Lead Quality Control Technician- 1st shift

Job Summary

The Lead Quality Assurance Technician serves as the primary support to the QA Supervisor and acts as a working leader within the Quality Department. This role is responsible for providing day-to-day direction to QA Technicians, ensuring quality systems are executed consistently, supporting food safety and quality initiatives, and maintaining a strong quality presence on the production floor.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the lead technician on shift and provides guidance, training, and support to QA Technicians.
• Supports the QA Supervisor in daily execution of quality and food safety programs.
• Maintains a visible presence on the production floor to ensure quality standards, product specifications, and food safety requirements are consistently met.
• Coaches and guides Quality Technicians on proper procedures, standards, and expectations; reinforces accountability across the team.
• Communicates quality issues, trends, and escalations to the QA Supervisor in a timely and organized manner.
• Performs quality testing and verification activities across all production areas including coffee, tea, flour, mayonnaise, sauces, retains, and bulk operations.
• Conducts in-process inspections, finished product evaluations, sensory analysis, and specification verification.
• Serves as a backup to the QA Supervisor during absences and assists with departmental leadership responsibilities as needed.
• Demonstrates ownership of assigned projects and follows through to completion while meeting established deadlines.
• Follows all safety procedures and participates in safety training; reports injuries, incidents, and unsafe conditions immediately.
• Serves as a resource for production and quality teams.

Qualifications

• Education and Experience: Associates Degree strongly preferred. Minimum of 2 years of experience in a Quality Assurance Lead role.
• Qualifications: Continuous improvement mindset with the ability to proactively lead change within the department and process. Effective presentation, strong organizational skills, and decision-making abilities are essential. Proficiency in MS Office and knowledge of manufacturing software such as Redzone are desirable.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive and thoughtfully designed benefits package that supports the well-being, financial security, and work-life balance of our employees. This includes 10 Paid Company Holidays, Generous Paid Vacation & Sick Time, Comprehensive, Affordable Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage for you and your family, Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contributions, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) & Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA), 401(k) Retirement Plan with company match and discretionary profit sharing, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and financial wellness resources, Company‑Paid Disability, Company‑Paid Life Insurance equal to 3× annual compensation, and more benefits designed to support your health, wealth, and well-being.