Lead Quality Technician Job Description The Lead Quality Technician ensures that products meet food safety and quality standards before being released for shipment. This role involves time spent in both the laboratory and production areas performing testing, inspections, audits, and quality checks, while helping coordinate the daily activities of the Quality Technician team. This is a hands-on quality role with some leadership responsibilities but is not a management position.
Responsibilities Perform laboratory testing on raw materials and finished products. Conduct chemical analysis and quality checks. Review production paperwork and quality records. Approve or place products on hold based on test results. Maintain retained product samples for future reference. Follow GMPs, GLPs, food safety, and company procedures. Perform environmental monitoring including swabbing, water testing, air quality testing, and brittle plastic inspections.
Support calibration programs for testing equipment. Submit samples to third-party laboratories when required. Participate in internal GMP audits. Help prepare for customer, regulatory, and certification audits. Conduct facility inspections. Document findings and ensure corrective actions are completed. Manage held or non-conforming inventory. Ensure proper documentation and segregation of materials.
Perform raw material sampling and inspections. Make disposition decisions regarding product release or hold status. Help prioritize work for Quality Technicians. Train new technicians. Provide coverage for technician absences or vacations. Communicate quality concerns to Operations, Maintenance, Warehouse, and Management. Cross-train and work in multiple lab areas. Support investigations related to customer complaints, food safety issues, environmental monitoring findings, and quality deviations.
Assist with corrective and preventive actions (CAPA). Help improve quality management systems and procedures. Essential Skills High school diploma. 3+ years of Quality Technician experience. Experience in food manufacturing. Understanding of food safety and quality systems. Basic computer skills. Ability to interpret testing data and make quality decisions. Strong attention to detail and documentation skills.
Additional Skills & Qualifications College coursework in Chemistry, Food Science, Biology, or related field. Experience with sensory evaluation/testing. Knowledge of GMPs, GLPs, HACCP, and food safety programs. Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) certification or willingness to obtain it. Experience training others or providing work direction. Work Environment The role involves working in the laboratory (50-60%) and on the production floor (40-50%).
Activities include product testing, sample preparation, record keeping, environmental monitoring, data review, quality inspections, audits, raw material checks, investigations, and interaction with operators and supervisors. Physical requirements include walking throughout manufacturing areas, climbing ladders, lifting up to 25 pounds, exposure to varying temperatures and humidity, handling laboratory chemicals, and exposure to food manufacturing microorganisms.
Job Type & Location This is a Contract position based out of Saint Louis, MO. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $28.00 - $36.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment.
Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre