The QA Lead serves as the on‑floor quality leader responsible for ensuring daily compliance with food safety, quality standards, and regulatory requirements. This role provides hands‑on leadership and guidance to QA Technicians while acting as a key liaison between Production, Sanitation, and Management to maintain product safety, quality, and consistency.
-
Quality & Food Safety Oversight: Lead and perform daily quality checks including product inspections, documentation reviews, and verification of critical control points. Ensure compliance with GMPs, HACCP plans, SOPs, and food safety programs. Monitor production activities to ensure quality and food safety standards are consistently met. Verify proper labeling, coding, traceability, and finished product compliance.
-
Leadership & Team Support: Serve as the on‑shift QA point of contact for technicians, production, and line leaders. Provide guidance, direction, and hands‑on training to QA Technicians. Assign daily QA tasks and ensure coverage for production needs. Mentor team members on GMP compliance, documentation accuracy, and inspection techniques.
-
Issue Identification & Resolution: Identify, document, and escalate quality or food safety non‑conformances. Place product on QA hold when required and coordinate disposition with management. Investigate quality deviations and support root‑cause analysis. Verify completion and effectiveness of corrective actions.
-
Audits, Documentation & Compliance: Support internal audits, third‑party audits, and regulatory inspections. Ensure accurate completion and filing of QA, temperature, sanitation, and production records. Assist in updating SOPs, forms, and work instructions as needed. Ensure real‑time documentation is accurate, complete, and audit‑ready.
-
Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Production, Sanitation, Maintenance, and Warehouse teams. Communicate quality expectations and findings clearly across departments. Support sanitation verification and pre‑op inspections. Promote a food‑safety‑first culture throughout the facility.
-
Other duties as assigned.
Education: High school diploma or GED required; associate or bachelor’s degree in food science or related field preferred.
Experience: 3+ years of QA or food safety experience in a food production or processing environment.
-
Prior experience working under GMP, HACCP, and food safety programs.
-
Demonstrated ability to lead, train, or mentor others.
-
Strong communication and documentation skills.
-
Ability to work in cold, wet environment for extended periods.
-
Strong observation, communication, and documentation skills.
-
Ability to use measurement tools, scales, thermometers, and verification devices.
-
High attention to detail and accuracy.
-
Strong commitment to food safety and regulatory compliance.
-
Ability to stand as a role model for GMPs and safety practices.
-
Effective communication across multiple departments.
-
Problem‑solving and analytical thinking.
-
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
-
May require flexibility and ability to work early mornings, evenings, weekends, or overtime during peak production periods.
-
Primarily in a food production facility, exposed to cold refrigerated environments (34Fº to 38Fº) for long periods of time.
-
Exposure to cleaning chemicals and sanitizers.
-
Strict adherence to GMPs, HACCP, PPE requirements (nonslip boots, gloves, hairnets, smock).
-
Regular exposure to moving equipment and heavy loads—must follow all safety protocols.
-
Ability to stand, walk, or perform inspections for 812 hours.
-
Ability to lift or move up to 3550 lbs.
-
Ability to bend, reach, climb stairs, or maneuver around production equipment.
-
Manual dexterity for sampling, measuring, and equipment verification.
-
Visual acuity for detailed inspections (corrective lenses acceptable).
-
Ability to wear all required PPE including frocks, gloves, hairnets, face shields, chemical‑resistant gear, and steel‑toe footwear.
-
Comfortable working in environments with moderate noise levels.
-
401(k) matching
-
Dental insurance
-
Health insurance
-
Paid time off
-
Referral program
-
Vision insurance
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We don’t take the promise in our name lightly—we’re devoted to delivering the very best nature has to offer. That means produce that’s as fresh as possible. And that means we process it in a way that’s designed to deliver the highest-quality end-user experience. That’s why we use both hand and machine cutting—we use the method that will result in the best-tasting product. It’s this thoughtful, proactive, quality-focused approach that puts the Best in NatureBest.
