Quality Assurance & Regulatory Lead

Location:
Pershing, Chicago | Chicago Metro Travel: 25–50%

Role

Summary:

The Quality Assurance & Regulatory Lead 1 is responsible for performing quality and safety verifications throughout production, leading QA technicians/specialists, and assisting the FSQA Manager with maintaining and developing Tovala’s internal quality and safety programs. Based at our Pershing, Chicago facility, this role will travel between Tovala’s two Chicago‑area manufacturing locations to ensure understanding of the Tovala food safety program and help ensure a smooth transition to the new facility expansion.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Lead and support QA Technicians and Specialists by providing training, guidance, scheduling support, and backup coverage during absences or staffing shortages. Adjust staffing schedules based on production and operational needs.
• Perform routine food safety and quality checks including weight verification, temperature monitoring, sleeving verification, receiving inspections, pre-operational and post-operational inspections, and project changeover swabbing.
• Review FSQA and production documentation daily to ensure accuracy, compliance, and completion. Responsible for holding and releasing questionable products or ingredients and making routine decisions regarding product deviations.
• Conduct and support internal audits and compliance programs including GMP, glass and brittle plastic inspections, environmental monitoring, monthly facility audits, mock recalls, and third‑party audits.
• Lead site environmental monitoring programs, including selecting swab sites, collecting samples, coordinating third‑party laboratory pickups, implementing corrective actions and filling out non‑conformance reports as needed.
• Assist the FSQA Manager in maintaining and continuously improving site food safety and quality systems, including SOP development, CAPA follow‑up, customer complaint investigations, product testing projects, internal audits, and employee training for Production and FSQA teams.
• Maintain and enforce site FSQA programs and ensure company food safety and quality policies are consistently implemented and followed. Promote and support a strong food safety culture across the facility.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams including Production, Sanitation, Inventory, R&D, and Procurement on daily operations, troubleshooting, and special projects.
• Maintain flexibility with scheduling; position is primarily day shift but may require night shift, weekend, or overtime work based on business needs.
• Identify and maintain relationships with the customer service team to address customer inquiries and concerns.
• Conduct reviews of non‑conforming material (raw and finished product) to ensure product control is maintained and corrective actions are developed.
• Document quality assurance activities and generate audit reports.
• Administer training and development programs on quality assurance / production team, including recall procedures and special SQF projects.
• Answer regulatory questions and support compliance requirements.
• Assists in establishing nutritional data in coordination with the Research and Development Group as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the FSQA Manager.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and quality management systems.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal speaking skills.
• Detail oriented, accurate and excellent record keeping skills.
• Good judgement and decisiveness skills.
• Ability to read laboratory and scientific reports.

• Associate degree, a Bachelor of Food Science Degree preferred.
• HACCP certification required.
• 2 years of food manufacturing experience is preferred.
• Working knowledge of quality assurance tools, methods, and concepts.
• Project management skills.
• SQF and PCQI Certified preferred.

• Able to lift, push, or pull up to twenty‑five (25) pounds.
• Able to stand, bend, lift, and move intermittently during shifts of 8+ hours.
• Comfortable working in cold temperature environments in a warehouse and cooler.
• Must be…