Lead QA Technician

Barrett Petfood; Gorham (ME); On-site; USD 34,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance (company paid)

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) matching

Life insurance

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Paid time off

Holiday pay

Employee discounts

Job summary

Barrett Petfood in Little Falls, MN is seeking a Full-Time Lead Quality Assurance Technician to champion our QA programs and lead a team in a fast-paced pet food manufacturing facility.

You will mentor QA Technicians, ensure compliance with SQF, GMPs, HACCP, and preventive controls, and drive continuous improvement through SOPs, audits, and data-driven actions. The role demands hands-on leadership in a collaborative culture.

Qualifications

• 2–4 years in quality assurance in food/pet food manufacturing
• High school diploma required; bachelor’s degree preferred
• Strong GMPs, sanitation, and environmental monitoring knowledge

Responsibilities

• Lead Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP) execution: sample collection, scheduling, tracking results, trending data, corrective actions
• Coordinate QA-led projects, continuous improvement initiatives, and corrective actions
• Develop, review, and maintain SOPs, SSOPs, and work instructions
• Train and coach QA Technicians on SOPs, SSOPs, GMPs, sanitation, and food safety practices
• Support onboarding and hands-on training of new QA Technicians to ensure consistent execution of quality programs
• Serve as a technical resource for QA Technicians and assist with troubleshooting quality and food safety issues
• Perform routine QA Technician duties: inspections, sampling, testing, and documentation review
• Support audits (internal, customer, regulatory) ensuring programs and documents are audit-ready

Skills

Quality assurance

Mentoring

GMPs

Documentation

Education

High school diploma

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

SQF

HACCP

Job description

MEDICAL INSURANCE 100% ON US!

Great careers start with great benefits!

Join the Barrett Petfood family and enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including medical (company paid), dental, and vision insurance; a 401(k) with company match; life insurance; health savings account; paid time off; seven paid holidays; employee discounts; complimentary pet food; and fun, company-sponsored events.

Join Barrett Petfood as a Full-Time Lead Quality Assurance Technician in Little Falls, MN, and take the next step in your career while enjoying a dynamic onsite work environment. This is an exciting opportunity to lead quality initiatives, ensuring the highest standards of safety and integrity in pet food production. Collaborate with a team that prioritizes customer-centric solutions and innovation, all within a fun and high-performance culture. With a competitive pay range of $24.50 - $28.00 per hour, you will be rewarded for your expertise and contribution to our mission. Your schedule would be Mon - Fri 6am -230pm.

Join us in making a positive impact on the well-being of pets while advancing your professional skills in a supportive atmosphere. Don't miss out on this chance to be part of a company that values problem solving and integrity at its core.

What it's like to be a Lead Quality Assurance Technician

As a Lead Quality Assurance Technician at Barrett Petfood, you will play a vital role in supporting the Quality team by executing essential quality programs and coordinating quality-related projects. This position emphasizes your ability to mentor and guide QA Technicians, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and development. You will serve as a technical leader, ensuring adherence to food safety and quality systems that comply with SQF, GMPs, HACCP, and regulatory requirements. By championing these standards, you'll help uphold our commitment to providing safe and high-quality pet food, all while contributing to a collaborative and innovative work environment.

Your expertise will directly influence our mission to deliver excellence in every product we create.

Are you a good fit for this Lead Quality Assurance Technician job?

To excel as a Lead Quality Assurance Technician at Barrett Petfood, candidates should possess a strong foundation in quality assurance within the food or pet food manufacturing sector, ideally with 2-4 years of experience. A high school diploma is required, with a bachelor's degree preferred. Proficient knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), sanitation protocols, food safety principles, and environmental monitoring programs is essential for maintaining compliance and promoting best practices. Effective organizational, documentation, and communication skills are critical, enabling you to document findings accurately and share insights with your team. Additionally, the ability to train and mentor peers while fostering a collaborative work environment is key to success in this role.

Familiarity with SQF, HACCP, or Preventive Controls will enhance your capacity to uphold our commitment to quality and safety in pet food production.

DAY TO DAY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist with and own execution of the Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP), including sample collection, scheduling, tracking results, trending data, and verifying corrective actions.
• Coordinate and support QA-led projects, continuous improvement initiatives, and corrective action activities.
• Assist in the development, review, and maintenance of SOPs, SSOPs, and work instructions.
• Train and coach QA Technicians on SOPs, SSOPs, work instructions, GMPs, sanitation, and food safety practices.
• Support onboarding and hands-on training of new QA Technicians to ensure consistent execution of quality programs.
• Serve as a technical resource for QA Technicians and assist with troubleshooting quality and food safety issues.
• Perform routine QA Technician duties as needed, including inspections, sampling, testing, and documentation review.
• Support internal, customer, and regulatory audits by ensuring programs and documentation are audit-ready.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Prolonged periods of standing and walking through the factory.
• Ability to safely climb and descend stairs and ladders as required to perform essential job functions.
• Must be able to lift 50 pounds at times.

Connect with our team today!

We look forward to hearing from you!

NOTICE – BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

Barrett Petfood is committed to a safe workplace for all of our employees.

In connection with your employment with the Company, notice is hereby given that a
consumer report and/or investigative consumer report may be obtained from a
consumer reporting agency for employment purposes. These reports may contain
information about your character, general reputation, personal characteristics and mode
of living, whichever are applicable. They may involve personal interviews with sources
such as your neighbors, friends or associates. The reports may also contain information
about you relating to your criminal history, credit history, driving and/or motor vehicle
records, education or employment history or other background checks.
You have the right, upon written request made within a reasonable time after the receipt
of this notice, to request disclosure of the nature and scope of any investigative
consumer report. The scope of this notice and authorization is not limited to the present
and, if you are hired, will continue throughout the course of your employment and allow
the Company to conduct future screenings for retention, promotion or reassignment, as
permitted by law unless revoked by you in writing.