Quality Control Specialist

About Circle U Foods, Inc. At Circle U Foods, we’re passionate about delivering high-quality products and outstanding service. Our mission is simple: exceed expectations through innovation, efficiency, and a commitment to food safety. We’re proud of our inclusive culture that celebrates diversity and empowers our team to thrive. We strive to create an environment that drives accountability and continuous improvement. With a focus on safety, transparency, and ethical practices, we partner with our customers and stakeholders to build lasting value. Circle U Foods is more than a business—we’re a family dedicated to making a positive impact in our industry and community. Job Summary The Quality Control (QC) Specialist is responsible for reviewing, verifying, and maintaining quality documentation and product records to support product release, traceability, regulatory compliance, and food safety requirements. This role evaluates Certificates of Analysis (COAs), production documentation, labels, specifications, and supporting quality records to ensure raw materials, packaging, and finished products meet company, customer, and SQF standards. The QC Specialist is expected to assess documentation and quality concerns independently, make routine quality decisions within established guidelines, and take appropriate action when discrepancies or compliance concerns are identified. This role plays a key part in verifying release readiness, maintaining traceability accuracy, supporting raw material hold management, and ensuring documentation integrity before escalation to Quality Management. This position requires strong judgment, accountability, attention to detail, and the confidence to hold product, challenge discrepancies, and speak up when something does not meet quality or food safety expectations. Key Responsibilities Sample & Documentation Management Review, organize, and maintain QC-related documentation for raw materials, production runs, and finished products. Verify sample records, QC approvals, COAs, labels, specifications, formulas, and supporting documentation for accuracy, consistency, and compliance prior to release or filing. Maintain accurate physical and electronic quality records in accordance with company, customer, and SQF requirements. Coordinate scanning, archiving, and digital storage of quality documentation. Collaborate with the Purchasing team to track incoming purchase orders and required vendor documentation. Request, review, and verify vendor COAs and supporting documentation against approved specifications and quality requirements. Follow up on missing, incomplete, inaccurate, or non-compliant documentation to ensure materials meet approval requirements prior to use. Assess documentation discrepancies and take appropriate action within role authority, including holds or escalation when necessary. Raw Material & Packaging Verification Verify receiving documentation for raw materials and packaging against purchase orders, approved specifications, and quality requirements. Review and verify labels provided by Operations to ensure accuracy, compliance, and alignment with approved product specifications. Ensure traceability documentation is complete, accurate, and audit-ready prior to material release or use. Maintain the raw material hold program by managing hold records, verifying hold and release status, reconciling hold tags, and coordinating material disposition. Collaborate with warehouse, purchasing, operations, and quality teams to resolve discrepancies or missing information. Production Documentation & Release Review Review production records, batch documentation, supervisor sign-offs, packaging records, and related quality documentation for completeness, accuracy, compliance, and release readiness. Identify documentation gaps, inconsistencies, or quality concerns and ensure appropriate follow-up actions are taken. Verify customer-facing documentation aligns with approved specifications, formulas, labels, and laboratory results. Serve as a cross-trained backup for the label verification process by reviewing allergen declarations, ingredient statements, regulatory information, and product-specific labeling requirements when needed. Final Product Release Verification Review finished product COAs, laboratory results, and supporting documentation prior to product release. Verify analytical results align with product specifications, customer requirements, regulatory standards, and internal quality expectations. Ensure finished product documentation supports release approval. Hold or elevate product release concerns when specifications, documentation, or testing results are incomplete, inaccurate, or outside requirements. Traceability & Compliance Verification Maintain accurate, organized, and audit-ready traceability and quality records in accordance with company, customer, SQF, and internal requirements. Support and participate in mock recalls, traceability exercises, and documentation verification activities. Assist with audit preparation activities and documentation retrieval as needed. Shelf-Life Study Coordination Coordinate shelf-life studies and sample submissions with external laboratories and internal departments. Track shelf-life study timelines, results, and associated documentation to ensure records remain complete and accessible. Nonconformance & Quality Issue Support Assess documentation, specifications, labels, and quality records for discrepancies or compliance concerns and take appropriate action, including holds or escalation when necessary. Track nonconforming raw materials and quality deviations through established documentation and hold processes. Support nonconformance investigations, documentation review, and corrective action follow-up. Document discrepancies, communications, and actions accurately and completely. Decision-Making & Problem Solving Evaluate documentation, specifications, labels, formulas, and supporting data for completeness, accuracy, and compliance. Identify discrepancies and determine appropriate action or escalation. Exercise sound judgment and make routine quality decisions independently within established procedures. Recognize patterns, recurring issues, or process gaps and proactively communicate concerns to support continuous improvement initiatives. Demonstrate confidence in challenging discrepancies, holding product, or requesting clarification when requirements are not met. Skills Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage large volumes of documentation both physically and electronically. Strong analytical thinking and attention to detail with the ability to identify inconsistencies and compliance concerns. Ability to work independently and maintain accountability for assigned responsibilities from start to finish. Effective communication skills with the ability to collaborate across departments and professionally address discrepancies when necessary. Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. Working knowledge of quality control procedures, traceability requirements, GMPs, food safety programs, and SQF standards. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel, Outlook, and document management systems. Ability to prioritize tasks, manage deadlines, and maintain accuracy under pressure. Education and/or Work Experience Requirements High school diploma or GED required. Associate degree in Food Science, Quality Assurance, or related field preferred. Minimum of 2 years of experience in food manufacturing quality assurance or quality control required. Experience reviewing Certificates of Analysis (COAs), specifications, labels, production records, and traceability documentation preferred. Experience working in a regulated food manufacturing environment required. Familiarity with SQF standards, GMPs, food safety programs, and quality documentation systems preferred. Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Ability to make routine quality decisions independently and escalations appropriately. Physical Requirements and Working Conditions Work is primarily performed in an office environment located within an active manufacturing facility. Ability to sit for extended periods while working at a desk and computer. Frequent use of a computer, keyboard, mouse, telephone, and other standard office equipment. Ability to read information from computer screens, reports, forms, and other business documents. Frequent verbal communication with employees, visitors, vendors, and other stakeholders in person and by phone. Ability to stand and walk for short periods during the workday. Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling of office materials and supplies weighing up to 30 pounds. Occasional exposure to a manufacturing environment, including varying temperatures, machinery noise, dust, odors, and food production activities. Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. Other Duties Follow food safety and quality protocols. Follow GMPs (Good Manufacturing Practices), housekeeping and safe work practices. Other duties as assigned. Benefits Company paid employee-only health (HMO), dental, vision, and life insurance. A PPO health plan is offered with a cost share. Voluntary insurance plans for short-term disability coverage, Accident, Hospital and Critical Illness. Additional voluntary life insurance policy available. Accrued Paid Time Off: 0-5 years, 2 weeks; 5-10 years, 3 weeks; 10+ years 4 weeks. Equal Opportunity Employer Circle U Foods, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Conditions of Employment Eligibility to Work: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and provide appropriate documentation to complete the I-9 verification process. Age Requirement: Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. Transportation Requirement: Applicants must have reliable transportation to and from work to meet job attendance and punctuality requirements. Pre-Employment Screening: Candidates must successfully pass a background check and drug test. #J-18808-Ljbffr Circle U Foods, Inc.