Lead Quality Technician

Job Title: Lead Quality Technician

Job Description

The Lead Quality Technician ensures that all products meet stringent food safety and quality standards before release for shipment. This hands-on role is split between the laboratory and production floor, performing testing, inspections, audits, and quality checks while coordinating the daily activities of the Quality Technician team. The position provides leadership and work direction without direct management responsibility and plays a key role in verifying that raw materials, packaging, labels, and finished products comply with company and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Perform laboratory testing on raw materials and finished products to verify compliance with food safety and quality specifications.
• Conduct chemical analyses and detailed quality checks, accurately record results, and review production paperwork and quality records.
• Approve product for shipment or place product on hold based on test results and established quality criteria.
• Maintain retained product samples for future reference and traceability.
• Follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs), food safety requirements, and company procedures at all times.
• Perform environmental monitoring activities, including swabbing, water testing, air quality testing, and inspections of glass and brittle plastic.
• Support calibration programs by helping to maintain and verify the accuracy of laboratory and testing equipment.
• Submit samples to third-party laboratories when required and track results for follow-up actions.
• Participate in internal GMP audits and help prepare for customer, regulatory, and certification audits.
• Conduct facility inspections, document findings, and ensure that corrective actions are implemented and completed.
• Manage held or non-conforming inventory, ensuring proper documentation, segregation, and control of affected materials.
• Perform raw material sampling and inspections and make disposition decisions regarding product release or hold status.
• Help prioritize daily work for Quality Technicians to ensure timely completion of testing and inspections.
• Train new Quality Technicians and provide ongoing guidance and support to the team.
• Provide coverage for technician absences or vacations to maintain continuity of quality operations.
• Communicate quality concerns and findings clearly to Operations, Maintenance, Warehouse, and leadership teams.
• Cross-train and work in multiple laboratory areas to support flexibility and coverage within the quality function.
• Support investigations related to customer complaints, food safety issues, environmental monitoring findings, and quality deviations.
• Assist with the development and implementation of corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Help improve quality management systems, procedures, and documentation to drive continuous improvement in food safety and product quality.

Essential Skills

• At least 3 years of experience working in a food manufacturing environment in a quality role.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience as a Quality Technician or in a similar quality assurance or quality control position.
• High school diploma.
• Hands-on experience with quality assurance and quality control in food manufacturing.
• Solid understanding of food safety and quality systems and how they apply in a manufacturing setting.
• Ability to interpret testing data accurately and make sound quality decisions based on established criteria.
• Basic computer skills for data entry, documentation, and use of laboratory or quality systems.
• Strong attention to detail with excellent documentation and record-keeping skills.
• Ability to work effectively in both laboratory and production environments and collaborate with cross-functional teams.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• College coursework in Chemistry, Food Science, Biology, or a related scientific field.
• Experience with sensory evaluation and product sensory testing.
• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs), HACCP, and other food safety programs.
• Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) certification or willingness to obtain this certification.
• Experience training others, mentoring, or providing work direction within a technical or quality team.
• Comfort working with laboratory chemicals and food manufacturing microorganisms while following appropriate safety procedures.
• Strong communication skills to clearly convey quality expectations and findings to operations and support teams.
• Ability to multitask, prioritize workload, and adapt to changing production and testing demands.

Work Environment

This role follows a Monday through Friday schedule from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and is split between laboratory and production floor settings. Approximately 50-60% of the time is spent in the laboratory performing product testing, sample preparation, record keeping, environmental monitoring, and data review using standard laboratory equipment and computer systems. The remaining 40-50% of the time is spent on the production floor conducting quality inspections, audits, raw material checks, and investigations, while interacting regularly with operators and supervisors. The position requires frequent walking throughout manufacturing areas, climbing ladders, and lifting up to 25 pounds. Team members may experience varying temperatures and humidity typical of food production facilities and will handle laboratory chemicals and be exposed to food manufacturing microorganisms while following established safety and hygiene practices. The environment is fast-paced and highly collaborative, with a strong focus on food safety, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement in product quality.

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.

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 Jul 23, 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.