Potato Quality Control Inspector

Job Description:

Position Title: Potato Quality Control Inspector

Location: Albany, Prince Edward Island, Canada (On-site / Packing & Grading Facility)

Employment Type: Full-Time

Reports To: Operations Supervisor & Owner

Wage: Dependent on experience – $18.50-$24.00/hour, with 2 weeks of vacation a year.

Additional: Health benefits are available after the 90-day probationary period and are split cost wise 50/50 with the employer.

Note: This role is typically Monday to Friday, 8am-5pm, but there are times when work will need to be done on the weekend or later into the evening, depending on the needs of the business and when shipments are scheduled.

Role Summary

The Quality Assurance Agent is responsible for conducting quality inspections, product grading, and document verification for fresh produce (predominantly potatoes) shipped from our registered establishment. Operating under the guidelines of the Canadian Partners in Quality (C-PIQ) program oversight by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the Quality Assurance Agent ensures that all shipments comply with Canadian and U.S. import grade standards, packaging regulations, and traceability requirements.

Key Responsibilities

1. Inspection & Product Grading

• Perform representative sampling, grading, and defect analysis on outgoing product lots according to CFIA and C-PIQ standards.
• Evaluate physical characteristics including size, maturity, color, and visual defects (e.g., hollow heart, mechanical damage, decay, scab).
• Verify that packaging, weight, tagging, and labeling comply with Canadian and export regulatory guidelines.

2. Documentation & Export Compliance

• Complete and control official Export Documents and Transfer Documents for eligible shipments in accordance with facility QA procedures.
• Maintain accurate, audit-ready inspection records, defect tally sheets, and traceability logs.
• Interface with CFIA inspectors during routine audits and facility compliance evaluations.

3. Quality Assurance & Corrective Actions

• Monitor sorting and grading line operations to ensure consistent quality control throughout production runs.
• Immediately issue internal holds or corrective action requests for non-conforming lots.
• Assist management in updating and maintaining the facility’s C-PIQ Quality Assurance Manual.

Qualifications & Skill Requirements

Education & Certification:

• High School Diploma or equivalent; agricultural post-secondary education preferred.
• Certified or eligible for authorization as a C-PIQ Authorized Person.
• Formal CFIA or industry fresh produce grading training is a strong asset.

Experience:

• 1-3 years of expereince in quality control, agriculture, or food processing (potato packing facility experience preferred).

Technical Knowledge:

• Deep understanding of CFIA produce grade standards and defect tolerances.
• Familiarity with food safety programs (e.g., CanadaGAP, HACCP, CFIA Preventive Controls).

Key Competencies:

• High attention to detail and accurate record-keeping skills.
• Strong integrity and document control ethics.
• Good verbal communication skills for team coordination and regulatory audits.

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