Senior Quality Analyst

Title: Senior QA Analyst

Location: Chicago

 Job Grade: 08

 

The Gist

To ensure that sampling and product analysis (analytical, microbiological, and sensory) are performed. Perform off-line and in-line calibrations/verifications (Analytical) are performed. Ensure troubleshooting process analysis in production.

 

What You'll Do

Safety, Food Safety, and Sustainability

• Contributes to a clean and tidy working area without unnecessary losses of consumables/chemicals, in line with the defined and implemented safety standards and following 5S and HACCP standards at the workplace.
• Promotes safe practices of PPE and GMP in all areas of the brewery, cross functionally and interdepartmentally.

 

Quality & Execution of Analyses

• Makes all the quality checks and acts as internal LSS auditor to maintain the LSS quality system as well as in-line measurements as laboratory analyses, in line with the standards and procedures on sampling and analyses.
• Gives advice to Production about adjustment of in-line meters.
• Supports Sensory Evaluation and taste test panel, participation of the taste test activities.
• Coordinates the daily activities in the laboratory (Laboratory Coordinator).
• Performs non-routine analyses.
• Audits quality data for completeness against sampling program and reported OTIF.
• Audits quality team members for method and program compliance.

 

TPM & Continuous Improvement

• Participates and plays an active role in improvement teams related to process quality and implement these improvement opportunities or corrective actions in the laboratory
• Maintain 5S methodology
• Continuous improvement of Food Safety including HACCP and Quality Management Systems
• Support KPI and metrics, losses/deployments, RCFA

 

Equipment & Material Management

• Performs complex calibration and maintenance of in-line meters and laboratory equipment and troubleshoots on laboratory methods and analysis equipment (in-line and off-line).
• Orders laboratory materials and equipment
• Additional tasks as needed or directed by Quality Manager

 

What We’re Lookin’ For

• B.S. in science discipline, Food/Agriculture, or Brewing is preferred. A combination of education and experience with the ability to display proficiency as a Quality Assurance Analyst in a brewery will be considered.
• Minimum 2 years brewing or packaging quality laboratory experience.
• Understanding of brewing science and beer packaging operations, General Certificate in Packaging or brewing a plus.
• Ensures compliance with food safety program. SQF, ISO, HACCP, PCQI training a plus.
• Experience in TPM / Lean / Six Sigma a plus.

 

Functional Competencies

• The ability to act in a way that contributes to maintaining a safe environment for employees, contractors, and visitors according to Lagunitas, OSHA and local regulations, policies, and procedures.
• The ability to work in accordance with the quality systems in place, thus contributing to the excellence of the finished product.
• The ability to maintain a safe optimal laboratory environment and to safely operate and maintain laboratory equipment, ensuring that the basic conditions are in place to facilitate the generation of consistently reliable results.
• The ability to work in accordance with laboratory standards and operate laboratory equipment to the desired level of control to ensure the generation of consistently reliable analytical results.
• The ability to provide technical and analytical support for the Production process in accordance with the Lagunitas standards and local procedures, thus contributing to the optimization of process control.
• The ability to collect and report reliable data in a timely way and to effectively communicate with the relevant stakeholders to facilitate optimal decision making.
• Proficient with aseptic microbiological techniques and bacterial / yeast identification.
• Proven team player with strong leadership capabilities.
• Ability to be seen by peers and internal customers as a technical authority in quality.
• Excellent organizational, self-management and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Working knowledge of GMP, TTB legislation, sanitation, and safety needs in a brewing environment.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite.

 

Key Relationships:

• Reports directly to the Quality Manager
• Internal: Quality, Packaging, Brewing, Maintenance, Utilities and Logistics.
• External: external la