Quality Assurance Specialist

Job Title: Quality Assurance Specialist

Job Description

The Quality Assurance Specialist plays a critical role in ensuring that all food products consistently meet high standards of quality, safety, and regulatory compliance. This position combines on-floor inspection with detailed documentation work, supporting robust food safety programs, driving continuous improvement, and safeguarding product integrity for a rapidly growing food manufacturing and distribution organization.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain food safety policies, procedures, and standards to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
• Conduct regular inspections and audits of facilities, equipment, and processes to identify potential hazards and verify adherence to food safety protocols.
• Perform a combination of on-floor quality inspections and documentation activities, spending approximately 2–3 hours per day on documentation and the remainder on quality-related work.
• Lead and document audits, including Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) audits, monthly audits, sanitation audits, and bottle inspections for glass and related risks.
• Monitor and manage allergen testing programs, ensuring proper procedures, documentation, and follow-up actions when necessary.
• Oversee metal detection activities, ensuring equipment performance, proper verification, and thorough documentation of results.
• Coordinate microbiological testing by performing environmental and product swabbing, submitting samples to external laboratories, and organizing all test results.
• Analyze microbiological and other testing results, identify out-of-specification findings, and lead root cause analyses to determine sources of issues and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Provide training and education to employees on proper food handling, sanitation, and hygiene practices to minimize the risk of foodborne illnesses and contamination.
• Monitor and analyze food safety metrics, including microbiological testing results, sanitation records, and other key performance indicators, to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Stay current with changes in food safety regulations, such as FDA Food Code and FSMA, as well as industry trends, and communicate relevant updates to management and staff.
• Respond to customer inquiries and concerns related to food safety issues, ensuring timely, accurate, and professional resolution.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for regulatory agencies during inspections and audits, ensuring accurate reporting and appropriate follow-up on any findings.
• Oversee the maintenance and organization of food safety records and documentation, including HACCP plans, sanitation logs, training records, and audit reports.
• Participate in cross-functional teams and committees focused on continuous improvement initiatives related to food safety, quality, and compliance.
• Collaborate with distributed teams across multiple locations, including international teams, using email and collaboration tools to ensure clear, timely communication.
• Work independently and make sound decisions in a dynamic environment where leadership may be off-site, demonstrating strong judgment and accountability.
• Contribute to shaping and refining processes, policies, and procedures in a growing organization where many systems are still being formalized.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Environmental Health, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in food safety management or a related role within the food industry.
• HACCP Certification, with the ability to develop, maintain, and manage HACCP plans.
• PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) Certification, enabling oversight of preventive controls and testing programs.
• In-depth knowledge of food safety regulations, including FDA Food Code and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
• Strong understanding of food microbiology, hazard analysis, and risk assessment principles.
• Hands-on experience with quality assurance in a food manufacturing or distribution environment, including inspections and audits.
• Proficiency in conducting GMP, sanitation, and facility audits and documenting findings.
• Experience with allergen management, metal detection, and microbiological testing workflows.
• Strong computer and documentation skills, including accurate record-keeping and data organization.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to convey technical information clearly.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Comfort working independently and making decisions when leadership is not on-site.
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional and geographically dispersed teams using digital communication tools.

This is a Permanent position based out of Elk Grove Village, IL.

The pay range for this position is $75000.00 - $85000.00/yr.

standard benefits: 401(k) Dental insurance Health insurance Paid time off

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

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 16, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.

Salary : $75,000 - $85,000