QA Technician - 1St Shift

Based in High Point, North Carolina, Creative Snacks was founded in 2009. One whiff when you pass by and you'll know what we're baking that day! Our delicious granola and cluster-style snacks are made by hand right here in our bakery with quality ingredients and a lot of love.

In 2019 KIND purchased Creative Snacks. This collaboration brought two companies with like aspirations together. Here at KIND High Point, we inspire to be KIND's #1 snack manufacturing and innovative hub.

KIND's mission is to create a kinder & healthier world - one act, one snack at a time. We live our purpose by being kinder to our bodies, kinder to our communities, and kinder to our planet.

We're looking for passionate collaborators to help us become the foremost leader in health & wellness and positively impact society along the way. If you're looking to be a part of an inspiring, energetic and innovative environment, you've found the right place.

What You'll Do…

In this role, you are responsible for monitoring, and maintaining safe, quality production to ensure that goods are produced efficiently and meet safety and quality standards set forth by both the company and regulatory authorities. This position will be responsible for ensuring safe quality food procedures are adhered to at all times. And this is how you will do it…

• Provide technical support to Operations and other support staff as assigned

• Review and file documentation as required and assigned

• Serve as resource to Operations by providing product quality and food safety guidance throughout lifecycle of product

• Facilitate noncompliance meetings to drive internal investigation in the identification of root cause and immediate corrective action

• Manage lifecycle of nonconformance, from initiation to final disposition, including physical and electronic restrictions and movements

• Advise operations on regulatory and internal requirements during noncompliance process

• Coordinate and perform audits and analyses on finished and intermediate products, ingredients, processes, and systems as requested

• Record, report, and communicate audit findings in areas of Pest Prevention, Sanitation, GMP's, Pre-Op Inspection/Testing, Plant Environment, HACCP, SSOP's, Net Weight, and Finished Product Sensor

• Review and sign off on each production run in RedZone

• Coordinate and perform Ingredient COA Verifications

• Collect, prepare, and ship routine environmental swabs and product for testing

• Investigate leaks, create vector swabbing maps, collect, and ship swabs

• Enter investigation and testing results in reporting database

• Perform all finished product analysis

• Oversee contractor and maintenance work to assure GMP/food safety compliance

• Follow and uphold safety, sanitation, GMP, and Good Laboratory Practices at all times.

• Calibrate and maintain production measurement equipment as requested

• Assist QA leadership with N/C product sampling, inspections, and dispositions

• Assist QA leadership with continuous improvement and quality system development projects

• Perform other duties as assigned by QA leadership

• Manage inventory of lab supplies

• Represent Quality Assurance in cross-functional groups as assigned

• Organizing and evaluating the test methodology in data collection to analysis of products, processes, efficiencies, policies, procedures, ingredients, etc.

• The accurate gathering, compiling, analysis and summary of information by which improvement decisions are based.

• Provide technical support in the fact-finding process related to non-compliance, HACCP violations, and incoming ingredient incidents

• Implementation of solutions resulting from the accurate and timely gathering/assembling of data for continuous improvements of high-quality products/processes

• Drive for a harmonious and constructive working atmosphere by demonstrating (through words and actions) a positive, cooperative, and supportive attitude toward team members and company policies.

You are….

• Passionate about food safety

• A creative thinker with the ability to come up with ideas and develop new processes

• Results driven and detail oriented

• Approachable, and ready to dig in and lend a helping hand

• Personable, professional, and productive within a team environment or as an individual contributor

• An effective communicator and can manage your process and take control in situations

What You'll Bring….

• 4-year degree in Food Science or the Biological and Chemical Sciences preferred; or more than 2 years' food production / pharmaceutical experience and / or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience

• Prior experience required, preferably in the Quality, Laboratory, Food Safety, and/or R&D

• A compliance mindset, being a role model to other team members with regards to following company policies and procedures

• Ability to flex schedule to cover off shifts, weekends, and backup for QA Teammates as needed

• Knowledge of manufacturing processes, GMPs, food safety and statistics required

• Proficient in Microsoft Office

• Communication and interpersonal skills

• Reliability and team focused

Physical Requirements

• Effectively communicate with other team members

• Ability to occasionally lift and / or move up to 20 lbs.

• Ability to move about the facility to perform essential functions

• Wearing of proper PPE including hearing protection, eye protection and safety shoes for duration of shift

Benefits Offered:

• Medical

• Dental

• Vision

• Life

• 401k Match

• Short Term & Long Term Disability

• Paid Time Off

• Sick Time

• Paid Holidays

• Paid Maternity & Paternity

• Paid Jury Duty

• Paid Bereavement

• Paid LiveKIND Volunteer Time

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP))