Job Title: Quality Control Associate
Job Description
The Quality Control Associate supports consistent product quality and regulatory compliance by coordinating quality activities across the laboratory, production floor, warehouse, and office. This role manages inventory of critical supplies, assists with documentation and data entry, supports internal audits, and helps maintain an effective Quality Management System in a dairy manufacturing environment. The position is ideal for a proactive, detail-oriented professional who enjoys working cross-functionally and adapting to changing priorities.
Responsibilities
- Inventory and order laboratory supplies, production supplies, sanitation supplies, and personal protective equipment to ensure continuous availability and minimal disruption to operations.
- Assist with data entry on an as-needed basis, including entering Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) results, adding raw materials, and issuing off raw materials accurately and promptly.
- Assist with or conduct internal audits on processes, batch records, training records, and validations to ensure compliance with the Quality Management System (QMS) and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Aid in tracking and coordinating training related to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and form updates, ensuring timely completion and proper sign-off.
- Support the Quality Supervisor in receiving goods, including checking documentation and ensuring materials meet quality requirements before use.
- Update and distribute relevant SOPs, forms, and associated documents to ensure the correct versions are available on the production floor and are used consistently.
- Assist with special projects assigned by quality leadership, contributing to continuous improvement and process optimization.
- Review production paperwork on the production floor at appropriate intervals to provide oversight of master sanitation schedules, pre-operation checks, sanitation checks, and packaging checks, including SKU changeovers in packaging.
- Review documentation shipping packets to confirm completeness, accuracy, and compliance with quality standards.
- Verify system transactions in Infor for re-blends, warehouse location transfers, and related activities, and collaborate with Quality Control to ensure proper documentation of these tasks.
- Act as a subject matter expert for packaging scanners, printers, and labeling equipment by becoming fluent in equipment software and troubleshooting techniques.
- Review batch scans for accuracy and provide row cards to the warehouse supervisor to support confirmation and correct placement of products in the warehouse.
- Cross-train with the Lab & Office Assistant as needed to provide backup coverage and support continuity of operations.
- Assist in printing and managing secondary bag labels, ensuring legible labels are printed prior to production runs and that unused labels are removed from the floor after each run as a key component of label management.
- Issue off slip sheets, labels, and bags by lot used in chemical and shipping operations, ensuring accurate tracking and traceability.
- Follow all relevant Quality Management System (QMS) procedures at all times to maintain compliance and support a culture of quality.
Essential Skills
- Demonstrated experience in quality control or quality assurance, preferably in a manufacturing or food production environment.
- Working knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and their application in daily operations.
- Familiarity with laboratory practices and processes, including handling of lab supplies and data entry of test results.
- Ability to review and interpret production paperwork, including sanitation schedules, pre-operation checks, and packaging checks.
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy when managing documentation, labels, and system transactions.
- Proficiency with computer systems and software used for data entry and documentation, including experience with systems such as LIMS and enterprise resource planning tools like Infor.
- Capability to act as a subject matter expert on scanners, printers, and labeling equipment, including learning software and troubleshooting issues.
- Self-starter mindset with the ability to understand daily expectations and execute tasks with minimal supervision.
- Flexibility to adjust easily to last-minute changes in priority and manage multiple tasks in a dynamic environment.
- Effective communication skills to work collaboratively with quality, production, warehouse, and laboratory teams.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Experience in food manufacturing or dairy production is a strong plus.
- Background in science, particularly with exposure to microbiology, is beneficial for understanding microbiological concerns and lab-related activities.
- Previous experience working within a formal Quality Management System (QMS) environment.
- Experience conducting or supporting internal audits of processes, training records, validations, and batch records.
- Familiarity with label management processes, including printing, controlling, and reconciling labels used in production.
- Experience supporting packaging operations, including scanners, printers, and labeling equipment.
- Ability to cross-train and provide backup support for laboratory and office functions.
Work Environment
This role is based in a dairy facility and involves regular movement between the laboratory, office, production floor, and receiving warehouse areas. The work environment combines desk-based documentation and data entry with hands-on oversight in production and warehouse spaces. The typical schedule is Monday through Friday with a proposed 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. shift, and there is flexibility while maintaining coverage for the second shift. The position requires comfort working in a manufacturing setting with active production lines, sanitation activities, and material handling, while closely following established quality and safety procedures.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Saint Johns, MI.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $20.00 - $21.00/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 Johns,MI.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Jul 21, 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.
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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.