The Quality Assurance Technician (QAT) role is responsible for providing immediate and professional quality management to the production process. Success in this role is measured by reliability and the resulting best-in-class business reputation for which we are striving. This role has key responsibilities in the following areas: ISO & HACCP Accreditation - assisting in maintaining the current ISO Certification, ensuring that all relevant documentation is to standard in line with the IOS. To ensure the company is operating to meet HACCP accreditation requirements and surpassing the nominal guidelines. Quality Management - Design and maintain quality control procedures to eliminate Non-Conformances. Target of zero customer CAR to be achieved over the next 12 months. Production Feedback Loop – working with the production coordinator/team leader, process workers and technicians and the Manufacturing Manager to ensure non-conforming products are rectified as soon as possible to allow for production to run at optimal capacity. New Product Development – be involved in new product development strategies. Assessing risk and planning to minimise preventing potential NCR’s and protecting the companies standing in the marketplace for Quality. Risk Management – Assisting in the Development and manage a framework that sets risk management requirements that the business must follow, capture, monitor and report on. Audit and assurance – Participate in Managing internal and external audits. Reporting to management any deficiencies and potential risks to the organisation. Develop recommendations to reduce audit risks. KPI Management – measure of internal and external NCR’s, response time to initial NCR/CAR, time to investigate and close NCR/CAR, NCR’s/CAR’s per month, year, by industry segment. Training – Production risks are reviewed weekly with the production staff. Possible NCR/CAR are identified and addressed with a weekly toolbox talk. Cleaning - General, housekeeping, and foreign contamination risks are reviewed and discussed with the team. Team members are to sign off and non-compliance is escalated to management Working as part of a team, this role works closely with the Quality Manager and Manufacturing Manager to ensure: Information relating to QA/QC issues is provided in a timely and accurate manner so decision making of current and potential future runs can be made with confidence. Checking incoming materials and where necessary escalate NCR to the Vendor or Supplier. Information must be clear, concise, causes identified, and rectification recommendations are communicated for actions. Develop processes that will assist in maintaining the highest product standards. Assisting the responsibilities of other team members when they are away or as directed by the Quality Manager. This role requires the ability to work with staff at all levels of the organisation and to work autonomously in a fast-paced environment. Attention to detail is a must and a desire to exceed clients’ expectations is the cornerstone of this role. Reporting Responsibilities This position reports directly to: Quality Manager This position reports indirectly to (if applicable: NA Key Internal Relationships: Production Manager Operators Technicians Key Competencies Being Quality and Outcome focused – using the framework set out by the business, coupled with the knowledge, experience and lateral thinking to meet and exceed customer expectations. Have the ability to STOP production when Quality requirements are not met, even if, it means missing customer lead times. Treat all products as important, regardless of size or needs Innovative and creative problem-solving skills Engaging People – The communication and relationship skills required to influence people to deliver superior outcomes. Communicates and energises Builds capability Builds teams and trust Embraces change and understand how the role evolves Delivering results – Focused on delivering excellent and superior customer service outcomes. Decisive and action-oriented outcome Disciplined and accountable Responsive and adaptive Open and inclusive Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities Strong analytical and conceptual skills Attention to detail – thorough, accurate, complete, and up to date Strong written and oral communication Strong Customer focused Team Player with good interpersonal skills Excellent presentation and communication skills Highly self -motivated and high degree of initiative and operates autonomously Effective listener and communicator Ability to operate confidently with all levels of management and build rapport with key contacts Ability to build environmental trust Demonstrate high professional standards and work ethic Ability to influence peers so that new processes and methods are accepted, agreed and followed Strong degree of flexibility/ability to deal with both change and time pressure Key Task Assisting QM in ISO, HACCP Accreditation Documentation control Checking of incoming Materials Random sampling of finished products ensuring product quality standards are adhered to Improve Quality Management procedures. Utilize process workers in QA/QC process Checking of all retention samples supplied by the factory Assist Internal and External Audits Assist with New Product Development (NPD)