3rd - Shift QA Lead

Job Description

Job Description

Locally owned and operated since 1995, Winona Foods is proud to be a growing industry leader in innovative cheese manufacturing, converting, and distribution. We support a wide range of partners — from major dairy manufacturers to industrial and foodservice customers across the country.

If you’re looking for a workplace where people matter, your ideas are valued, and your work makes a real impact on product quality and customer satisfaction, you’ll feel right at home here.

Winona Foods — Imagine the Possibilities!

Job Details:

• Full-time
• 3rd Shift (10:00pm - 6:00am) - Monday through Friday
• $27.00 (with Incentives) 
• Department: Quality Assurance
• Job Location: 1521 Brookfield Avenue, Green Bay, WI 54313
• Full Benefits
• Family-Owned Company with a work/life balance

Position Summary
Under the direction of the QA Manager, the 3rd Shift QA Lead provides on‑shift quality and food safety leadership with a focus on food safety and quality verifications, end‑of‑week sanitation verification,, after‑hours decision support, and cross‑training. The Lead ensures accurate quality documentation, supports investigations, reduces after‑hours escalation to the QA Manager, and cross trains with and supports the QA Tech.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The list of duties and responsibilities is not all inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities, as management may deem necessary from time to time.

Food Safety, Food Quality, & Sanitation

• Complete and document production line inspections as needed and sanitation verification during end of week sanitation; release lines/equipment per procedure.
• Conduct ATP and chemical titration checks and initiate corrective action when needed.
• Support maintenance and accuracy of hold program, reviewing hold log daily, reviewing first pass quality issues, assisting production leadership with inspections and rework follow up and decisions.
• Verify CCP/Preventive Controls and escalate significant deviations to the QA Manager.

Program Support & Continuous Improvement

• Assist the QA Manager in developing, implementing, and maintaining programs required for GFSI (e.g., BRC), customer, and regulatory compliance.
• Support annual document reviews, including SOPs, SSOPs, sanitation procedures, and prerequisite programs.
• Review and verify SSOPs for accuracy, including equipment disassembly/reassembly points, sanitation step sequencing, and chemical usage requirements.
• Review pest control service reports, identify trends, and communicate issues to the QA Manager for follow‑up.
• Perform verifications for prerequisite programs, such as:
  • Glass & brittle plastics inspection
  • Thermometer and scale verification checks
  • Chemical concentration/titration verification
  • Color‑coding/tool control compliance
• Provide feedback to improve sanitation practices, environmental monitoring effectiveness, and pre‑operational readiness.
• Participate in the review and improvement of HACCP/Preventive Controls verification activities as directed by the QA Manager.
• Support implementation of corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), including root cause documentation and evidence gathering.

On‑Shift Leadership & Training

• Provide on‑shift direction and guidance to the 3rd shift QA Tech.
• Train production and sanitation employees on quality checks, documentation, and procedures.
• Serve as primary QA contact on 3rd shift to minimize escalation to the QA Manager except when situations require it.

Audits, Documentation & Data

• Conduct internal audits/inspections during 3rd shift; communicate findings to the QA Manager.
• Maintain accurate, compliant documentation ready for customer or regulatory review.
• Review food safety and quality data (spreadsheets, logs, etc.), identify nonconformances, trend results and notify the QA Manager of nonconformances.
• Support audit readiness for all 3rd‑shift operations and sanitation.

Projects & Continuous Improvement

• Support new item trials occurring on 3rd shift.
• Assist with root cause analysis and corrective actions as directed by the QA Manager.
• Document and update QA Manager on project progress.

Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

• High school diploma or GED required.
• 1-3 years of experience in food manufacturing, food safety, sanitation, or quality required.
• Experience performing basic quality checks, GMP verification, or sanitation/pre‑op tasks required.
• Experience working with HACCP principles, CCPs/PCs, or product inspections preferred.
• Experience conducting line inspections, sanitation verification, or documentation review preferred.
• Prior experience in a lead, trainer, or go‑to person role strongly preferred (does not need to be formal leadership).
• Experience on 3rd shift or in after‑hours operations preferred.
• HACCP certification preferred (or willingness to complete within 6 months).
• Internal Auditor training preferred but not required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Working knowledge of GMPs, basic food safety principles, sanitation steps, and allergen controls.
• Ability to perform and document ATP testing, chemical titrations, thermometer/scale checks, and sanitation verifications.
• Ability to read and follow SOPs, SSOPs, cleaning procedures, line inspection forms, and quality logs.
• Basic understanding of HACCP/Preventive Controls and willingness to learn deeper concepts.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to recognize nonconformances in cleanliness, documentation, or product quality.
• Ability to provide clear, respectful coaching to employees.
• Strong organizational skills to track holds, complete logs accurately, and manage nightly tasks.
• Ability to communicate issues clearly during pass-downs, both written and verbal.
• Comfortable using basic computer tools (email, spreadsheets, shared logs).
• Ability to make sound decisions on shift using established procedures and escalation guidelines.
• Works well independently, especially on night shift where leadership support is limited.
• Ability to collaborate with others to resolve issues

Conditions of Employment:

Candidates subject to a pre-employment background check.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:
Winona Foods is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to these protected characteristics. All employment decisions are made based on qualifications, merit, and business needs, ensuring a fair and equitable hiring process.

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