Technical Product & Quality Lead; Day Shift

Who We Are

At Jonny Pops, our team is empowered to make an impact at work every day from producing high-quality, innovative frozen novelties to spreading kindness one pop at a time. We look for bright and ambitious individuals who seek out challenges, thrive in fast-paced and high-growth environments, align with our core values, and get fulfilment from seeing their work transform the world around them.

Based in Elk River, MN, Jonny Pops develops, manufactures, distributes, and markets frozen novelties. Retailers from coast to coast including Target, Costco, Publix, Kroger, Cub, along with thousands of regional and local grocers make Jonny Pops part of their assortment.

Growing from a dorm room start-up in 2012, Jonny Pop’s mission is to make "A Better Pop for a Better World!" Jonny Pops leads the frozen novelties space in innovation and uses simple ingredients with no artificial dyes. Every pop stick includes a kind deed, spreading kindness every day.

Joining Jonny Pops is an exciting opportunity to be part of a high‑growth brand and have a direct impact on the company’s success. Join our team and help us make "A Better Pop, for a Better World!"

The Technical Product & Quality Lead supports the Technical Product & Quality Supervisor by coordinating daily food safety and quality tasks, leading QA & lab techs, and serving as a key resource during production shifts. This role ensures accurate execution of QA protocols, facilitates internal audits, and monitors compliance with GMPs, CCPs, and product standards.

• Provides support for QA Technician in GMP walks, ensuring timely documentation of findings and follow‑ups.
• Act as the owner and keeper of CAPAs (Corrective and Preventive Actions), ensuring thorough root cause analysis, timely implementation, and effectiveness verification.
• Support daily FSQA operations by monitoring product quality, verifying specification adherence, and escalating deviations to QA leadership.
• Troubleshoot quality and food safety issues on the floor, collaborating with production, sanitation, and maintenance teams to implement corrective actions.
• Serve as a backup to the QA Technician and Lab Technician, supporting sampling, testing, environmental monitoring (EMP), and quality checks as needed.
• Lead or participate in peer GMP walks and sanitation verifications, documenting observations and driving accountability for corrective measures.
• Partner with R&D and production to support product trials, formulation changes, and scale‑ups, ensuring quality and food safety compliance.
• Monitor and maintain quality documentation including product specifications values, test records, retain logs, etc.
• Assist with training and onboarding of new QA and production staff on FSQA protocols, product standards, and audit readiness.
• Support customer complaint investigations by gathering data, reviewing records, and contributing to formal responses and corrective action plans.
• Support QA Supervisor in implementing and maintaining food safety systems and programs.
• Act as QA point of contact during Supervisor absence or when issues arise on shift.

• Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Food Science, or a related field preferred.
• 3+ years of experience in food safety, quality assurance, or technical roles within a food manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading internal audits and managing CAPA processes.
• Strong knowledge of FSQA regulations and standards, including FSMA, SQF, GFSI, and HACCP.
• Demonstrated problem‑solving skills with the ability to troubleshoot complex quality and food safety issues.
• Experience working cross‑functionally with production, sanitation, R&D, and QA teams.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and lead projects.
• Proficient in quality management systems and audit software.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, to effectively interact with internal teams and external auditors.

• PCQI Certification is a plus (we will support certification if needed)
• Ability to speak Spanish is a plus.
• Naturally curious, with an appreciation for ambiguity…