Quality Assurance Technologist

Posted 26 September 2022
Salary Negotiable
LocationNewtownards
Discipline Food Manufacturing / FMCG
ReferencePM7015_1664189198
Contact NamePaul Muir

Job description


Quality Assurance Technologist


Vickerstock are working in partnership with our marketing leading Food Manufacturing Client to recruit for a Quality Assurance Technologist (Shift Relief) to join their winning team in Newtownards.


The role will also assist with investigations of customer complaints and non-conforming products and will be responsible for providing flexible, significant shift relief cover as required to include night shift.

  • Normal working hours: Monday to Thursday 8am - 5pm, Friday 8am -2pm
  • If required to cover Shift (holidays, sickness etc) 12 hour shift role covering day and night shift (6 to 6) - rotating over a 3 week period


If you meet the criteria but are wondering how the shift relief works - please pick up the phone, as it's actually better than you might imagine!


What we have to offer you:

  • Excellent salary benefits + bonus - discussed upon application
  • Opportunity to join a dynamic, high volume and fast moving business
  • 2 weeks guaranteed bonus - paid twice yearly (qualifying period)
  • 7% pension (qualifying period)
  • Private Health Care (qualifying period)
  • 25 days flexible holidays & 9 stat holidays per annum
  • Tax free Childcare
  • Gym membership


A typical day as the successful Quality Assurance Technologist:


Reporting to the Quality Team Leader. The Quality Assurance Technologist will be responsible for providing a technical service for assessing the quality of manufactured products and to support departmental and factory-wide procedures and targets aimed at improving overall manufacturing standards.

  • Carry out chemical and organoleptic assessment of manufactured UHT products
  • Carry out factory housekeeping, Quality system, HACCP and/or Glass audits, including process audits and participation in customer audits.
  • Perform/assess the sterility of UHT products by ATP bioluminescence assay and ensuring that conforming finished products are released on time and in full.
  • Assess the quality of incubated UHT products after 7 days and update the Quality Records accordingly.
  • Promptly communicate quality issues to relevant personnel and co-ordinate quality investigations into the root cause and scale of non-conformances.
  • Analytical Instruments - Daily maintenance and calibrations, validation of existing calibrations and verification of the accuracy of the instruments.
  • Ensure that non-conforming product is promptly isolated and details communicated to relevant personnel on completion of all quality tests.
  • Ensure that laboratory is routinely cleaned and equipment is maintained in a serviceable condition
  • Determine the hydrogen peroxide concentration of samples provided by the manufacturing team and communicate results to the relevant personnel in a timely manner
  • Participation in the QA Laboratory proficiency programme.
  • Test reference samples and submit test results on time.
  • Attend and report on departmental KPI's at daily production and quality meetings.
  • Develop own performance by completing relevant learning and development activities.
  • Ensure compliance with standards and procedures to achieve accreditation and ongoing compliance certification.


Your Essential Ingredients:

  • HND/HNC qualification in Chemistry/Biology/Food Science (or equivalent; including relevant industry experience) with knowledge of and/or experience in laboratory instrumentation.
  • Demonstrate proven experience of problem solving, investigation and resolution with a high level of attention to detail.
  • Proficiency in the use of MS Office including Word and Excel
  • Well organised, self-motivated and highly flexible with the ability to prioritise their own workload and responsibilities.
  • Excellent communication skills


Desirable (but don't stress if you don't have these)…

  • HACCP/Level 3 Food Hygiene qualification and experience in quality management systems and auditing standards
  • Experience working in food analysis in a dairy or food processing environment.


(Remember, If you meet the criteria but are wondering how the shift relief works - please pick up the phone, as it's actually better than you might imagine)!


What we hope you do next:


Sound like the career move you've been after and would like to hear more, pick up the phone to me now on T 028 9031 3720, or send an updated CV - in Word format - via the link on the page.


If this opportunity doesn't quite get the taste buds flowing but like me you are passionate about food, let's get a chat and see how I can help grow your career.