Lead Quality Technician - Food Manufacturing

Actalent; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 39,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and R

Life Insurance

Short and long-term disability

Health Spending Account (HSA)

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Time Off/Leave

Job summary

Actalent seeks a Lead Quality Technician to oversee testing and analysis in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment in Saint Louis, MO. You will lead by example, drive quality improvements, and collaborate with cross functional teams to ensure regulatory compliance and product excellence.

The role combines laboratory work with production-floor activities, with opportunities to mentor technicians, review data, and influence CAPA and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of Quality, QA, or QC experience in manufacturing.
• Experience in food manufacturing environments.
• Knowledge of food safety and quality systems.
• High attention to detail and strong problem solving skills.
• High school diploma or equivalent required.

Responsibilities

• Perform testing and analysis of raw materials, in-process products, and finished goods.
• Review quality data and make product release, hold, and disposition decisions.
• Support GMP, HACCP, and food safety compliance programs.
• Conduct environmental monitoring, inspections, and internal audits.
• Investigate quality issues and support CAPA.
• Train and mentor Quality Technicians.
• Partner with Production, Operations, Maintenance, and Warehouse teams to resolve quality concerns.
• Support raw material inspections, sampling, and non-conforming material management.

Skills

Quality assurance

Food manufacturing

Attention to detail

Problem solving

GMP/HACCP knowledge

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Lead Quality Technician

Food Manufacturing | Quality & Food Safety

Pay: $28-$36/hour Location: Affton, MO Schedule: M-F 10:30am - 7pm

Why You'll Love This Opportunity

• Visible leadership role with growth potential

• Hands-on combination of laboratory and manufacturing quality work

• Collaborative, team-oriented culture where quality and food safety come first

• Opportunity to make a direct impact on product quality and continuous improvement

• Stable and growing food manufacturing organization committed to employee development

Help Drive Food Safety & Product Excellence

We're seeking an experienced Lead Quality Technician to support food safety, product quality, and regulatory compliance in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This role is ideal for a hands-on quality professional who enjoys problem-solving, leading by example, and partnering with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality products.

What You'll Do

• Perform testing and analysis of raw materials, in-process products, and finished goods

• Review quality data and make product release, hold, and disposition decisions

• Support GMP, HACCP, and food safety compliance programs

• Conduct environmental monitoring, inspections, and internal audits

• Investigate quality issues and support corrective and preventive actions (CAPA)

• Train and mentor Quality Technicians

• Partner with Production, Operations, Maintenance, and Warehouse teams to resolve quality concerns

• Support raw material inspections, sampling, and non-conforming material management

What We're Looking For

Required

• High school diploma or equivalent

• 3+ years of Quality, QA, or QC experience

• Food manufacturing experience

• Knowledge of food safety and quality systems

• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving abilities

Preferred

• Degree or coursework in Food Science, Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology, or a related field

• Experience with GMPs, HACCP, environmental monitoring, audits, and CAPA

• PCQI certification (or willingness to obtain)

• Leadership, training, or mentoring experience

Work Environment

This role includes a mix of laboratory and production-floor responsibilities, with approximately 50-60% of time spent in the lab and 40-50% supporting manufacturing operations.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Saint Louis, MO.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $28.00 - $36.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision

• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital

• 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available

• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)

• Short and long-term disability

• Health Spending Account (HSA)

• Transportation benefits

• Employee Assistance Program

• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Saint Louis, MO.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 5, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.