Job Overview
The Quality Assurance Lead is responsible for supporting and overseeing daily food safety and quality assurance procedures within the production facility. This position helps ensure that all food products are prepared, handled, stored, packaged, and distributed in compliance with company standards, customer requirements, HACCP procedures, Good Manufacturing Practices, and applicable federal, state, and local food safety regulations.
The Quality Assurance Lead will provide guidance to QA team members and production employees, conduct inspections, complete required documentation, identify quality or food safety concerns, and communicate issues to management in a timely manner. This role requires strong attention to detail, leadership skills, and the ability to maintain a high standard of compliance in a fast-paced food production environment.
Responsibilities
- Monitor daily production activities to ensure compliance with company food safety and quality standards.
- Conduct pre-operational, operational, and post-operational inspections of production areas, equipment, utensils, and employee practices.
- Verify that employees are following GMP, including proper handwashing, glove use, hairnets, uniforms, sanitation, and food handling procedures.
- Ensure proper temperature control for food receiving, storage, preparation, cooling, packaging, and distribution.
- Review, complete, and maintain accurate QA documentation, logs, checklists, and corrective action records.
- Assist in enforcing HACCP procedures, sanitation standards, allergen controls, and food safety programs.
- Identify non-compliance issues and report concerns to leadership.
- Support investigations related to food quality complaints, production errors, foreign material concerns, temperature deviations, or sanitation issues.
- Provide coaching and direction to employees regarding food safety and quality expectations.
- Train or assist in training employees on QA procedures, GMPs, sanitation, allergen awareness, and proper documentation.
- Assist with internal audits, inspections, and preparation for third-party audits or regulatory visits.
- Place products on hold when quality or food safety concerns are identified and notify management immediately.
- Verify product labels, packaging, dates, lot codes, and allergen information for accuracy.
- Monitor cleaning and sanitation procedures to ensure production areas meet company standards.
- Communicate daily quality concerns, trends, and corrective actions to management.
- Lead by example by maintaining professionalism, accountability, and compliance with all company policies.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Previous experience in food production, quality assurance, food safety, or a related field preferred.
- Prior lead, trainer, or supervisory experience preferred.
- Knowledge of GMPs, HACCP, sanitation practices, allergen controls, and food safety procedures preferred.
- Ability to read, complete, and maintain accurate documentation.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to identify food safety or quality concerns.
- Ability to communicate effectively with employees, supervisors, and management.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced production environment.
- Must be reliable, punctual, and able to follow company policies and procedures.
- Food Handler Certification required or must be obtained within company-required timeframe.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Bilingual in English & Spanish (Able to lead and train in both languages)
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, and move throughout the facility for extended periods.
- Ability to lift, push, pull, or carry up to [insert weight, e.g., 25–50 lbs.] as needed.
- Ability to work in refrigerated, cold, hot, or wet environments as required.
- Ability to wear required personal protective equipment, including hairnet, gloves, apron, non-slip shoes, and other PPE as required.
- Ability to work early mornings, overtime, or adjusted schedules based on operational needs
WORK ENVIRONMENT
This position operates in a food production and warehouse environment. The employee may be exposed to cold storage areas, hot production areas, wet floors, food allergens, cleaning chemicals, machinery, and fast-paced production activity. Strict adherence to food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety procedures are required at all times.
Pay: $28.00 - $32.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
