QC Lead

About the Role

The QC Lead ensures all products manufactured at Wisoman Foods meet food safety, regulatory, and quality standards. This hands-on leadership role oversees daily quality control operations, supervises and develops QC Technicians, and manages food safety oversight of ingredients and packaging.

The QC Lead works closely with production, maintenance, sanitation, purchasing, R&D, and suppliers to maintain quality standards and drive continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

1. Team Leadership and Development

• Supervise, schedule, and assign QC Technicians across all shifts to ensure adequate coverage.
• Recruit, onboard, train, and develop technicians in sampling, testing, GMPs, HACCP monitoring, and documentation.
• Establish daily priorities and lead shift handovers and QC huddles.
• Conduct quarterly competency assessments and calibration exercises to ensure testing consistency.
• Provide coaching, feedback, performance evaluations, and corrective action in partnership with HR.
• Review and approve QC records, including CCP logs, pre-operational inspections, and lab results.
• Cross-train team members and develop succession plans.

2. Quality Control Operations

• Oversee in-process and finished-product inspections, sampling, and testing for microbiological, chemical, physical, sensory, weight, and labeling requirements.
• Make hold, release, and rejection decisions for incoming materials, packaging, and finished products.
• Manage the positive release program and hold/quarantine areas.
• Verify Critical Control Points (CCPs), prerequisite programs, and pre-operational sanitation.
• Oversee environmental monitoring and corrective responses to positive results.
• Maintain laboratory equipment calibration and coordinate third-party testing.
• Verify product labeling, including allergens, nutrition facts, and country-of-origin declarations.

3. Supplier and Incoming Material Food Safety

• Oversee food safety and quality compliance for ingredient and packaging suppliers.
• Manage supplier approval, including questionnaires, GFSI certifications, specifications, Certificates of Analysis (COAs), allergen assessments, and food fraud risks.
• Maintain the approved supplier list and required FSMA supply-chain preventive controls.
• Plan and conduct risk-based supplier audits, both on-site and remotely.
• Verify incoming materials through COA reviews, sampling, testing, and receiving inspections for contaminants, allergens, foreign materials, temperature, packaging integrity, and pest evidence.
• Monitor supplier recalls and regulatory changes affecting ingredients and materials.
• Manage supplier nonconformances and corrective action requests (SCARs) through resolution.
• Recommend supplier probation or removal when necessary.
• Partner with purchasing and receiving on specifications, shelf life, and cold-chain requirements.

4. Food Safety Systems and Compliance

• Maintain the site's Food Safety Plan, FSMA Preventive Controls, HACCP plans, and GFSI certification (SQF, BRCGS, or FSSC 22000).
• Lead or support internal audits, customer audits, certification audits, and regulatory inspections (FDA, USDA, and state agencies).
• Maintain accurate and current QC procedures, SOPs, forms, and product specifications.
• Support traceability and mock recalls and serve as a core member of the recall team.
• Provide backup support to the PCQI or SQF Practitioner, as qualified.

5. Investigations and Continuous Improvement

• Lead root cause investigations and corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) for quality deviations, customer complaints, supplier issues, and audit findings.
• Analyze quality trends, including defects, complaints, product holds, and supplier performance.
• Provide monthly quality reports and recommendations to leadership.
• Identify and implement improvements that reduce waste, rework, product holds, and customer complaints.

6. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with production, maintenance, and sanitation teams to identify and resolve quality issues.
• Support R&D with new products, ingredients, suppliers, and commercialization trials.
• Serve as the primary QC contact for customers and suppliers regarding quality matters.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Biology, or a related field.
• 5+ years of quality control or quality assurance experience in food manufacturing, including at least 2 years of team leadership or technician supervision.
• Working knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, FSMA Preventive Controls, FSVP, and GFSI standards.
• Experience with supplier approval and supplier audits.
• Hands-on experience with food laboratory testing, sampling plans, and environmental monitoring.
• Ability to travel occasionally for supplier audits.

Preferred

• Master's degree in a related field.
• Experience in a GFSI-certified manufacturing facility with multiple production lines or shifts.
• Experience with FDA/USDA inspections and GFSI certification audits.
• Additional language skills to support a diverse production workforce.
• Experience with quality or supplier management systems such as SafetyChain or TraceGains.

Certifications

• Required: HACCP certification or ability to obtain within 3 months.
• Strongly Preferred: PCQI, SQF Practitioner, or equivalent certification.
• A Plus: GFSI Lead Auditor training, ASQ Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), or Certified Quality Engineer (CQE).

Skills and Competencies

• Leadership: Ability to develop, motivate, and hold team members accountable to quality standards.
• Decision-Making: Sound judgment when making hold/release decisions and escalating food safety concerns.
• Risk Management: Ability to assess food safety risks involving ingredients, processes, suppliers, allergens, and food fraud.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, including SOPs, reports, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Data Analysis: Proficiency in Excel and quality management systems, with the ability to identify trends and recommend improvements.
• Integrity: Consistently prioritizes food safety, regulatory compliance, and product quality over production schedules or cost pressures.

Working Conditions

• Work in a food manufacturing environment with exposure to noise, varying temperatures, wet floors, allergens, and cleaning chemicals.
• Follow all GMP requirements, including appropriate PPE, hair/beard nets, and restrictions on jewelry.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods and lift up to 50 pounds.
• Occasional overnight travel for supplier audits.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Wisoman Foods Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and make employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.