Food Quality Control Specialist

Paleovalley & Wild Pastures; Clinton (AR); On-site; USD 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Paid time off

Paid sick time

Holidays and floating holidays

Parental leave

401(k) with company match

Product stipend

Job summary

Paleovalley and Wild Pastures is hiring a Quality Control Technician in Clinton, Arkansas. The role ensures products meet quality standards and regulatory requirements, performing inspections, sampling, and documentation onsite.

You will work with the Quality & Food Safety team to maintain records, support recalls and audits, and escalate any high‑risk issues while improving processes and controls at the warehouse.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; associate degree, technical training, or coursework in Food Science, Food Safety, Quality Assurance, Manufacturing, or a related field preferred.
• 3+ years of progressively responsible experience in food quality control, quality assurance, food safety, food manufacturing, distribution Quality, or a related regulated environment; equivalent combinations of relevant education, training, and experience will be considered.
• Strong working knowledge of food safety, quality, sanitation, GMPs, and applicable Quality requirements within a regulated food manufacturing, warehousing, or distribution environment.
• Demonstrated ability to independently apply specifications, SOPs, work instructions, and Quality standards to evaluate routine Quality conditions, take appropriate action within established authority, and recognize when escalation is required.
• Strong inspection, analytical, and problem‑solving skills, with experience identifying and documenting product defects, temperature deviations, nonconformances, product holds, traceability activities, and other Quality concerns.
• Ability to recognize trends or recurring issues and recommend practical improvements to Quality processes, controls, procedures, or documentation.
• Sound technical judgment, attention to detail, and strong communication and organizational skills, with the ability to work independently as the primary onsite Quality representative, manage changing priorities, and collaborate effectively with Warehouse Operations and the broader Quality & Food Safety team.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary onsite Quality & Food Safety resource for the assigned warehouse, independently applying established standards and technical knowledge to identify, address, document, and elevate Quality and compliance concerns.
• Perform routine Quality and Food Safety inspections of incoming, stored, returned, and outbound Paleovalley and Wild Pastures products and shipments, including transportation conditions, packaging, labels and lot information, shelf life, temperatures, and other established criteria.
• Collect product samples as needed in accordance with established procedures and coordinate shipment to approved laboratories for testing.
• Control nonconforming or potentially compromised product by initiating Quality & Food Safety holds or quarantine, maintaining required documentation and product controls, and coordinating with the supervisor on disposition and release decisions.
• Conduct warehouse Quality & Food Safety verification activities, monitoring GMPs, sanitation, pest control, storage and segregation, temperature controls, product rotation, allergen/cross‑contact controls, and other conditions that may affect product safety, quality, and compliance; maintain applicable pest‑control accounts and records.
• Maintain accurate Quality and Food Safety records and data in Acumatica and other approved systems, including inspections, holds, nonconformances, temperatures, product conditions, and supporting documentation; identify trends or recurring concerns requiring follow‑up.
• Document product-quality concerns and support supervisor‑led investigations, including customer returns, damaged or compromised product, freight damage, and other nonconformances by gathering relevant records, observations, photographs, and supporting information.
• Support traceability, mock recalls, recalls, corrective actions, and audit preparation by locating and verifying affected product and records and gathering required documentation under the direction of the supervisor.
• Observe adherence to established Quality & Food Safety requirements throughout warehouse operations and promptly escalates identified gaps or concerns for appropriate follow‑up, guidance, or training.
• Identify trends and recommend improvements to onsite Quality and Food Safety processes, controls, procedures, and documentation; support implementation of approved changes with the Quality & Food Safety team.
• Independently manage routine onsite Quality activities and issues using technical judgment within defined authority, escalating elevated‑risk, complex, novel, or regulatory‑sensitive FSQA matters to the supervisor.

Skills

Quality control

Food safety

GMPs

Inspection skills

Analytical thinking

Communication

Organizational skills

Education

High school diploma or GED

Associate degree or technical training

Tools

Acumatica

Job description

Paleovalley and Wild Pastures is hiring a Quality Control Technician in Clinton, Arkansas. The role ensures products meet quality standards and regulatory requirements, performing inspections, sampling, and documentation onsite.

You will work with the Quality & Food Safety team to maintain records, support recalls and audits, and escalate any high‑risk issues while improving processes and controls at the warehouse.