Food Safety & Quality Assurance Technologist

The position is part of the Food Safety & Quality Assurance team, ensuring products meet the highest standards through routine sanitation checks, HACCP and USDA regulation enforcement, and end-to-end product tracking. You will monitor quality, document results, oversee sanitation and GMPs, and collaborate with production teams to resolve issues, investigate root causes, and improve processes. Your role supports quality programs through training and performance assessment, ensuring brand safety and confidence.

Responsibilities

• Quality Verification: Conduct routine inspections (process, metal detection, cooking, chilling) to ensure products meet quality standards. Identify and act on out-of-spec products, interpret customer specs, and collaborate with teams to correct issues quickly.
• Quality Improvement: Drive continuous improvement by addressing deficiencies, identifying root causes of failures, and supporting QA programs. Includes training, spec reviews, and collaborating on initiatives to enhance product quality and reduce waste.
• Food Safety & HACCP Compliance: Help develop and enforce HACCP programs, monitor critical control points, and ensure food safety protocols are followed throughout production.
• Regulatory & Sanitation Oversight: Ensure USDA regulatory requirements are met, assist with food safety documentation updates, and perform pre-op sanitation checks. Follow up to guarantee proper cleaning and sampling procedures.
• Communication & Training: Report food safety issues, recommend corrective actions, and support plant training on deficiencies. Prepared to step in or delegate responsibilities in the absence of key personnel.

Requirements

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED), required. For internal candidates with 4+ years of experience, the company may waive educational requirements.
• Ability to complete required forms in English (read and write).
• Knowledge of quality assurance principles, food science, meat processing, and USDA regulations to ensure compliance with company and industry standards.
• Capability to create, interpret, and maintain technical documents, reports, and manuals with effective written and verbal communication across teams and stakeholders.
• Experience using monitoring equipment, analyzing data, and responding to regulatory or customer inquiries with evidence-based decisions.
• Proficiency in office software and ability to interpret and follow instructions in written, oral, and visual formats.

Skills

• Associate’s degree, preferred.
• Collaborates effectively in fast-paced, dynamic environments while maintaining a respectful, approachable, and team-oriented attitude to foster strong working relationships and a positive workplace culture.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Office and plant setting with wet or humid conditions, extreme cold and heat (non-weather related), moving mechanical parts, fumes, airborne particles, and chemicals.
• Noise level is usually moderate but can be loud in production areas.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision requirements: close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.
• Exposed to temperatures ranging from 30–80 degrees, often working in warm and cold areas simultaneously.
• Frequently required to stand for prolonged periods; walk; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear.

Pay

The expected pay range for this position is $19.23–$28.85 per hour. Individual compensation is determined based on scope, responsibilities, location, qualifications, experience, internal equity, market pay for comparable positions, and budget considerations.

Benefits

Base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive total rewards package. Learn more about our benefits package here.