Corporate Quality & Technical Development Specialist

Branding Iron; Sauget (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Job summary

Branding Iron in Sauget, IL is seeking a Corporate Quality & Technical Development Specialist to oversee product quality from design to delivery.

You will lead QA programs, train staff, audit processes, and drive improvements across departments, with occasional travel.

Competitive base salary 70,000–95,000 USD per year plus full benefits including medical, vision, dental, 401(k) with match and PTO. Branding Iron Holdings promotes equal opportunity employment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant technical field or 3 years of food manufacturing experience.
• Proven experience in technical development, quality assurance and supervision.
• Understanding of HACCP, GMP, SQF and other industry standards.
• Experience with food safety audits and certifications.
• Strong leadership and data-driven decision making.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily quality assurance activities and ensure compliance with USDA, HACCP, SQF, GMP.
• Develop and deliver training on QA procedures and new technologies.
• Audit production processes and products for quality compliance.
• Drive process improvements and manage project teams and costs.
• Coordinate cross-functional collaboration to meet quality targets.
• Travel 10-15% for site FAT and project validation.

Skills

Quality Assurance

Team Supervision

Process Improvement

Auditing & Compliance

Data Analysis

Project Management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or related field

Tools

USDA/HACCP Standards

Job description

Corporate Quality & Technical Development Specialist

About this position

About the Company

For over 60 years, Branding Iron Holdings (“BIH”) has been producing high quality beef and pork products while delivering customized solutions to the food service and retail trade industries. With an eye to the future, BIH has put a strong focus on building internal talent and on leveraging unique product lines and national distribution to drive continued growth. Guided by a strong set of core values (Respect, Integrity and Stewardship), reflecting a culture of servant leadership at every level, BIH’s team works hard to foster a culture that embraces and builds meaningful, long-term relationships with both employees and its customer base.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a highly skilled Corporate Quality and Technical Development Specialist to join our team. The Quality Technical Development Supervisor is responsible for ensuring the quality of products developed by the company and managing the development of processes. This role is crucial in maintaining high standards of quality throughout the entire product lifecycle, from initial design to final delivery. The supervisor oversees the implementation of quality assurance standards, coordinates project teams, and collaborates with other departments to ensure products meet quality expectations. This position combines technical expertise with supervisory skills focused on process and quality management.

Responsibilities:

• Leading and Supervising: Coordinating and supporting team members in the completion of daily quality assurance program requirements, ensuring compliance with industry standards (e.g., USDA, HACCP, SQF, GMP).
• Training and Development: Develop and deliver training programs for team members on quality assurance procedures and new technologies. Support team members and assess their performance and the performance of new equipment or processes that are implemented.
• Auditing and Assessments: Conduct regular inspections and audits of production processes, equipment, and final products to ensure compliance with company and customer quality standards.
• Process Improvement: Identify and implement improvements to technical development processes and quality control procedures.
• Project Management: Lead process improvement project teams and track project costs and completion timelines.

o Support and coordinate the plant’s continuous improvement initiatives, including leading projects (process optimization, waste reduction, etc.)

• Reporting: Prepare reports on project status, metrics, and process performance.
• Collaboration: Work with other departments (production, safety, maintenance) to ensure seamless operations and that quality standards are met throughout the organization.
  • Investigate and implement corrective actions with plant teams on quality issues, customer complaints, or non-conformances.
  • Analyze data and develop strategies to minimize defects, waste, and plant inefficiencies.
  • Stay up to date with new regulations, certifications, and industry best practices, and implement necessary changes to maintain compliance.
• Travel 10-15%: Conduct site FAT on equipment, assess potential projects for viability, and validate success criteria for implemented projects at company processing locations.
• Backup the Sauget Quality Assurance Manager when required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant technical field, such as Food Science, Meat Science or Food Technology (preferred) or 3 years of relevant food manufacturing experience.
• Proven experience in technical development, quality assurance and supervision in the food industry, preferably in food manufacturing.
• Understanding of industry standards, food safety regulations, best practices, and quality management systems. (HACCP, GMP’s, SQF).
• Experience with food safety audits, inspections, and certifications (Halal, Kosher, Organic, etc.).
• Ability to lead, motivate and manage a team effectively.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
• Detail-oriented with a commitment to maintaining high standards of quality and safety.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to identify and effectively manage and solve quality issues.
• Team player with the ability to collaborate across departments and influence positive change.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

Competitive base salary ($70,000 - $95,000/year). Base salary is one component of a competitive compensation package for employees. Full benefits package, including medical/ vision/ dental/life insurance, 401(k) with company match, and paid time off. We take into consideration a variety of factors including, but not limited to, skills, abilities, experience, education, credentials, and internal equity when determining the base salary offered. Roles are eligible for additional rewards including an annual incentive program based on individual and company performance.

Branding Iron Holdings is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, age, gender identity or expression, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, disability, veteran status, religion, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by applicable equal employment opportunity laws.