Quality Control Technician

JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title:
Quality Control Technician Job Description

The Quality Control Technician monitors and verifies product and process quality across multiple production lines to ensure all materials meet established specifications and food safety standards. This role focuses on sampling, testing, documentation, and auditing activities that support regulatory compliance, certification requirements, and a strong food safety and quality culture within a growing manufacturing operation.

• Review, monitor, document, and assess quality standards to verify that materials and finished products comply with specifications, including net weights, product quality, product codes and labels, temperatures, and critical control points (CCPs).
• Gather product samples from production lines to identify defective or non-conforming product and initiate appropriate corrective actions when necessary.
• Collect product samples aseptically from production lines for product testing, ensuring on-time sample pick-up to support timely product release.
• Audit the facility and personnel daily to verify adherence to current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs) and best practices.
• Monitor production processes, personnel, and facilities to ensure compliance with cGMP, FSMA, HACCP, SQF, and sanitation guidelines, taking corrective action when standards are not met.
• Assist with employee training related to food safety and quality tasks and procedures.
• Perform pre-operational inspections of processing areas and equipment each day before operations begin to verify cleanliness and readiness.
• Conduct swabbing of equipment and surrounding environments to confirm cleanliness and sanitation effectiveness.
• Generate complete, accurate documentation of all monitoring activities and distribute reports in a timely manner.
• Perform scale and thermometer verifications and carry out calibrations of other equipment as required.
• Communicate with cross-functional departments to notify them of quality or food safety issues, support appropriate actions, and help resolve problems.
• Assist in investigations of non-conforming products and support root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Perform verification activities for food safety and quality (FS&Q) documentation to ensure records are accurate and complete.
• Maintain organization and inventory of on-site product samples and retains.
• Enter quality and production data into spreadsheets and other systems as required.
• Support food safety and quality initiatives, including data collection and analysis.
• Serve as backup in the laboratory when needed, including running samples and collecting samples.
• Assist with training operations personnel on food safety and quality-related topics.
• Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) as needed to support consistent and compliant processes.
• Assist with preparations for SQF audits, including documentation review and readiness activities.
• Provide backup support for other quality assurance (QA) personnel as needed.
• Help foster a strong food safety and quality culture across manufacturing operations.
• Contribute to continuous improvement activities focused on enhancing product quality, process efficiency, and compliance.
• Perform other assigned projects, tasks, and duties as appropriate to support the quality function.

• Experience in quality control or quality assurance within a manufacturing environment, with a minimum of 6 months of previous quality experience preferred.
• Understanding of food safety principles, including Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs), and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP).
• Ability to work with and interpret food safety and quality frameworks such as FSMA, SQF, and sanitation guidelines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Excel, and Word for documentation, reporting, and data entry.
• Basic math skills for measurements, calculations, and verification activities.
• Basic computer skills for operating spreadsheets and quality-related software.
• Attention to detail when inspecting products, reviewing documentation, and monitoring processes.
• Ability to work in production, inspection, assembly, and laboratory environments as needed.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including proficient speaking, reading, and writing in English.
• Capability to follow cGMPs and best practices consistently and to identify and report deviations.
• Comfort with performing audits, inspections, and swabbing activities in a manufacturing setting.

• High school diploma or equivalent education is preferred.
• Previous quality experience in a manufacturing environment is preferred; other similar experience may be considered as a substitute.
• Experience in food manufacturing or pet food production is beneficial.
• Familiarity with calibration of scales, thermometers, and other measurement equipment.
• Experience supporting or preparing for third-party audits such as SQF.
• Ability to assist in…