Work Location Delicato Vineyards Manteca

Position Purpose

Under minimal supervision and acting on own initiative, the Lead Quality Control (QC) Technician is responsible for working closely with the Quality Control Team, and Microbiologists, to monitor and control risk to product quality. The emphasis for this position is technical support, process improvement, and adapting to the team's workload. The Lead QC Technician performs a variety of analysis in support of the quality and regulatory requirements of Delicato Family wines and our customers. This role is also responsible for communicating and collaborating with different departments, facilities and vendors regarding quality issues, initiatives, and improvement opportunities.

Functional Responsibility

•  Provides hands-on support, assigns daily tasks, ensures employees have proper tools and equipment, and monitors output
•  Leads in a constructive manner by example; demonstrates and encourages a strong work ethic and fosters an environment of trust and respect
•  Guides team in the proper use of assets and resources to avoid waste and ensure cost-effective operations
•  Ensures clear communication amongst the team; follows-up on assignments to ensure accuracy and completeness
•  Informs supervisor of staffing needs
•  Ensures employees conduct themselves in a safe manner and that work areas are kept clean to prevent safety hazards; immediately reports safety issues and concerns to management
•  Supports change initiatives and company decisions in an effective manner
•  Communicates closely with supervisor regarding employee issues, concerns, and complaints in an objective and confidential manner
•  Maintains company and regulatory compliance during day-day-operations and advises supervisor of any infractions; assigns and monitors employee breaks and lunches and provides backup relief
•  Provides timely feedback to employees on a daily basis and informs supervisor of team/individual performance, recognition, training needs, deficiencies, etc.

Essential Duties

•  Ensures core QC processes and QC inspections are completed throughout the production packaging process, which include, but are not limited to: wine analysis, packaging quality for Bag-in-box, Tetrapak, and Glass bottles following microbiological, analytical and QC SOPs and response plans
•  Reviews line data for accuracy, Cpk for process capability analysis on quality attributes collected during QC testing, interprets, analyzes, identifies improvement opportunities and communicates data with production and management
•  Leads and assists QC Technicians in identifying and taking appropriate action, like root cause anslysis and corrective actions on quality, non-conforming finished product, equipment issues, non-conforming analysis, and/or material issues as directed
•  Ensures microbiology processes are completed in a timely manner including plating, reading and analyzing plating results and reporting out on microbiology data as needed
•  Ensures compliance with environmental monitoring program, with the support of QC Technicians and Microbiologist
•  Helps manage non-conforming product process, ensures finished product and packaging materials are correctly placed on hold, finished product is disposition, rework verified and product released
•  Calibrates, maintains, standardizes, manages PM's and troubleshoots all QC Laboratory equipment
•  Assists Quality Control Engineer in investigating packaging issues and material tests/evaluations
•  Helps manage and maintain the holdback room in an orderly manner
•  Monitors inventory of lab supplies using Kanban system for ordering; assists with ordering supplies
•  Provides QC support for mobile bottling
•  Leads reviewing and updating SOPs, procedures, and processes
•  Leads training process for new technicians, refresher training of technicians, and updates to training program
•  Leads in the maintaining a clean, safe QC lab, leads 5S program and good laboratory practices including chemical hygiene plan and all safety protocols
•  Performs all duties of QC Technician when production demands dictate need

*Other duties may be assigned

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience

•  Bachelor's Degree or equivalent years of experience
•  3 to 5 years of equivalent experience in Quality Control or similar experience
•  Experience in packaging quality, microbiology or analytical laboratory preferred
•  Experience working within SAP
•  Experience working under ISO22000 or other food safety certifications
•  Experience with statistical process control

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

•  Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment with accuracy
•  Ability to work overtime and change shifts as needed
•  Ability to travel to other facilities as needed
•  Proven ability to make independent decisions; ability to communicate them and explain decisions
•  Strong computer skills; proficient in Microsoft desktop applications
•  Ability to gather facts and use basic analysis techniques to determine whether product specifications are met
•  Strong problem-solving skills
•  General understanding of bottling practices, and storage conditions of wine
•  Knowledge of, and experience with, the winemaking process is a plus
•  Excellent communication skills, verbal and written

Working Conditions

•  Manufacturing plant/lab environment with occasional travel
•  May be required to drive automotive vehicle or equipment
•  Indoor and outdoor environment with exposure to the elements/temperature variations
•  Exposure to weather-related temperature & humidity extremes
•  Extended Hours
•  Shift Rotation
•  Required to wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
•  Work at protected heights of 50'
•  Work in close quarters or confined spaces
•  Exposure to varying levels of dust, chemicals, fumes, gases, and noisy equipment
•  May need to determine color, taste and smell of wine using eyes, tongue, and nose
•  Weekends as needed, travel as needed

Work Standards

•  Acts in a manner reflec...