FSQA Technician

Sara Lee desserts have always stood for incredible flavor and superior value in the frozen food aisle and away from home markets.  For the first time in over 60 years, Sara Lee is operating independently as Sara Lee Frozen Bakery, a collection of top brands united in quality and innovation, including Sara Lee®, Chef Pierre®, Van’s®, Bistro Collection®, Superior on Main® and Cyrus O’Leary’s®.

Sara Lee Frozen Bakery is proud to take these iconic brands into a new era and to continue the evolution that transformed one small Chicago bakery into an American institution. Using carefully sourced ingredients and time-honored recipes, the company is committed to making life’s moments a little sweeter, putting its customers first and discovering new ways to make everyone’s favorite foods even better.

 Working for Sara Lee

Our vision is to be the world’s most beloved bakery by creating irresistible foods, growing with our customers, and delivering value for all.  We believe that each of us has unique points of difference and experience to offer.  We will achieve success through collaboration and innovation in an environment where employees feel empowered to execute with speed.

 Summary

A Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) Technician ensures that products meet company and customer specifications by monitoring critical control points and assuring products are within company and regulatory standards for quality and food safety.    Position is responsible for supporting various programs such as SQF, HACCP, etc. This is accomplished primarily through work in lab, on-the-floor processes, and product auditing.

 Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The FSQA Technician identifies and assists in the elimination of product concerns; maintains accurate, detailed laboratory and compliance records; makes decisions and provides guidance regarding food safety as well as product quality; supports initiatives to drive and monitor continuous improvement; and supports programs including:

Food Safety:

Ensure Compliance to the following:

• Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP)
• Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP)
• Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP)
• Environmental Sampling/Swabbing
• Other relevant Food Safety Procedures (i.e. Allergen, Foreign Material Programs)
• Safe Quality Foods (SQF), Organic Certification, RSPO, Kosher, Internal & External auditing, Army (Military) Audit, State & Federal Audits

Quality and Regulatory:

• Monitor ingredient storage in warehouse for proper rotation & usage of materials
• Capable of performing Trace/Recall on all materials for potential recall
• Verification of adherence to product and material specifications including allergen validation
• Verification of manufacturing activities
• Incoming inspection of raw materials/ingredients (bulk, bagged etc.)
• Collection of samples to support programs including microbial monitoring, product analysis and product audit
• Auditing (temperature checks, checks, Metal Detector/X-Ray verification, Net weight, label verification for primary & secondary packaging, lot code verification, sensory evaluation etc.)
• Monitor all Pre-requisite programs in regard to SQF such as Sanitation, Allergen verification program etc.
• Assist in data collection of SPC System to provide reduction/elimination of variation within processes
• Cross-training in other QA functions as needed
• Collect data for capability studies for the plant
• Develop capabilities in the shelf life and product evaluation programs
• Review and approval of incoming packaging materials
• Actively participate in Safety & CI teams as needed
• Performs pre-operational and operational inspection of equipment as described in the SSOP program and performs calibrations as needed
• Pre-shipment review of all operations in area of responsibility
• Conduct detailed product audits as assigned to assure conformance of product and package details to specifications
• Administration of Labware software programs
• Conduct daily product panels and document results
• Appropriately isolate non-conforming product
• Perform COA reviews – for release of new or existing ingredients & packaging materials in NetSuite
• Participate in Food Safety, Food Fraud, Lab Methods, and Recall programs

Research and Development

• Assist in New Product Qualifications and processing of finished product specs & photo standards
• Product Improvement

A trained designee will be appointed by plant management to cover for absences or vacancies.

Education and Work Experience

• High School Diploma or Equivalent required; Associate degree in microbiology, food science or related field preferred.
• In lieu of degree, two years of related experience/training in food manufacturing and/or QA required
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with ability to communicate across all organizational levels within
• company
• Knowledge of Labware software programs preferred.
• Ability to complete micro testing of finished product, ingredients, and environmental samples
• Knowledge of environmental programs and practices
• Knowledge of aseptic technique preferred
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office programs preferred
• NetSuite experience preferred
• Proficient knowledge of SQF preferred
• Proficient knowledge of Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs) required
• Demonstrated ability to problem solve
• Solid organizational skills, ability to prioritize tasks

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to wear personal protective equipment while performing job. (i.e. safety glasses, ear plugs, bump cap, hair net, steel toe rubber boots, autoclave gloves, goggles)
• May be required to work in hot (up to 102 degrees Fahrenheit) for intervals of 45 minutes
• May be required to work in cold and/or wet environments of a minimum of 0 degrees Fahrenheit
• Must be able to constantly stand, stoop, walk, bend, push or pull for duration of shift, which may last up to 12 hours
• May be required to lift up to 40 pounds
• May work in Production or Warehouse storage areas
• May be required to climb ladders/stairs
• Must have the visual acuity to perform possible pre-op duties and/or read paperwork and labels

Sara Lee Frozen Bakery provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.