Lead Quality Control Technician​/SQF Practitioner

Position: Lead Quality Control Technician/ SQF Practitioner
Location: Spirit Lake

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. If you have SQF Practitioner experience, this role can be an SQF Practitioner.

This is a great opportunity for someone looking to grow their career in food manufacturing quality.

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

• Minimum 3 years of experience in a quality role in a RTE facility
• HACCP certificate desired
• SQF certificate desired
• English/Spanish would be a plus
• 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