Quality Assurance Specialist

Quality Assurance SpecialistThe Quality Assurance Specialist plays a key role in ensuring consistent product quality and reliable processes within a manufacturing environment focused on paints, coatings, adhesives, or chemicals. This role develops and maintains product and process specifications, designs inspection and testing procedures, and supports scale-up of new technologies to prevent quality issues before production. The specialist also serves as a primary point of contact for quality-related customer concerns, leading investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective actions to drive continuous improvement.ResponsibilitiesParticipate in the development of product and process specifications to ensure clear, consistent quality standards.Create and implement inspection and testing criteria or procedures for quality control across products and processes.Coordinate the selection and implementation of quality control equipment, including inspection gauges and related tools.Review and update standard operating procedures and quality assurance manuals to maintain current and effective documentation.Document key risks, controls, and assessments of adequacy to support robust quality management and risk mitigation.Create, implement, and maintain comprehensive processes that improve clarity, consistency, and overall quality performance.Assist in scale-up studies and the review and verification of new technology and equipment to predict and prevent quality issues prior to the first production batch.Identify critical points in the operations process and specify sampling procedures to be used at these points.Conduct experiments to identify abnormal product quality, including issues with raw materials, and determine the root cause of problems.Research identified discrepancies to determine root causes and provide recommendations on how to mitigate associated risks.Work closely with technical and operations teams to resolve and prevent new product scale-up issues.Investigate customer issues related to quality concerns, including paint, process, containers, or delivery aspects.Determine short-term immediate countermeasures and containment activities to help customers resume production, prevent off-quality outflow to other customers, and contain off-quality materials within the facility and external warehouses.Create detailed root cause analysis and investigation reports for internal stakeholders and external customers.Analyze customer complaints for patterns and trends, summarize findings, and recommend corrective actions based on identified trends.Monitor the performance of quality control systems to ensure effectiveness and efficiency, recommending improvements as needed.Report and track significant deviations from quality standards and lead the identification and implementation of corrective actions as part of continuous improvement and PDCA projects.Produce reports regarding nonconformance of products or processes, root cause analysis outcomes, and quality trends.Participate in root cause analysis of off-quality batches to drive corrective and preventive actions.Represent the Quality Department in meetings with customers or suppliers to discuss quality performance, issues, and improvements.Travel to customer or supplier locations as a quality representative when necessary to support investigations, relationship management, and quality initiatives.Manage and respond to customer complaints, ensuring timely investigation, communication, and resolution.QualificationsBachelor's degree in Chemistry.3+ years of chemistry experience in paints, coatings, adhesives, or chemicals.Strong understanding of quality assurance principles and practices in a manufacturing or process environment.Ability to develop and implement inspection and testing criteria and procedures for quality control.Experience conducting experiments to investigate abnormal product quality and raw material issues.Proven ability to perform root cause analysis and develop effective corrective and preventive actions.Capability to document risks, controls, and adequacy assessments in a structured and clear manner.Experience handling and resolving customer complaints related to product quality.Strong analytical skills to identify patterns and trends in quality data and customer feedback.Effective communication skills to prepare clear reports and represent the Quality Department in internal and external meetings.Ability to collaborate with technical and operations teams to resolve scale-up and production quality issues.Willingness and ability to travel to customers or suppliers when required.Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract to Hire position based out of Lansing, IL.Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $31.00 - $40.00/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 Lansing, IL.Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Aug 17, 2026.