Lead Quality Lab Technician *28-36/HR*

Lead Quality Technician

Job Description

The Lead Quality Technician ensures that products meet food safety and quality standards before being released for shipment. This role involves time spent in both the laboratory and production areas performing testing, inspections, audits, and quality checks, while helping coordinate the daily activities of the Quality Technician team. This is a hands-on quality role with some leadership responsibilities but is not a management position.

Responsibilities

• Perform laboratory testing on raw materials and finished products.
• Conduct chemical analysis and quality checks.
• Review production paperwork and quality records.
• Approve or place products on hold based on test results.
• Maintain retained product samples for future reference.
• Follow GMPs, GLPs, food safety, and company procedures.
• Perform environmental monitoring including swabbing, water testing, air quality testing, and brittle plastic inspections.
• Support calibration programs for testing equipment.
• Submit samples to third-party laboratories when required.
• Participate in internal GMP audits.
• Help prepare for customer, regulatory, and certification audits.
• Conduct facility inspections.
• Document findings and ensure corrective actions are completed.
• Manage held or non-conforming inventory.
• Ensure proper documentation and segregation of materials.
• Perform raw material sampling and inspections.
• Make disposition decisions regarding product release or hold status.
• Help prioritize work for Quality Technicians.
• Train new technicians.
• Provide coverage for technician absences or vacations.
• Communicate quality concerns to Operations, Maintenance, Warehouse, and Management.
• Cross-train and work in multiple lab areas.
• Support investigations related to customer complaints, food safety issues, environmental monitoring findings, and quality deviations.
• Assist with corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Help improve quality management systems and procedures.

Essential Skills

• High school diploma.
• 3+ years of Quality Technician experience.
• Experience in food manufacturing.
• Understanding of food safety and quality systems.
• Basic computer skills.
• Ability to interpret testing data and make quality decisions.
• Strong attention to detail and documentation skills.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• College coursework in Chemistry, Food Science, Biology, or related field.
• Experience with sensory evaluation/testing.
• Knowledge of GMPs, GLPs, HACCP, and food safety programs.
• Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) certification or willingness to obtain it.
• Experience training others or providing work direction.

Work Environment

The role involves working in the laboratory (50-60%) and on the production floor (40-50%). Activities include product testing, sample preparation, record keeping, environmental monitoring, data review, quality inspections, audits, raw material checks, investigations, and interaction with operators and supervisors. Physical requirements include walking throughout manufacturing areas, climbing ladders, lifting up to 25 pounds, exposure to varying temperatures and humidity, handling laboratory chemicals, and exposure to food manufacturing microorganisms.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Saint Louis, MO.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $28.00 - $36.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

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)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Saint Louis,MO.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 10, 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 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

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 actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.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.