Food Safety Quality Assurance (FSQA) Technician

Job Description

Job Description

THE COMPANY

Website:

Company Values :

Quality - It’s about the best people, products & processes

Experts -We are knowledge leaders trusted by our industry, customers and consumers

Integrity -We act honestly, ethically and with transparency

Innovation -We continually seek out creative and effective solutions

Collaboration -We work together and support each other in achieving excellence

Heritage -Our brand is firmly rooted in family. You are part of the family

Nielsen-Massey is a leader in the specialty foods world, specifically in the production and marketing of the world’s finest vanillas and flavors. The company operates a branded consumer goods business (CPG/B2C) as well as a business-to-business (B2B) ingredient and flavor business. The portfolio includes various forms of pure and natural vanilla ingredients, extracts, pastes, and powders plus other flavor extracts including: lemon, almond, chocolate, coffee, peppermint, and rosewater to wholesale, culinary, and industrial customers throughout the world. The global headquarters and state-of-the-art production facility are in Waukegan, Illinois, with an additional plant in the Netherlands. The brand is well established with culinary professionals and big branded players as the premiere vanilla brand in the marketplace while the next phase of growth will come from expanding the brand to a broader base of consumers via an aggressive retail and eCommerce strategy as well as diversifying and expanding the ingredient and flavor business.

Nielsen-Massey Vanillas (NMV) was founded in 1907 and is still owned by three members of the Nielsen family, who work as senior executives at the company. The fiduciary Board is composed of a majority of independent directors as well as the three family shareholders. The four independent members all have CEO experience in a variety of industries, including CPG, eCommerce and Industrial/ Manufacturing.

The Company is committed to sustaining the plants, people and communities that supply their ingredients. Since 1907, NMV has demonstrated its commitment to civic and social responsibility. The company’s Community Relations initiatives encompass three main objectives: building relationships with the communities in which they live and work; showing their commitment through financial contributions to charities in support of education, youth, veterans and the environment, actively promoting volunteer service among their employees -- and demonstrating as a team that they make a difference.

NMV supports approximately 18 organizations that represent their mission-driven values. They published their first annual “Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibilities Report” in 2018. Some past ESG programs include the funding of a new Malagasy school and the construction of a solar-powered water pump in the Madagascar Village that grows Nielsen-Massey’s fair-trade vanilla.

In 2009, The Nielsen-Massey Foundation was founded with a mission to assist disadvantaged children and adults with education and leadership development, especially in the field of culinary arts. The Foundation also considers requests for assistance in the development of sustainable environmental practices or for programs benefiting people in countries of need. The Foundation’s board of directors consists of Craig, Beth and Matt Nielsen—third-generation owners of Nielsen-Massey Vanillas—and their mother, Camilla.

Throughout its more than 110-year history as a family business, NMV is proudly and fully committed to the ethical manner in it conducts business, including how employees and customers are treated. As a company, NMV remains committed to honesty and integrity, as well as openness and respect for the rights and interests of its employees. Employees are “treated like family,” in particular, with generous health care benefits.

OPPORTUNITY

Position: Food Safety Quality Assurance (FSQA) Technician

Reports to: FSQA Supervisor

Location: Waukegan, Illinois, about 40 miles north of Chicago’s Loop (Full time on site).

Hourly Rate: $22-$25 (Compensation is based on education, skills, experience and other job-related factors.)

Position Summary:

At Nielsen-Massey Vanillas, we are dedicated to producing the world’s finest vanillas and pure flavor extracts. The QA Technician plays a critical role in upholding this legacy of premium quality and food safety. Operating directly on the production floor and in the laboratory during the first Shift, you will monitor, verify, and document day-to-day food safety practices. Your keen attention to detail ensures that every bottle leaves our facility in strict compliance with safety regulations, product specifications, and company standards.

• Department: Innovation Quality and Compliance
• Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt
• Work Setting: Laboratory, Office and Manufacturing floor presence.

Key Responsibilities:

• Line Clearance & Inspections: Perform comprehensive pre-operational and post-operational facility inspections to guarantee optimal sanitary conditions before and after production runs.
• Laboratory Testing: Conduct basic laboratory testing on raw materials, in-process products, and finished goods to ensure adherence to quality and purity specifications.
• Regulatory Compliance: Conduct routine Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) audits on the floor and monitor Critical Control Points (CCPs) to ensure full HACCP program compliance.
• Packaging Verification: Execute systematic label checks, package integrity inspections, and weight/volume verifications to prevent defects and cross-contamination.
• Sanitation & Environmental Testing: Perform sanitation checks and execute the facility's environmental monitoring program through routine swabbing.
• Data & Record Management: Conduct thorough record checks of production logs, instrument calibrations, and quality paperwork to maintain meticulous traceability.
• Quality Holds: Identify and place out-of-specification or non-conforming materials on QA Hold status, assisting the FSQA Supervisor with root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Internal Communication : Close cooperation with the Regulatory, Sustainability, Procurement, R and D and Operations, and Marketing teams to prepare for and implement upcoming supplier requirements to ensure seamless transition.
• Team Player : Performs other related duties as assigned.

Personal Characteristics:

• Attendance : Must be punctual and timely in meeting all requirements of performance, including, but not limited to, attendance standards and work deadlines; beginning and ending assignments on time; and scheduled work breaks; where applicable.

COMPETENCIES:

• To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Intellectual

• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations.

Interpersonal

• Internal Working Relationships - Develops and maintains courteous and effective working relationships with inter and intra departmental colleagues; Meets commitments.
• External Working Relationships – Develops and maintains courteous and effective working relationships with clients, vendors and/or any other representatives of external organizations.

Knowledge and Characteristics:

MUSTS:

• Education: High School Diploma with Quality Assurance Experience in Food manufacturing is a must. Bachelors Degree in Food Science or similar preferred.
• Experience : Minimum 5 years of Quality Assurance or Quality Control experience within a food or beverage manufacturing environment, or 1-2 years experience with a degree.
• Regulatory Knowledge : Proven familiarity with GMPs, HACCP principles, and general food safety regulations.
• Skills: Strict attention to detail and a highly analytical mindset.
• Communication : Ability to professionally communicate quality deviations to production supervisors and floor staff.
• Physical : Ability to stand and walk on the manufacturing floor for long periods and lift up to 30 lbs.
• Certifications : Preferred certifications include HACCP and or PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual)
• Collaboration : Demonstrated ability to collaborate and influence cross-functionally in a global business environment.
• Communication : Strong written and verbal communication skills.

PREFERRED:

• Lab Skills: Experience performing basic laboratory testing and using standard lab equipment.
• Languages: Bilingual English and Spanish

Benefits

• 401k Plan and up to 4% company matching
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Health Reimbursement Arrangement or Health Savings Account
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) - Health, Dependent Care, and Commuter
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid Parental Leave
• Bereavement
• Short Term Disability
• Weekly paychecks
• Rewards & Recognition Programs
• Employee Referral Program
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
• Annual Bonus Program