigned along with regularly scheduled monitoring of chemical handling/receiving, Hygiene zone, HACCP CCP Verifications, GMP checks, equipment inspections, pest control and audit finding verifications.
• In the event that the Food Safety Technician is unable to perform their food safety duties, the Food Safety Supervisor will perform the duties.
• Assist with assigned projects and responsibilities as need.
• Work well with minimal supervision
• Must be able to follow detailed instructions.
• Be able to effectively communicate with all departments
• Must be able to multi-task and organize priorities
• Display critical thinking and trouble shooting skills
• Will be expected to report results
• Enter test results into the database, and generate reports.
• Comply with all internal and external lab proficiency test.
• Demonstrates proficiency on position specific needs and analysis requirements
• Demonstrates compliance of the proficiency tests by generating results that consistently fall within 2 z-scores.
• Work independently with minimal supervision
• Manage and maintain confidential information
• Establish effective working relationships with internal customers
• Maintain professional standards and demonstrate sound judgment during peaks periods of activity
• Read, study, understand and implement published lab procedures and tasks.
• As tasks are introduced, lab staff may be asked to take a written procedure, order their own supplies, and start performing the testing with little input.
• Manage and maintain confidential information
• Ensure CLEAN reports (environmental) are executed from opening to closure.
• Oversee Environmental Disruption Reports and Food Safety Permits through closure.
• Promote and maintain a clean and organized laboratory by following good laboratory practices, to reduce the risk of contamination.
• Complete daily MSS cleaning schedule for the lab, instruments and utensils.
• Flexibility to prioritize and organize task in order to complete special projects.
• Demonstrate proficiency in SAP and Sample 6
• Flexibility to prioritize and organize task in order to complete special projects.
• Compete annual OSHA required safety training.
• Complete annual Company safety training program(s).
• Complete annual Food Safety overview training.
• Active participation and ownership in your training and development program and associated activities, classes and events, which will be held before, during, after shifts and during scheduled days off.
• Help coach and train teammates and participate in on the job, buddy training.
• Place high priority on food safety and sanitation by understanding and executing HCC’s food safety and sanitation policies and procedures.
• Hold self and others accountable to HCC’s food safety & sanitation guidelines and policies by communicating any food safety incident, observation, or opportunity to your leadership team or teammates.
• Participate in food safety and sanitation root cause analysis and improvement activities when required.
• Prioritize safety above all other job duties by having a safety first approach at all times.
• Report any safety issues, observations, opportunities to your teams and follow up.
• Read, study, understand and implement published lab procedures and tasks.
• Participate in departmental safety teams.
• Promote Company Culture
• Achieve common business goals through cooperative alignment with all departments.

What You Will Need

• English skills must be proficient to understand, read, write and speak English
• High school diploma or GED from an accredited institution.
• 4 months experience in a laboratory or production setting (lab experience can include HS science courses)
• Must be open to working weekends, holidays and rotating shifts (day/swing/graveyard) as necessary and working overtime as required.
• Ability to lift 45lb

What Will Put You Ahead

• Experience working with Microsoft Office Software such as Word, Excel and Outlook
• 6 months experience in a laboratory or production setting
• Demonstrate proficiency in: algebra, following directions, using available references, and situational problem solving skills.
• Demonstrate strong organizational skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to:

• Stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl and talk or hear.
• Stand and walk almost the entire workday.
• Employees must be physically capable of working in any of the job tasks within the cheese plant.
• Required to work at heights and in fairly small areas.
• Pushing, pulling, reaching, bending, stooping, squatting, kneeling, handling and grasping, twisting/turning, repetitive bending.