Quality Assurance Specialist jobs in Brookings, SD

Overall Job Function:  

The Quality Specialist position is a key role in the production and delivery of quality animal feed. You will collaborate proactively with the Director of Regulatory Compliance, feed operations personnel, and grain department to provide support while performing quality assurance functions to ensure that products meet or exceed customer specifications as well as serve as an essential piece of our employee training and part of our Food Safety Team. 

Essential Job Functions:

Conduct in-house testing of ingredients for quality purposes. Utilize third party labs for finished feed and ingredient analysis. Works with integrators to ensure their sampling needs are met. 

Address customer complaints or non-conformance to food safety/quality standards with the appropriate level of urgency. Notify and work with cross-functional teams (e.g., sales, operations, technology, Quality Director, etc.) as appropriate. Be hands on in helping customers address issues.

Complete data analysis of sample results showing trends in ingredients as well as finished feeds.

Inspect production records, including transportation records, to ensure standard operating procedures are followed.

Assist and lead Standard Operating Procedure training and documentation. Observe staff to ensure SOPs are adhered to.

Other duties as assigned. 

Key Skills and Abilities Include:

High level of customer service focus.

Strong computer skills with ability to learn: Feed Mill Manger, Control, Microsoft Applications, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other company software, as necessary.

Assists in managing and auditing of the Feed Division’s Quality Management System including compliance audits, personnel training assistance and documentation review, customer complaint investigation support, non-conforming material troubleshooting and root cause analysis, documentation, and analysis.

Some familiarity with agriculture. 

Secondary Responsibilities: 

Ability to manage stressful situations in a professional manner.

Consistent positive, can-do attitude, and strong interpersonal skills.

Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.

Competencies:

Effective customer service skills.

Detail-oriented with a high level of organizational skills.

Excellent communication skills. 

Supports a consistent professional image of the company.

Observes safety policy and procedure as an absolute.

Strong Work Ethic with a high level of integrity.

Commitment to dependability and willingness to work to meet goals and deadlines.

Ability to work in a collaborative environment to problem solve and find solutions.            

Education & Experience:

Degree in Agricultural or related field and/or 2-4 years of experience in quality management or any combinations of education/ experience.

Work Environment: 

This position is based in a fast-paced agricultural setting and is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions and vibrations. The employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes, and airborne particles. The noise level is usually moderate but occasionally may be loud. PPE will be provided and must be utilized according to safety standards.  Typical working hours are 7am – 4pm with some extended hours during the busy season.

Physical Demands:

While performing job functions the employee will be required to talk and hear most of the time.  The employee will spend frequent intervals moving and sitting, while also needing to reach, bend, twist, crawl, crouch, stoop or kneel. The employee will need to be able to lift up to 50 pounds frequently and maneuver on and off mobile equipment. The physicality of this job is high.

*FCS job descriptions are a representation of a job requirements knowledge, skills, and abilities. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Benefits:

• 401k Company matches 50% up to 10%
• Vacation & Paid Holidays after 30 days of employment
• Company bonus incentive
• Excellent health insurance plans
• Dental & Vision available 
• Short & Long Term Disability provided at no cost to you 
• Life Insurance
• Identity Theft Insurance
• Accident Insurance 
• Clothing Allowance 
• 10% Discount on purchases at the How-To Building Center