Sr Quality Assurance Specialist

Job Location: Hazleton, PA

Summary:

The Hershey Company Hazleton plant is a Union plant producing products such as Cadbury, Milk Bars, Almond Bars, Extra Dark Bars, Caramel Bars, Candy Coated Eggs, and Kit Kat, in a high-speed complex environment.

Under minimal guidance, the Sr. QA Specialist's primary job responsibilities are to serve as a liaison between Quality Assurance (QA) and Manufacturing while managing the daily activities of hourly employees in the Mould Wash and Pest Control functions.

QA responsibilities include ensuring compliance to all company and regulatory policies/procedures pertaining to product safety/quality and pest control. This position serves as a technical resource for Manufacturing and Engineering, providing leadership and guidance in the areas of incident investigation and resolution, troubleshooting and other related matters and pest control. This position provides QA support to assigned Business Unit.

The Sr. QA Specialist must have a sound working knowledge of Hershey's quality systems requirements. In addition to managing the daily activities of hourly employees, supervisory responsibilities include adhering to contract/handbook and complying with regulatory requirements and company/plant policies and rules.

Responsibilities:

Compliance: Facilitates production activities to meet quality/safety specifications and regulatory standards by providing training, auditing, troubleshooting and incident management.

Training: Assists in efforts to educate and train the workforce on food quality and safety issues. Conducts training specifically for plant employees and regularly follows up with employees to ensure that they understand the requirements of their jobs.

Auditing: Conducts audits in accordance with Product Excellence Program (PEP)/ Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) / Environmental compliance procedures. Reviews CCP paperwork for compliance.

Incident Management: Investigates and analyzes incidents to identify trends in product/quality safety information. Initiates corrective actions and communicates findings as appropriate. Uses various computer support systems (ex. SAP product tracking, Line Production Reporting (LPR), Quality Incident Management System (QIMS), etc.) to help isolate / solve problems.

Supervisory: Managed daily activities of hourly employees in the Mould Wash and Pest Control functions.

• Manages Mould Wash and Pest Control employees work schedule and responsibilities. Manage departmental financial responsibilities for Pest Control, developing budget and cost controls when ordering supplies and scheduling services.
• Ensure that the area of responsibility supports all plant goals including daily GMP and safety compliance.
• Coordinate and administer the daily interaction between the assigned area of responsibility and all other departments in the plant. This would include peers across shifts.
• Ensure that personnel have proper qualifications, are properly trained, and motivated to work productively both as part of a team and individually.
• Ensure compliance with established standards and procedures involving safety, sanitation, good manufacturing policies, housekeeping, and other plant programs
• Ensure compliance with administrative and reporting procedures while complying with overtime and seniority
• Coordinate labor staffing daily in coherence with budgeted staffing. Document exceptions and pursue approval if cost justified. Identify opportunities for improvement.
• Document notification requests in SAP PM. Follow-up and prioritize with maintenance and other shifts.
• Input data into SAP, check QA paperwork, and timekeeper information each shift.
• Effectively and timely communicate appropriate information daily, weekly, and monthly to all direct reports and peers by utilizing informal and formal communications - one on ones, huddles, meetings, postings, email etc. Participate in developing communications for area / plant.
• Regularly inspect sanitation jobs to ensure sanitation standards are met.
• Review Mould Wash & Pest Control records to ensure tasks are completed at the expected frequency (i.e.: daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.)

Continuous Improvement / Project / New Product Support: Implements continuous improvement through utilization of PEP program elements such as Food Safety and Food Quality Control Point Plans, HACCP, Procedure updates, Allergen Control Plan, Weight Control and Consumer Complaint Reduction. Is back-up to SQF Practitioner. Supports Kit Kat Business Unit as QA rep. Leads improvement teams or complaint teams and prepares reports as necessary. Under moderate supervision, acts as QA representative on multi-functional project teams, business unit or non-routine assignments. May support new product efforts from initial test runs to full-scale production to assure integrity of systems.

Training: Responsible for Training all new hires on key Quality Assurance modules including, but not limited to, GMPs, allergens, PEP, Food Safety, food defense, traceability, coding, Sanitation, seal policy, kosher program, pest control, records management, and reprocessed goods. Responsible for updating training modules to maintain currency. Provides quality training to all new Temp employees. Provides Quality Assurance on the job training to new QA hires. Responsible for aiding updates of QA Refresher training module slides.

Minimum knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform major duties/responsibilities:

• Ability to effectively communicate in verbal and written form
• Ability to supervise and work with others.
• Knowledge of provisions of union contract.
• Knowledge of federal and state food industry regulations.
• Strong computer, document management skills and attention to details
• Strong auditing / assessment skills
• Strong leadership skills and ability to influence management enabling the direction of activities of teams of employees that do not have direct reporting to this role.
• Ability to work flexible hours
• Dexterity required for handling and performing tests in an accurate manner. Ability to record data as needed
• May involve working around moving machines and handling of hazardous testing and sanitation chemicals.
• Strong problem solving/trouble shooting skills
• Solid understanding of a production / manufacturing environment.
• Expertise in pest control. Knowledge of pest habits and possess the ability to identify pests (mice & rat droppings, insects, etc.).
• Familiarity with GFSI standards
• Proficiency in computer programs / software such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, Access, Power Point, SAP (Recipe Management), Net Weight and Athena / Tableau
• Working knowledge of regulatory and quality system requirements - PEP, HACCP, Good Manufacturing Process (GMP), etc.
• Understanding of pest control practices

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

• B.S. in Food Science, Microbiology, or related field or equivalent related experience
• Minimum of 3 years related experience
• Relevant certifications such as HACCP, GFSI and/or PCQI are a plus
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) is preferred

This job has responsibilities that encompass all aspects of food safety and food quality. Follow food safety and quality control standards, safety regulations, and standard operational methods and procedures.

This description covers the most significant duties performed but does not exclude the performance of other minor related work assignments, the inclusion of which would be in conformity with the factor degrees assigned to the job.

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