Lead Quality Technician

Job Description

Job Description

Lead Quality Technician

Food Manufacturing | Quality Assurance & Food Safety

Make an Impact on Product Quality and Food Safety

Are you passionate about food safety, quality systems, and continuous improvement? We're seeking a Lead Quality Technician to play a critical role in ensuring products meet the highest standards of quality, safety, and regulatory compliance before reaching customers.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Quality Technician who enjoys a mix of laboratory and production-floor responsibilities and is ready to take on a leadership role. You'll serve as a key resource for the Quality team, help guide day-to-day activities, and work cross-functionally with Operations, Maintenance, and Warehouse teams to maintain exceptional product quality standards.

What You'll DoQuality Testing & Product Release

• Perform laboratory testing and analysis on raw materials, in-process materials, and finished products.
• Conduct chemical and quality evaluations to verify compliance with specifications.
• Review production records, quality documentation, and test results.
• Make product release, hold, and disposition decisions based on established quality standards.
• Maintain retained samples and support traceability requirements.

Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with GMPs, GLPs, HACCP principles, food safety requirements, and internal procedures.
• Perform environmental monitoring activities, including:
  • Swabbing programs
  • Water testing
  • Air quality monitoring
  • Glass and brittle plastic inspections
• Support calibration and verification programs for laboratory and quality equipment.
• Coordinate sample submissions to external laboratories as needed.

Audits & Continuous Improvement

• Participate in internal quality and food safety audits.
• Support customer, regulatory, and certification audits.
• Conduct facility inspections and document findings.
• Assist with corrective and preventive action (CAPA) activities.
• Investigate quality concerns, customer complaints, food safety findings, and product deviations.
• Support ongoing improvements to quality systems, processes, and procedures.

Leadership & Team Support

• Help coordinate daily activities and priorities for the Quality Technician team.
• Train and mentor new team members.
• Provide support and coverage during team absences.
• Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Warehouse, and Production teams to address quality concerns.
• Serve as a hands-on quality resource across laboratory and manufacturing environments.

Materials & Inventory Quality Control

• Perform raw material inspections and sampling.
• Manage held and non-conforming materials.
• Ensure proper documentation, segregation, and disposition of inventory.
• Support investigations related to materials, product quality, and manufacturing processes.

What We're Looking ForRequired Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Three or more years of experience in a Quality Technician, Quality Assurance, or Quality Control role.
• Experience in a food manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of food safety and quality systems.
• Ability to interpret testing data and make informed quality decisions.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and documentation practices.
• Basic computer proficiency.

Preferred Qualifications

• Coursework or degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, or a related scientific field.
• Experience with laboratory testing and environmental monitoring programs.
• Knowledge of GMPs, GLPs, HACCP, and food safety programs.
• Experience participating in audits and CAPA investigations.
• PCQI certification or willingness to obtain certification.
• Experience training, mentoring, or providing direction to others.

Why You'll Love This Opportunity

• Take on a visible leadership role while remaining hands-on in quality operations.
• Work in a collaborative environment where quality and food safety are top priorities.
• Gain exposure to a wide range of laboratory, manufacturing, and compliance activities.
• Play a direct role in continuous improvement initiatives and product quality excellence.
• Build your career with a growing organization committed to operational excellence and employee development.

Work Environment

This position includes a combination of laboratory work and manufacturing floor support, with approximately 50-60% of time spent in the lab and 40-50% in production areas .

Responsibilities involve:

• Product testing and sample preparation
• Environmental monitoring and inspections
• Auditing and quality documentation review
• Collaboration with production and operational teams
• Walking throughout manufacturing areas
• Occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds
• Exposure to varying temperatures, humidity levels, laboratory chemicals, and food manufacturing environments

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-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 Type

This is a fully onsite position in Saint Louis,MO.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 5, 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 withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email View email address on ziprecruiter.com for other accommodation options.

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

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall 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 applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.