Quality Assurance Coordinator

Job Title: Quality Assurance Coordinator-Professional

Schedule: Mon-Fri, 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Interviews onsite)

Job Description

We are seeking an Operations Quality Specialist to join our dynamic team. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in dairy and food quality systems, HACCP, GMP, and audit readiness, and a proven ability to drive compliance, maintain quality programs, and support production in delivering products that meet customer specifications.

Responsibilities:

• Establish, administer, and monitor quality assurance programs to ensure compliance with policies, procedures, specifications, HACCP, GMPs, BRC, EQMS, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide quality and food safety support to quality and production teams.
• Assist management with maintenance and continuous improvement of quality systems.
• Execute corrective action follow-up and monitoring for Product Safety Quality Events.
• Prepare and maintain audit documents and plant programs; perform positive release activities.
• Manage external warehouse inventory and complete HACCP record reviews related to positive release.
• Maintain SharePoint updates and assist with lab calibrations.
• Support creation of quality trainings with the training specialist; act as backup to the Quality Supervisor for lab technician support.
• Track non-conforming product and downgrades for cheese; manage specification deviations for cheese.
• Provide input on whey powder specification updates; manage customer samples for cheese.
• Administer Document Control Program; coordinate lot trace exercises.
• Assist with Environmental Monitoring Program and manage GMP audit program.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Associate degree or higher, preferably in Food Science, Dairy Science, or related field.
• Knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, BRC, EQMS, and regulatory compliance in food manufacturing.
• Strong communication, organization, and prioritization skills; ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to support audits, corrective and preventive actions, and document control.

Preferred Skills:

• Bachelor of Science in Food Science, Dairy Science, or comparable field.
• Auditing experience; corrective and preventive action expertise; GMP program management.

Physical Demands & Work Environment:

• Occasional walking, sitting, climbing stairs and ladders, balancing, stooping, reaching, and handling objects or tools.
• Occasional lifting or moving up to 15 pounds. Vision requirements include close, distance, color, peripheral, and depth perception, and focus adjustment.
• Exposure to variable temperatures from cold/cool to warm/hot and occasional loud noise. PPE and hearing protection required in manufacturing areas.

Additional Information:

• Workdays: Mon-Fri. Standard hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Site name on building: Land O' Lakes Melrose.
• Pre-employment background check and drug test required.