Lead Quality Technician

Job Title:

Lead Quality Technician

Job Description

The Lead Quality Technician ensures that all products meet stringent food safety and quality standards before release for shipment. This hands-on role is split between the laboratory and production floor, performing testing, inspections, audits, and quality checks while coordinating the daily activities of the Quality Technician team. The position provides leadership and work direction without direct management responsibility and plays a key role in verifying that raw materials, packaging, labels, and finished products comply with company and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

+ Perform laboratory testing on raw materials and finished products to verify compliance with food safety and quality specifications.

+ Conduct chemical analyses and detailed quality checks, accurately record results, and review production paperwork and quality records.

+ Approve product for shipment or place product on hold based on test results and established quality criteria.

+ Maintain retained product samples for future reference and traceability.

+ Follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs), food safety requirements, and company procedures at all times.

+ Perform environmental monitoring activities, including swabbing, water testing, air quality testing, and inspections of glass and brittle plastic.

+ Support calibration programs by helping to maintain and verify the accuracy of laboratory and testing equipment.

+ Submit samples to third-party laboratories when required and track results for follow-up actions.

+ Participate in internal GMP audits and help prepare for customer, regulatory, and certification audits.

+ Conduct facility inspections, document findings, and ensure that corrective actions are implemented and completed.

+ Manage held or non-conforming inventory, ensuring proper documentation, segregation, and control of affected materials.

+ Perform raw material sampling and inspections and make disposition decisions regarding product release or hold status.

+ Help prioritize daily work for Quality Technicians to ensure timely completion of testing and inspections.

+ Train new Quality Technicians and provide ongoing guidance and support to the team.

+ Provide coverage for technician absences or vacations to maintain continuity of quality operations.

+ Communicate quality concerns and findings clearly to Operations, Maintenance, Warehouse, and leadership teams.

+ Cross-train and work in multiple laboratory areas to support flexibility and coverage within the quality function.

+ Support investigations related to customer complaints, food safety issues, environmental monitoring findings, and quality deviations.

+ Assist with the development and implementation of corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).

+ Help improve quality management systems, procedures, and documentation to drive continuous improvement in food safety and product quality.

Essential Skills

+ At least 3 years of experience working in a food manufacturing environment in a quality role.

+ Minimum of 3 years of experience as a Quality Technician or in a similar quality assurance or quality control position.

+ High school diploma.

+ Hands-on experience with quality assurance and quality control in food manufacturing.

+ Solid understanding of food safety and quality systems and how they apply in a manufacturing setting.

+ Ability to interpret testing data accurately and make sound quality decisions based on established criteria.

+ Basic computer skills for data entry, documentation, and use of laboratory or quality systems.

+ Strong attention to detail with excellent documentation and record-keeping skills.

+ Ability to work effectively in both laboratory and production environments and collaborate with cross-functional teams.

Additional

Skills & Qualifications

+ College coursework in Chemistry, Food Science, Biology, or a related scientific field.

+

Experience with sensory evaluation and product sensory testing.

+ Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs), HACCP, and other food safety programs.

+ Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) certification or willingness to obtain this certification.

+ Experience training others, mentoring, or providing work direction within a technical or quality team.

+ Comfort working with laboratory chemicals and food manufacturing microorganisms while following appropriate safety procedures.

+ Strong communication skills to clearly convey quality expectations and findings to operations and support teams.

+ Ability to multitask, prioritize workload, and adapt to changing production and testing demands.

Work Environment

This role follows a Monday through Friday schedule from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and is split between laboratory and production floor settings. Approximately 50-60% of the time is spent in the laboratory performing product testing, sample preparation, record keeping, environmental monitoring, and data review using…