Qa Tester Temporary Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Purpose of the Position

Assists in directing the Quality Assurance and Food Safety Programs at assigned locations. Helps oversee Quality Assurance procedures, personnel, regulatory compliance, inventory control of hold products, problem detection and correction, and all other quality and food safety related programs. Supports other departments by ensuring awareness of quality and regulatory requirements.

Essential Position Responsibilities - This is a Salary Exempt position. 

Assists in directing quality, food safety, and regulatory programs. Assists in the development and management of HACCP, GMP, SSOP, Quality, and related programs to ensure customer expectations and regulatory requirements are met. Ensures incoming ingredients and finished products meet quality requirements and customer specifications. Ensures quality performance is performed in a manner which meets or exceeds all company guidelines for a total quality program. Demonstrates knowledge of the quality, food safety, and regulatory requirements related to these programs.  

Ensures open communication with necessary personnel. Maintains open communication with facility personnel on quality issues and topics. Leads and/or participates in meetings with quality and/or production personnel to ensure communication with all levels of facility personnel on quality and food safety related topics. Prepares and maintains written programs and documentation to ensure effective communication of plant programs, procedures, and quality inspection requirements.  

Builds strong quality assurance and food safety teams. Guides and develops cooperative relationships between plant and quality personnel. Effectively manages staffing to meet business and customer needs. Ensures accurate and effective training of necessary personnel. Effectively communicates specifications, quality, and food safety related requirements to necessary personnel.  

Manage the review of raw material, in-process, and finished product analyses to ensure we are consistently in specification. Serve as the liaison with R&D and Plant Management for product and production optimization projects. Manages the raw material testing program to ensure proper sampling and analytical methods are being followed as per the Corporate Quality Assurance Program. 

Oversees internal audits. Leads internal audits via direction to facility audit personnel. Manages the internal Master Audit Plan including the weekly sanitation audits and the annual SOP audits. Develop timely corrective action and preventive action plans to resolve on-going issues.  

Manages the finished goods Lot Traceability/Mock Recall program. Serves as a resource to the production operation to deal with day to day occurrences. Elevates unresolved issues to the attention of the Quality Assurance Manager for further direction or support. 

Manages employees. Directs and supervises employees’ work activities and monitors work performance. Collaborates with Human Resources to screen, interview and hire candidates. Administers disciplinary actions and recommends performance improvement actions in collaboration with the HR Manager. Monitors work performance and recommends compensation decisions based on guidelines. Follows Simmons values to develop and maintain a favorable working relationship with all employees. Promotes a cooperative and harmonious environment in order to facilitate positive employee morale, productivity, and continued improvement. 

Participates as a member of the Team. Participates in the ongoing development, communication and implementation of team concepts, programs and policies; coordinates work to ensure best practices with all team members. Attends appropriate team meetings. As a member of the Team, fosters strong cohesiveness regarding all major issues; e.g., direction, annual plan, budget, policy changes, etc. Accepts responsibility to quickly identify any  areas that lack cohesiveness, bringing them to the attention of the team leader and working with the team in a supportive manner to resolve issues and actively look for ways, and reinforce actions needed, to achieve synergy  possible within the larger organization. 

Simmons Operating systems principles and objectives: Is familiar with Simmons’ established operating systems (e.g. quality, security, office environment, company policies, LEAN); understands the responsibility to maintain familiarity with the systems and this position’s role in support of these systems - including a consideration of the impact of individual actions on the systems and the responsibility to communicate concerns and improvement ideas. 

Performs other duties as necessary in support of business objectives: This position description is intended to guide the activities of the person in this position and is not intended to limit the thinking and creativity of the person as to the work of this function nor is it intended that this describe all the work that may be required of the person in this  position. 

Physical Activities: Enters and locates information on a computer. Visually verifies information, often in small print. Communicates with Customers, Vendors, or Employees via telephone, in person, and/or electronic mail. May present information to small or large groups. Must be able to work in various temperatures. Move about in a manufacturing environment and surrounding property. May travel via car or plane to various work locations. Must be able to stoop, bend, and climb ladders to perform inspections. Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.  

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Hairnets, earplugs, slip resistant shoes, and any other protective equipment as needed or required.  

Travel: Minimum local travel to other work sites. 

Technical Experience: 4 years experience in a quality assurance supervisor / management role. Preferred experience in HACCP implementation and training. Preferred experience in a food manufacturing operation – particularly batch and continuous process based. Strong food safety, food security, sanitation, and quality systems knowledge. Experience with thermal processing, Organic and EU Certifications programs, as well as wastewater treatment would be an asset. 

Industry Experience: Preference for food manufacturing organization.  

Minimum Education: Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Microbiology or Biology (or related field) or 4 years equivalent work experience. 

Preferred Education: N/A 

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