QA Technician

Job Title: QA Technician Job Description The QA Technician supports both production and laboratory functions to ensure consistent product quality, food safety, and regulatory compliance in a honey and syrup manufacturing environment. This role spends approximately half of the time on the production floor as the primary quality presence and the other half performing laboratory testing, documentation, and data entry. The QA Technician helps maintain SQF Level 3 standards, GMP compliance, and organic certification while working closely with production and quality teams in a collaborative, values-driven organization. Responsibilities Serve as the primary voice of quality on the production floor, ensuring adherence to SQF Level 3, GMP, SOPs, quality standards, and organic certification requirements. Verify that production staff consistently complete required product checks and in-process inspections, and provide on-the-floor training on GMPs and quality procedures. Review, complete, and maintain batch records and related production documentation in accordance with established quality standards. Release finished product once all quality checks and documentation meet specifications and internal requirements. Perform routine laboratory testing on honey and syrup, including color and moisture analysis, pH, refractive index, and viscosity measurements. Receive honey shipments, sample 5–10 cases per shipment for color and moisture, and accurately enter results into the quality system. Operate and maintain laboratory equipment such as colorimeters and refractometers to assess honey quality attributes. Collect 4 oz samples of honey for third-party testing, prepare shipments, print FedEx labels, and package samples for shipment to external laboratories. Coordinate third-party testing for sugar residues and potential hazardous materials in honey by submitting sample request forms and communicating with external labs via email. Prepare and send SARFs (Sample Request Forms) to the external laboratory and ensure all required information and documentation are complete. Enter laboratory test results into the appropriate systems and databases, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and traceability. Support bottling operations by monitoring 2–3 bottling lines, verifying that codes and labels are correct, and ensuring bottling paperwork is properly completed. Review supplier and customer documentation for completeness and compliance with internal and regulatory requirements. Log into multiple customer portals, upload requested quality and regulatory documents, and respond to documentation requests via email. Assist with document control activities, including documentation creation, review, and maintenance for quality and food safety programs. Support internal and external audits by maintaining organized documentation and demonstrating adherence to food safety, FDA, and quality standards. Collaborate with production and quality teams to identify, communicate, and resolve quality issues, taking a firm but constructive stance when necessary. Contribute to continuous improvement efforts in food safety, quality control, and documentation processes within the facility. Optionally assist in production activities on a regular basis, when desired, in accordance with company policies and pay practices. Essential Skills Experience in quality assurance or quality control within a food manufacturing or food safety environment. Knowledge of SQF Level 3 or similar GFSI-recognized food safety schemes. Understanding of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and their application in a food production environment. Familiarity with food safety principles, HACCP, and FDA-related food regulations. Experience with batch record completion, review, and documentation control in a manufacturing setting. Ability to perform and interpret basic laboratory tests such as color, moisture, pH, refractive index, and viscosity for food products. Proficiency in using laboratory instruments such as colorimeters and refractometers. Strong documentation skills, including accurate data entry and record keeping for quality and laboratory results. Comfort with electronic systems and portals for entering lab results, managing documentation, and uploading customer and supplier documents. Effective written communication skills for emailing external laboratories and customers regarding sample requests and documentation. Strong verbal communication skills and the confidence to take a stand on quality issues with colleagues and cross-functional teams. Ability to lead or take ownership of quality-related tasks and