Senior Quality Assurance Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Title: 2nd shift Quality Assurance Lead

Location: Franklin Park, IL

Overview:

Sterling has helped build careers for thousands for professionals like yourself. Our expert recruiters support you at every step in the process and as a Best of Staffing company, Sterling provides exciting work with exceptional employers across the U.S.

Hire Type: Direct Hire

Benefits: Medical Dental Vision

Bonus/ Incentives/ Stock Options: 401k

Pay : $21-23/hr

Job Summary:

• A growing food manufacturing organization is seeking a Quality Control Lead to support and strengthen its Food Safety and Quality Assurance programs. This role partners closely with the Quality Control Supervisor to ensure regulatory compliance, product integrity, and adherence to food safety standards within a USDA-regulated processing environment.
  The ideal candidate brings hands-on experience in a protein or meat processing facility and demonstrates strong leadership, problem-solving, and compliance expertise.

Job Duties:

• Support oversight of food safety, product quality, and regulatory compliance initiatives

• Assist with corrective and preventive action (CAPA) processes related to food safety and quality non-conformances

• Help implement and maintain compliance with USDA, FSIS, HACCP, SQF, GMP, and SSOP requirements

• Complete and/or review required daily, weekly, and monthly monitoring documentation

• Oversee sanitation programs, including SSOP adherence and plant housekeeping standards

• Support microbiological sampling and testing programs

• Ensure compliance with Foreign Material Control procedures

• Conduct internal audits, inspections, and verification/validation activities in alignment with SQF standards

• Ensure adherence to product specification programs

• Assist with food safety and quality training initiatives for plant personnel

• Support investigation and resolution of customer complaints

• Provide training and mentorship to QC team members

• Maintain working knowledge of Critical Control Points (CCPs) within a processing environment

• Serve as backup to the Quality Control Supervisor as needed

• Perform additional duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Relevant experience within a meat or protein processing environment required

• HACCP certification preferred

• Strong working knowledge of USDA, FSIS, HACCP, SQF, GMP, SSOP, Quality Assurance, and food microbiology principles

• High school diploma or equivalent required

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Proven decision-making and problem-solving ability

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing setting

• Strong organizational and planning skills

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Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.