Quality Control Clerk

Position Summary

The Raw Material Sampling Clerk is responsible for inspecting, sampling, documenting, and coordinating the release of incoming raw materials, ingredients, packaging components, and other production materials.

This position works closely with the Quality, Warehouse, Purchasing, and Production departments to ensure materials meet applicable quality standards, regulatory requirements, Good Manufacturing Practices, and established company procedures before being released for production.

The ideal candidate is organized, detail-oriented, safety-conscious, and comfortable working in both a warehouse and regulated manufacturing environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Collect representative samples of incoming raw materials, ingredients, packaging materials, and production components.
• Inspect and evaluate incoming materials according to established specifications, work instructions, and standard operating procedures.
• Perform basic testing and analysis of raw materials when required.
• Verify material information, including lot numbers, quantities, labels, expiration dates, packaging condition, and supporting documentation.
• Maintain accurate sampling, inspection, testing, and material-release records.
• Update the status of raw materials in inventory, warehouse, or enterprise resource planning systems.
• Identify, document, segregate, and report materials that do not meet established specifications.
• Place materials on hold or in quarantine when required by company procedures.
• Communicate material-release, hold, or rejection status to Quality, Warehouse, Purchasing, and Production personnel.
• Provide accurate information regarding supplier-related discrepancies and material nonconformances.
• Assist with investigations involving raw-material complaints, damaged products, or supplier quality concerns.
• Inspect trailers and receiving areas for cleanliness, damage, contamination risks, pest activity, and other unacceptable conditions.
• Document inspection findings and coordinate corrective actions when necessary.
• Audit internal storage practices to ensure materials are properly identified, protected, rotated, and stored.
• Follow Good Manufacturing Practices, good documentation practices, safety policies, and departmental procedures.
• Assist Warehouse Associates and Quality Inspectors as operational needs require.
• Support cycle counts and year-end physical inventory activities.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work area.
• Complete assigned duties independently, accurately, and within established deadlines.
• Report material status promptly to help prevent production delays.
• Perform additional related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate degree, technical certificate, or completed coursework in biology, chemistry, food science, quality assurance, or a related scientific field preferred.

Experience

• Previous experience in quality control, quality assurance, incoming inspection, raw-material sampling, or receiving inspection preferred.
• Experience working in a regulated manufacturing environment preferred.
• Food, beverage, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetics, chemical, or medical-device manufacturing experience is highly desirable.
• Previous warehouse, shipping, receiving, or inventory-control experience preferred.
• At least one year of forklift experience preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Understanding of Good Manufacturing Practices and standard operating procedures.
• Familiarity with good documentation practices and accurate recordkeeping.
• Ability to follow detailed sampling, inspection, and testing instructions.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Ability to recognize damaged, contaminated, mislabeled, or nonconforming materials.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Effective problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to organize work and adjust priorities based on production needs.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to communicate professionally with employees at different organizational levels.
• Basic knowledge of warehouse receiving, inventory control, lot tracking, and material traceability.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, email, and computerized inventory systems.
• Ability to learn enterprise resource planning, warehouse-management, or quality-management systems.
• Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English sufficiently to complete documentation and communicate workplace information.
• Ability to work safely around forklifts, trailers, loading docks, and warehouse traffic.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, sit, bend, reach, and move throughout warehouse and production areas.
• Ability to use a computer keyboard, handheld scanner, sampling equipment, and other standard workplace tools.
• Ability to visually inspect labels, lot numbers, packaging, materials, computer screens, and written documentation.
• Ability to communicate verbally and hear instructions, alarms, and vehicle activity in a warehouse environment.
• Ability to safely perform light physical activities associated with sampling, receiving, and inspection duties.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment.

Work Environment

This position works in a combination of warehouse, receiving, production, and office environments. The employee may regularly work near forklifts, trailers, loading docks, moving equipment, raw ingredients, and packaging materials.

The work may involve frequent interruptions, changing priorities, production deadlines, warehouse noise, and the need to maintain a high level of accuracy.

Required Training

The selected candidate may be required to complete training in the following areas:

• General safety orientation
• Good Manufacturing Practices
• Standard operating procedures
• Time and attendance procedures
• Forklift safety and certification
• Workplace harassment prevention
• Quality and documentation procedures
• Chemical and hazard communication
• Personal protective equipment requirements