Quality Specialist

Quality Specialist

Job Description

The Quality Specialist serves as the primary quality authority for overnight operations, making real-time quality decisions to ensure products meet all food safety, sanitation, cGMP, and regulatory standards. This role manages product holds and investigations, leads quality responses during production issues, and partners closely with production and operations teams to maintain and continuously improve quality performance across the facility.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the on-shift Quality leader for overnight operations and make timely, real-time quality decisions.

• Ensure strict compliance with food safety standards, sanitation requirements, cGMPs, quality specifications, and all applicable regulatory requirements.

• Manage product holds, including initiation, investigation, disposition, and documentation within SAP and Quality One systems.

• Identify, document, and drive resolution of deviations, non-conformances, and corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).

• Lead the Quality response during production upsets, abnormal events, and process issues, including product containment, assessment, and disposition.

• Provide technical support, guidance, and coaching to Quality Lab Technicians and other quality personnel on shift.

• Act as the on-shift Quality leader, partnering with production and operations teams to maintain and reinforce quality standards.

• Participate in root cause investigations to determine underlying issues and support the implementation of effective corrective actions.

• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on enhancing product quality, food safety, and operational efficiency.

• Monitor, analyze, and communicate shift quality performance metrics to Quality Management in a clear and timely manner.

• Ensure effective shift-to-shift communication regarding open holds, deviations, quality concerns, and quality priorities.

• Support process, material, and operational improvements that enhance product quality and food safety across the facility.

• Represent the Quality function in shift meetings and actively promote a strong culture of quality throughout the facility.

• Use digital quality systems and data analytics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure quality requirements are understood and integrated into daily operations.

Essential Skills

• Degree required, preferably in a scientific discipline such as food science, microbiology, chemistry, or a related field.

• 1-2 years of quality experience in food manufacturing preferred, with exposure to quality control and quality assurance practices.

• Strong understanding of food safety principles, including HACCP, FSMA, and USDA requirements (experience preferred).

• Experience with HACCP plans and food safety audits, with the ability to apply standards in a manufacturing environment.

• Solid analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, identify issues, and translate insights into actionable steps.

• Excellent math skills and strong written and verbal communication abilities to document findings and communicate with diverse teams.

• Demonstrated ability to lead in a fast-paced and challenging environment, making sound decisions under pressure.

• Computer proficiency, especially with Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, and comfort working with digital quality and data systems.

• Ability to work overnight shifts consistently and maintain high attention to detail throughout the shift.

• Ability to collaborate effectively with quality technicians and production workers, providing direction and support as needed.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with HACCP plans, FSMA, and USDA programs preferred.

• Team leadership or supervisory experience is preferred but not required; ability to influence and guide others on shift.

• Experience with EWM and SAP systems, with the ability to provide relevant input and help deploy and train new digital quality systems.

• Flexible and highly motivated individual with the ability to adapt quickly and effectively to changing priorities and conditions.

• Basic knowledge of dry savory composition, sanitation principles, microbiology, and quality assurance policies and regulations.

• Experience with lean manufacturing principles and statistical analytics platforms is preferred.

• Applied knowledge of dry food manufacturing equipment and digital systems is preferred.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Independence, MO.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this…