QA Lead, Manufacturing ​/ Production, Quality Control ​/ Manager

Location: Random Lake

Job Title:

QA Lead

Job Description

The QA Lead oversees daily quality and laboratory operations within a beverage manufacturing facility, ensuring products meet all customer, regulatory, and company standards. This role assigns, instructs, and checks the work of lab and blending employees, supports scheduling, and provides leadership in problem-solving for blend, quality, equipment, and staffing issues. The QA Lead partners closely with quality leadership to drive projects, maintain documentation, uphold Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), and ensure consistent compliance with quality and food safety management systems.

Responsibilities

* Assign, instruct, and regularly check the work of scheduled lab and blending employees to ensure accurate and efficient completion of tasks.

* Assist with weekly scheduling of lab and blending employees to support production and quality needs.

* Oversee proper documentation throughout the laboratory and blend rooms to ensure complete, accurate, and compliant records.

* Identify and resolve daily issues such as blend problems, quality deviations, equipment concerns, and staffing challenges, and promptly inform the Lab Manager.

* Assist the Quality Manager in leading quality department projects, including sorts, product holds, retests, and other continuous improvement initiatives.

* Hold self and the quality team accountable for implementing current and future department and company-wide policies and procedures.

* Review all lab and blend specifications daily, prepare Corrective Actions when results do not meet standards or specifications, and advise the Lab Manager.

* Ensure completion of required reports, including but not limited to brittle plastic/glass reports and hold report reviews, according to the established schedule.

* Document and communicate test results in accordance with customer standards, quality requirements, and applicable Federal, State, and Local regulations.

* Ensure current production forms are available in the lunchroom for Production's use and are kept up to date.

* Operate within safety and quality standards, including Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and adherence to job specifications.

* Participate in the interview process for new staff as needed and support new employee training on Quality Department policies and procedures.

* Read and comprehend job standards and ensure products consistently meet quality standards and specifications, including coding, carbonation (if required), pressures, air, pH, brix, caffeine (if required), acid levels, weights, temperatures, and time and temperature parameters.

* Maintain accurate records and oversee the maintenance and purchase of laboratory equipment, including scheduling annual calibration and arranging repairs as needed.

* Communicate effectively with other Leads, Production, Managers, and Warehouse personnel to share information and ensure the department runs smoothly during the shift.

* Manage the purchasing and inventory of plant operating supplies, including laboratory testing chemicals, laboratory equipment, GMP/PPE materials (such as gloves, paper towels, hand soap), and production supplies (such as pallet tags and charts).

* Serve as a verifier for bottle and case coding to ensure correct and compliant coding practices.

* Assist in reviewing and revising Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for approval by the Lab Manager.

* Review raw ingredients and oversee processes within guidelines to meet and maintain Kosher standards.

* Conduct daily testing of finished products for yeast, mold, and coliforms to verify microbiological quality.

* Provide backup support for Lab Technicians, Blenders, the Microbiologist/Lab Technician, and Food Safety functions as needed.

* Support receiving operations for high fructose and CO2 delivery trucks, ensuring proper quality checks and documentation.

* Fill in on production lines or special projects as scheduled to support operational needs.

* Provide coverage for absences to maintain continuity of quality and lab operations.

* Perform any other duties and projects assigned by laboratory or quality leadership to support departmental and company objectives.

Essential Skills

* High school diploma required.

* Previous laboratory or quality control experience required, with experience in the Food and Beverage industry preferred.

* Basic knowledge of microbiology sufficient to accurately perform testing procedures and obtain reliable results.

* Basic knowledge of laboratory safety procedures and policies to ensure a safe working environment.

* Ability to fully comply with Quality Management System policies and procedures and Food Safety Management requirements.

* Ability to work overtime as needed to support production and quality demands.

* Ability to effectively communicate, read, and comprehend instructions and procedures in English.

* Strong analytical skills with a high attention to detail.

* Ability to prioritize workload and adjust to shifting daily priorities based on business needs.

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