Quality Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Quality Specialist
Job Description

The Quality Specialist acts as a guardian of quality and compliance by design, ensuring that all projects from idea to launch meet defined quality, food safety, and regulatory requirements. This role serves as the primary quality representative for assigned Category 1, 2, and 3 projects and leads the development of pHACCP and rMMS quality monitoring elements for new products and technologies. The position supports innovation and renovation initiatives by embedding quality deliverables throughout all project stages, while also contributing to the management system through internal audits and continuous improvement activities.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the quality representative for assigned Category 1, 2, and 3 projects from idea to launch, ensuring quality requirements and deliverables are fully met.
• Design, develop, and maintain pHACCP and rMMS quality monitoring components for new product and technology projects.
• Perform comprehensive food safety assessments for new products and technologies and translate findings into robust pHACCP and rMMS plans.
• Support factories in the implementation of pHACCP, rMMS, and other quality by design elements, providing hands-on guidance as needed.
• Act as a project team member on innovation and renovation projects, ensuring quality function deliverables are integrated throughout all project stages.
• Ensure effective transfer of quality and food safety technical knowledge to operations through engagement, training, and structured project handovers.
• Deliver training to cross-functional teams to build understanding and capability in quality and food safety requirements relevant to their roles.
• Ensure full compliance with internal standards, external regulations, and applicable regulatory requirements related to quality and food safety.
• Promote adherence to the management system requirements and other applicable standards across relevant functions and processes.
• Serve as a member of the internal audit team, planning and conducting audits of processes and areas in line with the internal audit plan.
• Document and report audit findings, support the development of corrective and preventive actions, and follow up to verify effective implementation.
• Support visits and inspections from regulatory bodies such as FDA and USDA, as well as external certification bodies, including preparation and follow-up activities.
• Contribute to preparation efforts to obtain and maintain ISO and NMS certifications by supporting documentation, implementation, and verification activities.
• Provide technical assistance and guidance to quality functions in factories and application groups to resolve issues and strengthen quality systems.
• Support business change initiatives by contributing quality expertise to change efforts and improvement projects.
• Participate in audit teams and improvement projects to identify opportunities for strengthening quality management systems and processes.
• Establish and maintain networks of peers in markets or factories to share best practices and support consistent application of quality standards.

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Pharmacy, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Food Science, or an equivalent scientific or technical discipline.
• Professional experience in the food industry within quality, research and development, or manufacturing functions.
• Proven competence in a quality-related role within a factory environment, demonstrating the ability to support business requirements.
• Experience as a HACCP team member, including practical involvement in hazard analysis and critical control point implementation.
• Experience with quality by design concepts and their application to new products and technologies.
• Hands-on experience with ingredient specifications and their role in quality and food safety assurance.
• Knowledge of quality management systems (QMS) and practical experience with quality assurance and quality control activities.
• Experience with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in a food industry context.
• Experience participating in audit teams, including planning, execution, and follow-up of internal or external audits.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to or lead parts of change efforts related to quality or process improvement.
• Strong project management skills to support quality deliverables across innovation and renovation projects.
• Ability to train and engage cross-functional teams on quality and food safety requirements and practices.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with factories, application groups, and cross-functional stakeholders.

• ISO 9001 certification experience is preferred.
• FSSC certification experience is preferred.
• Experience supporting preparation and maintenance of ISO and NMS certifications.
• Experience supporting visits and audits from regulatory bodies such as FDA or USDA and external certification bodies.
• Experience establishing networks of peers across markets or factories to share best practices in quality and food safety.
• Exposure to structured improvement projects and change management initiatives in a quality or manufacturing environment.

This full-time position is based on-site in Bridgewater, NJ, with a standard work schedule of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The role operates within a professional environment that combines office-based responsibilities with regular interaction with factory and application group settings. The Quality Specialist works closely with cross-functional teams, participates in internal audits, and supports external regulatory and certification visits, requiring attention to detail, adherence to documented procedures, and consistent application of quality and food safety standards.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Bridgewater, NJ.

The pay range for this position is $30.00 - $30.00/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)

This is a fully onsite position in Bridgewater,NJ.

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 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 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.

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 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 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.