Job Summary:
The Quality Lead is responsible for providing day-to-day leadership and technical support for Quality Control activities within the manufacturing facility. This position serves as a primary quality resource on the production floor, helping ensure that products, processes, and employees consistently meet company quality and food safety standards as well as applicable SQF, USDA, GMP, HACCP, and regulatory requirements.
The Quality Lead performs hands-on quality inspections and testing while also coordinating the activities of Quality Control Technicians during the assigned shift. The position works closely with Production, Sanitation, Maintenance, Warehouse, and Quality leadership to identify and address food safety and quality concerns, investigate non-conformances, ensure appropriate corrective actions are taken, and maintain accurate documentation.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Quality Leadership and Shift Support
· Provide day-to-day direction, support, and guidance to Quality Control Technicians on the assigned shift.
· Coordinate QC activities and assignments to ensure appropriate quality coverage throughout production.
· Serve as the primary Quality point of contact on the production floor during the assigned shift.
· Provide guidance to QC Technicians regarding inspections, testing procedures, documentation, product holds, and quality requirements.
· Communicate significant food safety, regulatory, or product quality concerns promptly to Quality Management and Operations leadership.
· Assist with shift handoffs to ensure open quality issues, product holds, corrective actions, and other concerns are clearly communicated.
· Help reinforce accountability for compliance with quality, food safety, GMP, and sanitation requirements.
Quality Control Monitoring
· Perform and oversee inspections and testing of raw materials, in-process products, packaging materials, and finished goods.
· Monitor production processes and verify that required quality and food safety checks are completed accurately and at the appropriate frequency.
· Conduct microbiological, chemical, physical, sensory, and other product testing as required.
· Verify product specifications, including weight, appearance, temperature, packaging, labeling, coding, and other established quality attributes.
· Ensure products meet established company, customer, SQF, USDA, and regulatory requirements before release.
· Identify conditions that could negatively affect product quality or food safety and initiate appropriate escalation.
Documentation and Reporting
· Review Quality Control records for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with established procedures.
· Maintain accurate records of inspections, testing, monitoring activities, product holds, deviations, and corrective actions.
· Ensure required documentation is completed in a timely manner and appropriately retained.
· Report quality trends, recurring issues, non-conformances, and significant findings to Quality Management.
· Assist with preparation and organization of documentation for internal, customer, SQF, USDA, and other regulatory audits.
Non-Conformance and Corrective Action
· Identify, document, and escalate product or process deviations and non-conformances.
· Initiate or assist with product holds when materials or products do not meet established requirements.
· Support investigations into food safety, quality, packaging, labeling, and process-related issues.
· Work with Quality and Operations teams to identify root causes and implement corrective and preventive actions.
· Verify corrective actions are completed and effective.
· Provide timely feedback to Production leadership regarding quality concerns and required corrective measures.
· Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance
· Ensure Quality Control activities are performed in accordance with SQF, USDA, HACCP, GMP, company policies, customer requirements, and other applicable regulations.
· Support the facility’s SQF certification and food safety programs.
· Monitor compliance with GMPs and other food safety practices throughout the facility.
· Immediately escalate potential food safety hazards or regulatory concerns to appropriate management.
· Assist during USDA inspections and internal, customer, third-party, and regulatory audits as needed.
· Support traceability, product recall, mock recall, and food safety exercises when required.
Equipment and Calibration
· Operate Quality Control equipment according to established procedures.
· Verify that testing and monitoring equipment is properly calibrated and functioning correctly.
· Perform or coordinate routine calibration and verification activities.
· Identify and report equipment that is damaged, out of calibration, or otherwise unsuitable for use.
· Maintain required calibration and equipment records.
· Sample Collection and Analysis
· Collect representative samples of raw materials, in-process products, environmental areas, and finished products according to established procedures.
· Perform required testing and evaluations to verify product safety, quality, and consistency.
· Ensure samples are properly identified, handled, stored, and submitted for internal or external testing when required.
· Review test results and escalate results that fall outside established specifications.
Training and Team Development
· Assist with onboarding and training new Quality Control Technicians.
· Provide ongoing coaching regarding quality procedures, inspection techniques, documentation, GMPs, food safety requirements, and testing methods.
· Assist in training Production employees on quality and food safety standards as needed.
· Reinforce consistent application of Quality procedures across shifts and production areas.
· Identify training opportunities and communicate them to Quality Management.
Continuous Improvement
· Identify recurring quality issues and opportunities to improve Quality Control processes.
· Participate in root-cause analysis and continuous improvement initiatives.
· Work cross-functionally with Production, Sanitation, Maintenance, Warehouse, and other departments to improve product quality and food safety.
· Recommend improvements to procedures, inspection methods, documentation, and testing processes.
· Support initiatives designed to reduce waste, rework, product holds, customer complaints, and quality-related production disruptions.
Qualifications
· High school diploma or GED required; associate degree or additional education in Food Science, Biology, Microbiology, Quality Assurance, or a related field preferred.
· Minimum of 2–3 years of Quality Control or Quality Assurance experience in a food manufacturing environment preferred.
· Previous lead, trainer, or team coordination experience strongly preferred.
· Experience working in a USDA-regulated food manufacturing facility preferred.
· Knowledge of SQF, HACCP, GMPs, food safety principles, and USDA requirements.
· Experience with quality inspections, product testing, sampling, documentation, and corrective actions.
· Ability to identify quality issues and make sound decisions in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
· Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
· Strong verbal and written communication skills.
· Ability to effectively coach employees and communicate quality expectations to Production teams.
· Basic computer skills and ability to accurately complete electronic and written Quality records.
· Ability to work independently while effectively collaborating with Quality and Operations teams.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
· Working knowledge of food manufacturing quality and food safety practices.
· Ability to interpret product specifications, procedures, and quality standards.
· Strong problem-solving and root-cause analysis skills.
· Ability to recognize situations requiring immediate escalation.
· Ability to prioritize multiple quality activities in a fast-paced production environment.
· Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to provide direction to team members without compromising quality or food safety standards.
· Ability to communicate professionally with employees at all levels of the organization.
· Ability to maintain accurate and confidential records.
Physical Requirements
· Ability to stand and walk for extended periods in a manufacturing environment.
· Ability to bend, reach, stoop, and perform repetitive movements as required.
· Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds as needed.
· Ability to work in refrigerated, freezer, wet, hot, and production environments as required.
· Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE).
· Ability to safely work around production equipment, moving machinery, and food manufacturing operations.
Work Environment
This position works primarily within a food manufacturing environment and may be exposed to cold temperatures, heat, moisture, noise, food allergens, moving equipment, and other conditions typically associated with food production operations. Strict adherence to GMPs, food safety requirements, PPE requirements, and company safety policies is required.
Additional Responsibilities
The responsibilities listed above are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties associated with the position. The Quality Lead may be assigned additional responsibilities based on operational and business needs.
Pay: $25.00 - $28.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
