Quality Assurance Technologist (Pretoria West - BBR)

Company:
RCL Foods

Functions:
SHEQ

Job Type Classification:
Permanent

Location - Town / City:
Pretoria West

Job Description:
RCL FOODS is a deeply rooted South African food manufacturer that produces some of the country’s most-loved brands, including Yum Yum peanut butter, Nola mayonnaise, Ouma rusks, and Selati sugar, just to name a few. At the heart of our culture and strategy is our Purpose – WE GROW WHAT MATTERS – which reflects our belief in collectively doing that little more to create a positive impact that truly matters. Visit our website: www.rclfoods.com Our Talent Team is on the hunt for a Quality Assurance Technologist for our Baking Division . The role will be based in Pretoria West and will report into the Senior QA Technologist . The QAT will be responsible for managing the daily activities of the QA Department, to support the achievement of agreed Quality and Food Safety goals and objectives. Enforce compliance to company policies and procedures relevant to the maintenance of third party and customer standards. To ensure that all purchase orders and invoices are handled to ensure on-time payment to suppliers and external labs. The QAT will be expected to act as a Senior QAT when required.

Minimum Requirements:
BSc. Consumer Science/Food Science/B.Tech. Food Technology. ISO 22000 implementation/FSSC 22000. Lead auditor experience and certification. Computer literate. 3 years’ experience in Food Safety, Quality and QA experience. Legislative process experience. Knowledge and Skills : Proven knowledge and experience of scientific testing techniques. Ability to interpret results of analytical and microbiological testing. Attention to detail. Good written and verbal communication, ability to deal with both suppliers and customers. Good numerical skills. Good Interpersonal skills, able to work and communicate at all levels throughout the business. Ability to work well as part of a team as well as under own initiative. Proven Leadership skills. Experience of ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, QMS and HACCP programs. Willing and capable of learning new skills.

Duties & Responsibilities:
Manage all activities related to Quality and Food Safety at the site. Implementation and maintenance of FSSC 22000. Implement and maintenance of a Quality Management Systems. Implementation and maintenance of customer requirements. Managing of suppliers. Managing external service providers (Pest Control, Cleaning, PPE, etc). Ensure final product quality and safety standards are adhered to. Positive release of final products. Managing food safety team. Conducting food safety and management review meetings. Ensure all labour, testing, consumable and equipment maintenance costs remain within budget. Effective control of non-conforming product. Manage daily activity of direct reports but not restricted to: task assignment, holiday scheduling, initial approval of overtime, purchasing, efficient deployment of resources and initial contact for disciplinary issues. Manage the training, development and performance of direct reports. Quality Assurance: To implement and maintain relevant Quality Management systems, including customer requirements. To manage all activities related to QMS, Customer requirements and relevant interested third party. To manage all activities related to releasing of final and raw products, e.g. QC tests and external testing. To identify relevant national legislations and implement effectively. Ensure the implementation and application of the appropriate policies, procedures, test methods (including GLP, PRP’S, QMS) to achieve and maintain third party and customer standards. To drive activities related to resolving the non-conformance issues to support the reduction of Inventory costs. To provide laboratory expertise and technical support to resolve customer complaints and implement corrective actions to prevent re-occurrence. To support the manufacturing, quality and supply chain teams by providing feedback on factors adversely affecting product quality or manufacturing efficiency and investigating the root cause of these issues. Using experience and technical knowledge to make quality decisions involved in pass, fail and concession of materials as dictated by the business needs, whilst applying the appropriate standards of integrity. Manage the internal/external sampling and testing of materials in accordance with test plans. Manage purchasing of laboratory consumables and ensure invoices are processed in a timely manner, in accordance with budgetary constraints. Maintain appropriate information systems (QA Databases, SHERQX, test plans, methods and procedures, calibrations) to ensure compliance to regulatory, customer and third-party requirements. To maintain QMS by ensuring relevant documentation, procedures and Work Instructions required to meet customer, third party audit standards are up to date and current. To conduct mock recalls to ensure due diligence and compliance to customers and third-party audit requirements. To actively participate and support the Continuous Improvement Team in achieving the business goals and objectives. To actively participate in product trial to manage quality requirements. Establish testing plans for all new raw materials and final products. Ensure only approve ingredients / raw materials are used for production. Ensure product specifications are up to date and kept on file. Implement and monitor process control documents. Manage all non-conforming products (raw and final products) by ensuring they are identified, segregated, labelled and blocked for use. Positive release of final products to ensure products comply to specifications. Generate COA’s for customers as per requirements. Food Safety: Implement and maintain Food Safety systems based on FSSC 22000, Customer requirements. Identify relevant food safety team members and appoint them. Manage the training needs of Food Safety Team Members. To conduct monthly food safety and annual management review meetings. To ensure minutes are kept of these activities. Manage customer complaints by means of investigations to prevent the re-occurrence. Manager internal corrective action process to prevent the re-occurrence. Implement and manage relevant PRP’s (Pest Control, Cleaning and Sanitation, GMP, etc). Conduct supplier audits when required. Conduct monthly food safety audits and assist the relevant departments to implement effective corrective actions. Manage all food safety related audits (external and internal), ensure compliance to standards at all times. To manage, investigate customer complaints, to implement necessary corrective actions that will prevent the re-occurrence. To manage enquires from all interested third parties with relation to Food Safety. Implement and manage allergen management program. Managing verification testing schedule and ensure tests are conducted as per schedule, e.g. Micro. To effectively communicate food safety issues to our suppliers, customers and relevant interested parties in the food chain. Generate monthly Food Safety and QA report. #LI-JP1