Lead Quality Control Technician

Food Manufacturing Facility – Spirit Lake, Iowa

A multi-site food manufacturing organization serving both domestic and international markets is seeking a Lead Quality Control Technician to join its Quality team.

This is a great opportunity for someone looking to grow their career in food manufacturing quality. This role offers hands-on training and development with a clear path toward advancement, including growth into HACCP coordination and broader Quality leadership responsibilities.

The Lead Quality Control Technician will play a key role in overseeing daily quality activities on the floor, supporting food safety programs, and serving as a resource for Quality Technicians and production.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the on-floor Quality Lead, supporting Quality Technicians and assisting production with quality and food safety issues

• Monitor and enforce Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)

• Observe and address food safety risks, including product and food-contact surface contamination and employee practices

• Perform and verify metal detection checks

• Conduct and document net weight checks to ensure regulatory and specification compliance

• Understand and execute proper procedures for placing product on hold, including documentation, labeling, segregation, and communication

• Support daily, weekly, monthly, and annual quality testing, inspections, and procedures

• Complete daily quality tasks including certificates of analysis, calibration, document collection, sanitation verification, titrations, and physical product testing

• Perform facility, equipment, and glass inspections

• Collect finished product samples and environmental swabs

• Support employee training needs and maintain training documentation

• Review, update, and monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

• Collect, review, and analyze data; identify issues and support corrective actions

• Actively participate in continuous improvement initiatives

• Promote food safety culture and ensure compliance with USDA and internal food safety requirements

• Participate in weekend/holiday rotation at an offsite laboratory as needed

Skills & Qualifications

• Proven team player with strong interpersonal skills

• Knowledge of documentation systems, procedures, and quality records

• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

• Ability to work effectively across all levels of an organization

• Highly motivated self-starter with the ability to manage multiple tasks

• Strong attention to detail

• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Frequent standing, sitting, handling materials, and computer use

• Regular use of hands and arms; may include climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling

• Ability to occasionally lift 30–50 pounds

• Work environment ranges from approximately -20°F to 100°F

• Exposure to wet and dry environments

• Combination of office, plant floor, and laboratory settings

• Approximately 50% office and 50% production floor