Quality Assurance Specialist

About the Role

We are looking for a detail-oriented quality professional to support and strengthen food safety, product quality, and compliance initiatives throughout a growing food manufacturing operation. This position offers a balance of production-floor engagement and administrative responsibilities, including oversight of quality systems, auditing activities, investigations, and process improvement efforts. The ideal candidate enjoys working cross-functionally, identifying opportunities for improvement, and helping create a culture of quality and accountability.

Responsibilities

• Support the ongoing development, implementation, and maintenance of food safety and quality management programs.
• Conduct routine inspections of manufacturing areas, sanitation practices, employee GMP compliance, and facility conditions to verify adherence to established standards.
• Coordinate environmental monitoring activities, collect and manage product samples, and maintain testing records.
• Oversee allergen management procedures, foreign material prevention controls, and microbiological verification programs.
• Respond to quality concerns by conducting investigations, identifying contributing factors, and driving corrective and preventive actions.
• Maintain food safety plans, program documentation, regulatory records, training files, and quality performance metrics.
• Deliver training and coaching related to food safety requirements, sanitation expectations, and quality best practices.
• Assist during customer audits, third-party assessments, and regulatory inspections while serving as a quality resource for internal teams.
• Collaborate with operations, production, sanitation, and leadership teams to improve systems, reduce risk, and support operational objectives.
• Allocate a portion of each day to recordkeeping and documentation activities while remaining actively involved in production-floor quality oversight.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Environmental Health, or another relevant scientific discipline.
• Minimum of 3+ years of experience in a food manufacturing quality, food safety, or compliance-focused position.
• Current HACCP and Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) certifications.
• Familiarity with FDA requirements, FSMA regulations, Good Manufacturing Practices, allergen control programs, and product safety principles.
• Experience managing audit activities, coordinating laboratory testing programs, and implementing corrective action initiatives.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple projects and maintain attention to detail.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, along with a proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Comfortable working independently and exercising sound judgment in a fast-paced production setting.

Preferred Qualifications

• SQF Practitioner certification.
• Experience in food manufacturing, distribution, or imported food products.
• Experience developing or improving quality systems in a growing organization.
• Bilingual or multilingual capabilities.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $75,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year.

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule

This is a permanent, fully onsite position based in Elk Grove Village, IL.