This Dairy QA Systems Technician job description sets out the main duties, qualifications, skills and measures of success for the role, which is also known as Quality Systems Technician, Quality Assurance Technician, Food Safety Technician or QA Coordinator. Download it free as a Word or PDF template and adapt it for your own vacancy.
| Job title | Dairy QA Systems Technician |
| Also known as | Quality Systems Technician, Quality Assurance Technician, Food Safety Technician, QA Coordinator |
| Department | Dairy quality and laboratory |
| Reports to | QA Manager |
| Direct reports | None |
What does a Dairy QA Systems Technician do?
Keeps the site's quality management system accurate, current and audit-ready in a dairy nutrition manufacturing plant. Acts as the quality team's lead user of the ERP and document control systems, and supports specifications, change control, non-conformance handling and training.
Dairy QA Systems Technician duties and responsibilities
Quality management system
- Maintain quality procedures, records and controlled documents in the document management system
- Act as lead user for the quality modules of the ERP system, fixing data issues and supporting other users
- Run the change control process with production and engineering managers
- Monitor new and changing food legislation and brief the QA Manager on anything that affects the site
- Keep HACCP, allergen and food safety management system documents up to date
Specifications and raw materials
- Write and maintain specifications for new and existing ingredients and packaging
- Carry out raw material and supplier risk assessments
- Agree test plans for new ingredients with senior laboratory staff and the QA Manager
- Check that supplier certificates and approval records are current
Audits and non-conformance
- Prepare for and attend certification, customer and enforcement authority audits
- Log, investigate and close out factory non-conformances with the QA Manager
- Support root cause investigations into incidents, complaints and deviations
- Track corrective and preventive actions to completion
- Run internal audits against the site's quality and food safety standard
Training and reporting
- Deliver induction quality training to new starters, covering GMP, hygiene, allergens and halal requirements
- Keep quality training records up to date
- Analyse quality data and present trends to the QA team and production managers
Dairy QA Systems Technician qualifications and experience
Essential
- Degree in food science, microbiology, chemistry or a related science
- Proven experience in a quality role, ideally in food or dairy manufacturing
- Strong working knowledge of ERP and document management systems
- Understanding of HACCP and a GFSI-recognised food safety standard such as BRCGS
- Experience of internal or third-party audits
Desirable
- Experience in infant formula or dairy nutrition manufacturing
- Experience with dedicated quality management software
- HACCP Level 3 or an internal auditor qualification
Skills and attributes
- Logical, methodical approach
- Strong attention to detail
- Confident IT skills
- Clear written and spoken communication
- Ability to raise and explain problems with senior managers
- Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines
- Proactive and curious
How success is measured
- Successful outcomes at certification and customer audits
- Non-conformances closed out on time
- Specifications and controlled documents kept current
- Change control requests processed on time
- All new starters trained before working in production
- Accurate quality data in the ERP system
Working conditions and safety
Mainly office-based, with regular time on the factory floor and in hygiene areas wearing the required PPE. Normal weekday hours, with some flexibility around audits.
- Follow health and safety rules and safe systems of work, and wear the correct PPE
- Follow food safety, hygiene, HACCP and quality procedures at all times
- Report hazards, accidents, near misses and concerns promptly
Dairy QA Systems Technician interview questions
Use these questions to assess candidates for a Dairy QA Systems Technician role. Each one includes what a good answer shows.
- How do you run a change control from the first request to close-out?
What a good answer shows: Assesses food safety and quality risk, involves the right people, records approvals and verifies the change before closing. - What goes into a raw material specification, and how do you keep it current?
What a good answer shows: Covers composition, microbiological and contaminant limits, allergens, packaging and storage, with scheduled reviews and supplier agreement. - How do you resolve data errors in the quality modules of an ERP system?
What a good answer shows: Finds the cause, corrects data carefully with approval and prevents repeats through training or system fixes. - How do you carry out a supplier risk assessment for a new ingredient?
What a good answer shows: Considers hazards, allergens, supplier history and certification, and sets testing and approval requirements. - Two weeks before an audit you find several overdue corrective actions. What do you do?
What a good answer shows: Prioritises by risk, agrees owners and dates, escalates to the QA Manager and stays honest with auditors. - A change in food law will affect product labels. What do you do?
What a good answer shows: Reviews the requirement, briefs the QA Manager and plans document and label changes well before the deadline. - How do you keep allergen controls and documents accurate when a new ingredient is introduced?
What a good answer shows: Updates risk assessments, the allergen matrix, specifications, labels and training, and checks cleaning validation. - How would you run an internal audit against the site's food safety standard?
What a good answer shows: Plans the scope, checks records and practice on the floor, reports findings clearly and tracks actions to closure. - How would you work with production managers who see quality paperwork as a burden?
What a good answer shows: Explains the purpose, simplifies where possible, offers practical support and builds good working relationships. - How do you deliver quality induction training so new starters remember it?
What a good answer shows: Keeps it practical and clear, uses real examples from the site and checks understanding.
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Frequently asked questions
Keeps the site's quality management system accurate, current and audit-ready in a dairy nutrition manufacturing plant. Acts as the quality team's lead user of the ERP and document control systems, and supports specifications, change control, non-conformance handling and training.
Employers usually look for: degree in food science, microbiology, chemistry or a related science; proven experience in a quality role, ideally in food or dairy manufacturing; strong working knowledge of ERP and document management systems.
A Dairy QA Systems Technician usually reports to the QA Manager.
Yes. Download the free Word template, add your location, contract and salary details, and adapt the duties to your site. You can then advertise the role on Dairy Jobs.
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