Quality Specialist

Quality Specialist

Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory Ingredient Distribution & Custom Blending Greater Cincinnati / Southwest Ohio

A well-established, privately held food-ingredient distributor and custom blender is adding a Quality Specialist to protect the integrity of its site Food Safety, Quality, and Regulatory (FSQR) systems. The role supports SQF certification, regulatory and customer requirements, audit readiness, and day-to-day quality service for warehouse and blending operations.

This is a hands‑on specialist seat—not a manager role. You will be the backup SQF Practitioner, own key verification and documentation work, and keep the system tight so production, sales, and customers can move with confidence. Remote work is available within a reasonable commute of the Southwest Ohio site. Travel is minimal (under 10%).

• Serve as backup SQF Practitioner and help protect the integrity of the site SQF system.
• Maintain a qualified HACCP / Preventive Controls program for the site.
• Perform PCQI-required record verification; place product on hold when verification requires it.
• Reconcile hold inventory on a routine basis to confirm the hold program is working.
• Act as backup for the monthly SQF management meeting and support continuous improvement of the SQF system.
• Perform administrative work in enterprise food‑safety software so systems and processes stay operational.

• Review Certificates of Analysis on incoming custom‑blend / ingredient transfers to confirm materials are fit for use.
• Generate, update, and maintain specifications, claims, and program statements for custom‑blended products.
• Manage product and BOM usability status in the site ERP as needed.
• Fulfill document requests for internal customers.

• Support product and process investigations by running traces, collating records, and assembling data and trends for the SQF team.
• Track and close findings and CAPA from GMP walkthroughs.
• Participate in site inspections (GMP walkthroughs), customer audits, third‑party audits, and regulatory inspections.
• Periodically audit contract warehouses and suppliers as needed.
• Identify and initiate action to prevent nonconformities in product, process, quality, or food‑safety systems; escalated issues to management.

• Track training status and records so the site meets SQF, regulatory, and customer requirements.
• Own FSQR document and record lifecycle: review, update, organization, storage, and retention on the site schedule.
• Communicate compliance results to operating groups and provide routine FSQR metrics reporting.
• Serve on the crisis‑management team during events (power outage, weather, etc.) so HACCP and food‑safety procedures stay in force.
• Provide backup coverage for the site Quality Technician as needed, and assume necessary operational/administrative duties when the supervisor is out.

• Bachelor’s degree in biology or a related field, OR 2–5 years of experience in SQF-certified manufacturing or ingredient operations.
• Working understanding of food‑safety principles as applied to warehouse operations and ingredient blending.

• Preferred: SQF Practitioner, HACCP certificate, PCQI certificate.
• Suggested: internal audit training, food‑fraud training, root‑cause analysis training.

• Clear communicator who can motivate people in a fast‑paced environment.
• Continuous‑improvement mindset; detail‑oriented, organized, accurate; strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Able to work independently, show initiative, and stay flexible as priorities shift.
• Builds trust with colleagues and drives…