Quality Assurance

Quality Assurance Specialist – Food Ingredients

This role focuses on qualifying and approving new food ingredients to support successful new product launches while ensuring full compliance with food regulations, labeling laws, food safety requirements, and customer standards. You will manage ingredient master data, lead cross-functional collaboration, and maintain robust documentation to support a high-performing quality assurance function in a fast-growing segment of the food industry.

Responsibilities

• Qualify and approve new food ingredients to support new product launches and ensure they meet all internal and external requirements.
• Maintain, update, and accurately manage ingredient master data and ingredient databases.
• Review ingredient specifications and documentation to confirm alignment with regulatory, safety, and customer requirements.
• Assess and monitor regulatory compliance for ingredients, including food regulations, labeling laws, and food safety standards.
• Coordinate ingredient lifecycle management and oversee change control processes for new and existing ingredients.
• Collaborate closely with R&D, Quality, Procurement, Operations, and Portfolio teams to support ingredient selection and approval.
• Lead ingredient approval meetings and communicate status updates and decisions to relevant stakeholders.
• Create, revise, and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and other controlled documentation related to ingredients and quality processes.
• Track and report ingredient approval metrics and master data performance indicators to support continuous improvement.
• Support new product development projects by providing timely and accurate ingredient information and quality input.

Essential Skills

• 1 to 3 years of experience in food manufacturing, preferably in R&D, Quality, food specifications, or food labeling.
• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Nutrition, Food Business, or a related field.
• Hands-on experience with quality assurance processes in a food manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of food regulations, labeling laws, and food safety requirements.
• Ability to review and interpret ingredient specifications and technical documentation.
• Experience maintaining and managing ingredient master data and databases.
• Strong collaboration skills with cross-functional teams such as R&D, Quality, Procurement, Operations, and Portfolio.
• Ability to create and revise SOPs, work instructions, and controlled documentation.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail for tracking and reporting ingredient approval metrics.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills to lead meetings and communicate status updates.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working with food ingredient lifecycle management and change control processes.
• Knowledge in healthy and innovative food products or fruit-based solutions.
• Familiarity with customer-specific standards and requirements in the food industry.
• Ability to support new product launches with timely and accurate quality and ingredient data.
• Interest in working within one of the fastest growing segments in the food industry.

Work Environment

You will work in a professional food manufacturing and quality-focused environment that emphasizes collaboration across R&D, Quality, Procurement, Operations, and Portfolio teams. The organization operates in a dynamic and fast-growing segment of the food industry, delivering healthy and delicious fruit solutions. The role involves regular use of ingredient databases, documentation systems, and controlled quality processes, with a strong emphasis on regulatory compliance and food safety.

Employees have access to health, dental, and vision benefits, reflecting a supportive and comprehensive total rewards package.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Brecksville, OH.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $20.00 - $25.00/hr eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this…