QA Tech

At Russell Stover, not only do we love chocolate, but we love our jobs! Every day we go to work exhibiting our values of excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship, responsibility, and collaboration. Working at Russell Stover you'll be part of the leading manufacturer of boxed, seasonal, and sugar-free chocolates. For over 100 years, Russell Stover Chocolates, Whitman's, and Pangburn's have been crafted with the finest ingredients to bring happiness to generations. Today, we produce over 55 million pounds of chocolate annually, and our legacy brands can be found in 13 company-owned stores and over 9,000 wholesale accounts. Join our team and let's continue making chocolate lovers happy!

A Day in the Life...

As a QA Tech, you play a vital role in maintaining food safety and quality standards within the plant. You start by reviewing lab results and addressing any compliance concerns, ensuring that all protocols are met. You work closely with teams across Quality, Engineering, and R&D to troubleshoot issues, educate plant personnel, and uphold strong laboratory practices. From conducting GMP audits to overseeing third-party testing, your attention to detail helps keep operations running smoothly. By the end of the day, you've safeguarded food quality, making sure only the best products reach consumers.

What you will be doing...

• Assisting Supervisor in the Development, Implementation and Maintenance of the Quality and Food Safety (HACCP) programs include employee training, document control and program auditing.
• Assuring plant QA lab compliance including record keeping, laboratory execution, Quality Alert effectiveness, hold and release protocols and COA compliance. Maintain high Good Laboratory Practices.
• Leading laboratory in troubleshooting micro related deficiencies, working with technical resources (Quality, Engineering, and R&D) and plant management resources to identify root cause and eliminate recurring lab - quality related issues.
• Educating plant personnel on, and ensure plant compliance with Lab Quality Systems, including recordkeeping, laboratory execution and product grading, Quality Alert effectiveness, hold and release protocols and COA compliance.
• Assisting with Third Party Microbiological and Chemical testing program to ensure efficient test results and ensures that plant laboratory follows equipment and procedural standards including calibration program.
• Proactively review, analyze, and report on out of compliance findings, which include documenting and required following ups.
• Ensuring that "out of specification" product test results, which indicate action on product inventories, are communicated to the appropriate personnel expediently.
• Working with Quality, Production, Maintenance, Transportation and Distribution to ensure compliance with Food Safety Plans (HACCP Plan). Promoting understanding of process lines Food Safety Plans.
• Conducting Internal GMP Audits monthly as part of the Internal Auditing Team and participate in
• internal audit corrective action review meetings.
• Maintenance of Quality Systems documentation to include.

This job posting is not all inclusive and other duties may be assigned.

Do You Have What It Takes?

(Basic Qualifications)

• A background in food technology, food science, confectionary, microbiology, or chemistry.
• Detail oriented to the ability to balance multiple priorities, or a sense of urgency for problem solving and continuous improvement.
• One (1) year of quality, sanitation, and production experience in the food industry, preferably in confectionary, are required, with an intimate knowledge of and passion for quality and sanitation methods and techniques.
• Strong level of assertiveness needed to be balanced with exceptional interpersonal skills to achieve results without direct authority.
• Good communication skills and teamwork oriented.
• Proficient computer, reading, writing and math skills.

Experience the Excitement at Russell Stover Plants!

• Safety First: Your well-being is our top priority, and we've got you covered with protective gear. On day one, you'll dive into Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) training, and we'll keep you on your toes with daily safety tips to ensure you're always in the know!
• Surroundings: Get ready to work alongside cutting-edge equipment like automated packing machines, forklifts, electric pallet jacks, and those irresistible chocolate candy banks/steels - it's a dynamic environment where every day brings something new!
• Active & Engaging Work: Whether you're on your feet for extended periods, moving around, climbing ladders, or lifting up to 50 lbs, there's never a dull moment. This is a place where you'll stay on the move!
• Comfortable Climate: In most roles, you will be comfortable year-round with our climate-controlled environment.
• Appealing Smells: The air is filled with sweet aromas of chocolate, and by the time your shift ends, you might just leave smelling like chocolate!
• Dress to Impress (Food Safety Style): A simple yet important dress code ensures safety and hygiene, following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to keep everything running smoothly.
• Allergens: You will be exposed to a variety of ingredients that may be considered food allergens like nuts, milk, and more.

At Russell Stover Chocolates, we don't just accept difference - we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, and our community. Russell Stover Chocolates is proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace.

We provide equal employment opportunities to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition, genetic information, military service, veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.

Employment by Russell Stover Chocolates is contingent upon I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification, passing the urinalysis drug screen, education verification, and satisfactory reference and background checks.

Make Happy. Work Happy.

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