LEAD LAB TECH

Lead Quality Control Specialist (2nd shift 2:45pm - 11:00pm)

Peace River Citrus Products, Inc. – Clower Facility

POSITION SUMMARY:

The position ensures that product, packaging and process norms comply with quality and food safety standards for the company’s beverage base blending/packaging facility located in Bartow, FL.   Reporting to the Quality & Food Safety Manager, the position performs quality auditing functions by testing, collecting data, and analyzing findings on raw materials, in-process, and finished goods.   Another quality control specialist will back-up this position.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Analyze incoming ingredients, in-process, and finished products (e.g., Brix, acid, flavor, color, pulp, taste, oil, ascorbic acid, foreign material, etc.) per specifications.
• Monitor/inspect production lines to ensure quality and package integrity are within specifications.
• Verify accuracy of product codes, labels, cases, cartons, packages, sleeves, seals, and shrink-wrap.
• Check fill temperatures, fill weights, and fill heights of finished product.
• Perform complete package quality inspections as required.
• Collect samples for quality testing.
• Perform microbiological analysis on incoming ingredients and finished products.
• Complete all documentation associated with quality checks.
• Maintain accurate reports daily and file Quality and Production generated paperwork.
• Place raw materials and finished product on hold.
• Monitor sorting of hold product as needed.
• Monitor all quality checks performed by production.
• Maintain analytical equipment and perform required daily calibrations.
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of the use of control charts to monitor analytical equipment.
• Prepare standard solutions and reagents.
• Utilize proper chemical handling procedures.
• Monitor laboratory supply inventory; notify when reordering is necessary.
• Monitor and inspect sanitation activities.
• Analyze CIP and acid sanitizer solutions.
• Maintain equipment and area cleanliness to ensure compliance with all GMP standards.
• Assist blenders as assigned by Supervisors or Team Leaders.
• Comply with FDA, USDA, and GMP policies.  Perform all tasks in a safe manner to ensure achievement of Quality, Food Safety, and Cost objectives.  Comply with all standard operating procedures and requirements under PRCP Quality System.
• Participate in the quality improvement process.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by management.

LEAD DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides direct reports with leadership, direction, and coaching to achieve work objectives and improve performance and skills.
• Oversees duties of personnel on shift and verifies work is correctly completed.
• Organizing workflow and ensuring that employees understand their duties.
• Monitoring employee productivity and providing constructive feedback and coaching.
• Good communicator and works with others.
• Able to back-up QCS personnel when employees are out.
• Verifies employee timesheets.
• Trains new hires.  Trains employees on new and updated processes & procedures.
• Maybe asked to represent the department in a meeting.
•  Prepares and submits lab reports to the department manager.
• Orders and purchases product, as directed.
• Ensures employees are adhering to company policies.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or GED required. Citrus and/or laboratory experience or additional education which includes laboratory experience.   

• Ability to read, write, speak and understand instructions given in English. 
• Ability to work eight-hour shifts, 12 hour shifts or other work schedules as determined by business need, including overtime as required. 
• Ability to stand for extended periods and perform repetitive tasks at a lab bench. 
• Ability to detect color changes in chemical testing. 
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds. 
• Proven ability to handle multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Good judgement with the ability to make timely and sound decisions.
• Comfortable and capable seeing the big picture; able to think conceptually and strategically, yet deliver measurable results as a “hands-on” contributor.
• Commitment to excellence and high standards.
• Excellent written/verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to work with all levels of management.
• Ability to execute tasks independently, with the support of the senior manager
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
• Versatility, flexibility, and a willingness to work within environment of constantly changing priorities.
• Basic computer skills and familiarity with MS Windows based applications (Outlook, Excel, Power Point, Access and Word).