Job Location:  Hershey, PA

Please note that this is a 12 hour night shift position with an alternating work schedule, however, applicants must be flexible to adjust hours to cover as needed.
6:00pm - 6:00am shift with work schedule: 4 days on, 4 days off, 5 days on, 5 days off

Summary:

In this Union plant producing products such as White & Dark Paste, Kisses, Nuggets, Milk Bars, Almond Bars, Rolo & Syrup, in a high-speed complex environment, the Quality Assurance Specialist’s primary role, under minimal guidance, is to serve as a liaison between Quality Assurance (QA) and Manufacturing.

You will be responsible for directing and overseeing the activities of hourly production personnel while safely and effectively meeting the needs of other departments / areas in the plant. Additionally, you are responsible for adhering to the contract / handbook, and complying with regulatory requirements, company / plant policies, procedures, and rules in their area of responsibility.  The scope of this role is plantwide to include facility sanitation for the interior and exterior areas of the West Hershey Plant for Sanitation, MCT, and weekend crews.

As the QA Specialist, you will provide support to the manufacturing operations and depending on the shift may be the sole QA representative.  QA responsibilities include ensuring compliance to all company and regulatory policies/procedures pertaining to product safety/quality and maintaining Global Food Safety Initiative certification.  The position serves as the technical resource for Manufacturing and Engineering, providing leadership and guidance in the areas of sanitation compliance, weight control, packaging, incident investigation and resolution, troubleshooting and other related matters.  The specialist also provides support to employee training and product and process audits.  The position provides QA support to all Business Units across the plant.  The QA Specialist must have a sound working knowledge of Hershey’s quality system requirements.  Some laboratory duties are required. 

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Compliance: Facilitates production activities to meet quality/safety specifications and regulatory standards by providing auditing, troubleshooting and incident management.

• • Incident Management: Investigates and analyzes incidents to identify trends in product/quality safety information.  Initiates corrective actions and communicates findings as appropriate.  Uses various computer support systems (ex. SAP product tracking, Line Production Reporting (LPR), QIMS (Quality Incident Management System), etc.) to help isolate / solve problems.

• • Supervision: Coordinate and administer daily tasks to qualified personnel for Sanitation BU to support the plant.  Ensure compliance with established standards and procedures involving safety sanitation, good manufacturing policies, housekeeping, training and other plant programs.  Comply with administrative and reporting procedures outlined in the contract / handbook.  Coordinate labor staffing daily with budgeted staffing.  Effectively and timely communication of appropriate information to all direct reports and peers by utilizing informal and formal communications – one on ones, huddles, meetings, trainings, postings, discipline, etc.

• • Inspecting:  Conducts inspections in accordance with Product Excellence Program (PEP)/ Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) compliance procedures.

• • HACCP & Continuous Improvement:  Conducts regular internal audits which include elements of HACCP and PEP systems, documents and reports findings and follows-up on non-conformances.  Conducts routine audits and inspections after cleaning or maintenance work.  Reviews control point documentation, paper and/or electronic.  Participate/lead verification and validation activities for PEP and Global Food Safety Initiative compliance.  Supports Lean Manufacturing programs associated with the business unit, providing guidance on quality assurance principles

 Minimum Knowledge/ Skills/ Abilities:

• Strong organizational skills
• Knowledge of federal and state food industry regulations.
• Strong leadership skills and ability to influence all management levels, enabling the direction of activities of teams of employees that do not have direct reporting in this role.
• Understanding of sanitation and pest control practices
• Familiarity with Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) standards
• Strong computer, document management skills and attention to detail
• Ability to effectively communicate in verbal and written form
• Ability to work flexible hours
• Familiarity with Environmental Microbiological Monitoring Program to assign, oversee, or complete corrective actions 
• Ability to record data as needed
• Strong problem solving/trouble shooting skills
• Solid understanding of a production / manufacturing environment
• Knowledge of cleaning chemicals and application/usage of chemicals in a food environment
• Strong auditing / assessment skills
• Proficiency in computer programs / software such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, Access, Power Point, SAP, Net Weight and QIMS.
• Working knowledge of regulatory and quality system requirements – Food Safety, Hershey’s PEP, HACCP, Good Manufacturing Process (GMP), etc.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

Education:  B.S. in Food Science, Microbiology, or related field or equivalent related experience.

Experience:  0-3 years of related experience, 3 years of experience preferred.  Prior leadership is preferred.