Quality Lead – Food Manufacturing
About the Role
We're seeking a hands-on Quality Lead to champion food safety, product quality, and continuous improvement in our manufacturing operation. In this role, you'll lead daily quality activities, mentor Quality Control Technicians, and help drive compliance with regulatory and customer requirements. This is an excellent opportunity for a quality professional ready to take on greater leadership responsibility and make a visible impact on plant performance.
Key Responsibilities
Quality & Food Safety Leadership
- Lead daily quality assurance and food safety activities across the facility.
- Serve as the primary resource and escalation point for QC Technicians.
- Ensure compliance with HACCP, GMP, sanitation, allergen, and regulatory requirements.
- Promote a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Team Leadership & Development
- Train, coach, and mentor Quality Control Technicians.
- Support employee development through ongoing feedback and guidance.
- Drive consistent execution of quality standards across all shifts.
Quality Systems & Compliance
- Oversee product, ingredient, packaging, environmental, and allergen monitoring programs.
- Investigate quality issues, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions.
- Maintain accurate quality records and documentation.
- Develop and improve SOPs, work instructions, and quality procedures.
- Support internal audits, customer audits, and regulatory inspections.
Continuous Improvement
- Track and report key quality and food safety metrics.
- Identify opportunities to improve product quality, efficiency, and compliance.
- Partner with cross-functional teams to implement sustainable process improvements.
Qualifications
Required
- 3+ years of Quality Assurance, Food Safety, or Quality experience in food manufacturing.
- Experience leading, mentoring, or serving as a key resource for quality team members.
- Strong knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, FDA/USDA regulations, and food safety systems.
- Experience with inspections, environmental monitoring, allergen control, and quality documentation.
- Strong communication, leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Preferred
- SQF Practitioner certification or internal auditing experience.
- Experience supporting customer audits and FDA/USDA inspections.
- Frozen food manufacturing experience.
- Bilingual English/Spanish.
- Experience analyzing and reporting quality performance metrics.
Why Join Us?
Join a growing organization where you'll have the opportunity to lead quality initiatives, develop team members, and help strengthen food safety and compliance programs. Your expertise will directly impact product quality, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction.
Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract to Hire position based out of Woodridge, IL.
Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $27.00 - $32.00/hr.
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-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace TypeThis is a fully onsite position in Woodridge,IL.
Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Jul 21, 2026.