At Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, we are excited to start a new chapter of accelerated growth as part of Froneri – a global pure-play ice cream leader. Come help us transform DGIC into the #1 ice cream brand! With nearly 100 years of winning experience in the U.S, a robust portfolio of powerhouse brands that consumers know and love such as Häagen-Dazs, Drumstick, Dreyer’s & Edy’s, Skinny Cow and Outshine, and the backing and coaching of European-based ice cream experts, we know we have the winning recipe.

Headquartered in Walnut Creek, the Bay Area’s hub for up-and-coming food trends, our teams across our offices and factories are raising the bar on all things ice cream. We are investing in significant capital expansions to grow our Operations and Supply Chain and are transforming how we work at every level to become agile, accelerate growth and elevate our quality. With a renewed focus on frozen treats, our tight-knit team of ambitious innovators are fully immersed in the business and encouraged to flex and make decisions quickly. We are committed to pursuing every great idea and delivering the best ice cream experience for our consumers, when and where they want it.

Unleash your potential at Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream and discover what a sweet career we have in store for you.

Main Purpose of Job:

The QA Technician’s primary responsibilities will include raw material/packaging inspections, monitoring and verification of in-process inspections. Performs a variety of standard chemical, analytical, and physical or sensory testing. Responsibilities will also include maintaining logs and records associated with job function (e.g. non-conforming materials, corrective action log, hold logs, sanitation logs, etc.).

Role and Activity

• Comply and execute the company Quality Policy on all required Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), quality and food safety requirements.
• Ensures that a high quality of products, services, housekeeping, and hygiene standards are maintained and improved in plant to “ready to eat” quality standards are met.
• Escalate quality or food safety findings or incidents to management. Communication of information to peers, cross-functional team and management.
• Supports quality Improvement initiatives (e.g. first time right, product defect reduction) within the factory.
• Performs assigned checks across all lines of the factory. Checks are recorded in the MES system.
• Front line support for operations, respond timely to issues on the factory floor, collect all pertinent information and escalate to QA team/supervision
• Complete equipment inspections and pre-operational inspections to ensure sanitation requirements have been met.
• Place "Out of specification" material and/or product on quality hold physically and in SAP system. Communicate quality holds with supervisors and management.
• Calibrate and utilize lab equipment such as pH meter, moisture analyzers, scales, etc. in accordance to the ICP (internal control plan) and regulatory standards.
• Support the execution of GMPs throughout the manufacturing plant and follow safety rules and procedures.
• Record results for product sensory, HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) plan, SSOP (Sanitation Standard Operating Procedure) and other checks as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Micro techs will include preparing samples, plating, reading and recording micro results for finished products, in process check, raw materials as assigned
• Micro techs maintain lab according to lab to good laboratory practices
• Other duties as assigned.

Measurable Outcomes

• Reducing trends of rejections from food safety and quality issues.
• Hygiene, GMP and safety audits improving week over week.
• Daily, weekly, monthly production targets are fully met.
• Effective interaction with the team.
• Quality and improvement initiatives being implemented.
• Reduction in accidents and incidents on a YOY basis.
• Reduction of pallets on holds
• Reduction of food safety incidents
• Being on the shop floor making ice-cream

Levels of Responsibility

• Complete checks on lines
• Communicate out of specification results to line management and quality management
• Inspection of lines after sanitation activities
• Micro accurately perform tasks from preparing samples to recording results.

Behaviors

• Performance – Pay attention to detail in executing checks. Be enthusiastic quality advocate.
• Hands on approach –Follow schedule in executing checks and inspections. Communicate results with the line leadership. Know and understand the role
• Zero compromise on Quality and excellence – When in the plant use looking eyes to ensure plant is making products according to specification and in compliance for GMP and food safety standards.
• Entrepreneurial – Always strives to be creative, wants to present the best products possible from a maintained, clean and safe factory environment
• Continually striving knowledge of the process and product - Logical, creative and committed. Able to problem solve
• Teamwork/ Cooperation - effectively working within and outside the formal line of authority.
• Accountability – Monitor and guarantee the respect of the quality standards and GMP in order to avoid complaints and consumer safety issues.
• Consumer focused – When completing checks remember the consumer and their expectations.
• Communication- presents ideas optimally, actively listens and works across functional boundaries.

Position Qualifications:

• 18 years of age or older.
• Aptitude for automated mechanical processes with good troubleshooting and diagnostic skills.
• Excellent interpersonal communication, math and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work multiple shifts and/or schedules.
• High School diploma or GED or equivalent experience.
• One-year related experience (preferred).

Work Environment:

In this position, the employee will regularly work with and around others; in a wet and/or humid environment; in areas of high noise level; and around mechanical, electrical, and pressurized equipment. The work is fast paced.

The position involves frequent exposure to nuts and other potential allergens.

The pay scale for this role takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. At Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. The pay range for prospective employees in this role is between $25.00 to $27.00 per hour.

Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream Inc. provides equal employment opportunities for all applicants, regardless of race, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)