QA Supervisor

Saicon; Toledo (OH); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Saicon in Toledo, Ohio, is seeking a hands-on QA Supervisor to lead Quality Assurance and Laboratory activities in a food manufacturing environment. You will supervise QA and lab staff, ensure food safety and quality, and partner closely with Production and Operations on the floor.

The role requires comfort on the production floor, the ability to challenge production when standards are not met, and making data-driven quality decisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Biological Sciences, or related field or equivalent experience.
• 2-5 years of QA, laboratory, manufacturing, or related experience, preferably in food, beverage, dairy, or similar manufacturing.
• Laboratory experience, preferably with microbiological/product testing.
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Supervise, coach, train, and direct QA and laboratory employees.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, quality, GMP/cGMP, regulatory, and customer requirements.
• Perform and oversee microbiological and product testing including various parameters.
• Review laboratory documentation, CCP/PC records, test results, and quality records.
• Support PEM, including swabbing, investigations, corrective actions, and third-party testing.
• Monitor quality data and use SPC to identify trends and drive corrective actions.
• Investigate quality issues and customer complaints; implement solutions.
• Support audits and applicable certification programs.
• Work closely with Production and Operations to resolve quality issues and drive continuous improvement.
• Be visible on the production floor and challenge production with data-backed quality decisions.

Skills

Leadership

Quality mindset

Communication

Problem solving

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science or related field

Tools

Excel

Job description

Position Summary
We are seeking a hands-on, proactive QA Supervisor to lead Quality Assurance and Laboratory activities in a food manufacturing environment. This role will supervise QA/Lab employees, ensure food safety and quality standards are met, and partner closely with Production and Operations.
The ideal candidate must be comfortable working on the production floor, challenging production when quality standards are not met, and making data-driven quality decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise, coach, train, and provide direction to QA and laboratory employees.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, quality, GMP/cGMP, regulatory, and customer requirements.
• Perform and oversee microbiological and product testing, including microbial counts, yeast, coliform, mold, pH, Brix, water activity, fats/solids, etc.
• Review laboratory documentation, CCP/PC records, test results, and quality records.
• Support Pathogen Environmental Monitoring (PEM), including swabbing, investigations, corrective actions, and third-party pathogen testing.
• Monitor quality data and use SPC/statistical process control to identify trends and drive corrective actions.
• Investigate quality issues and customer complaints and implement solutions.
• Support food safety and quality audits and applicable certification programs.
• Work closely with Production and Operations to resolve quality issues and drive continuous improvement.
• Be visible and active on the production floor, ensuring processes and products meet established standards.
• Confidently challenge production/team members when necessary, using facts, testing results, and data to support quality decisions.

Required / Must-Have Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Biological Sciences, or related field, OR equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2-5 years of QA, laboratory, manufacturing, or related experience , preferably in food, beverage, dairy, or similar manufacturing.
• Laboratory experience , preferably with microbiological/product testing.
• Demonstrated leadership/team leadership experience; supervisory experience preferred.
• Knowledge of food safety, quality systems, and GMP/cGMP.
• Experience with or strong understanding of microbial testing and quality inspection/testing.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills, especially Excel.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, decision-making, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively with Production, Operations, Quality, and Laboratory teams.
• Must be proactive, hands-on, quality-minded, and comfortable challenging others when food safety or quality standards are at risk.
• Ability to work 100% onsite and maintain shift flexibility.

Preferred / Plus

• PCQI Certification
• HACCP experience/certification
• SQF Practitioner certification/experience
• Food safety audit experience, including HACCP, FSMA, SQF, or similar.
• Experience with SPC, PEM/environmental monitoring, and third-party pathogen testing.
• Dairy/product testing experience: pH, Brix, water activity, fats & solids, yeast, coliform, and mold.