Quality Assurance Assistant

Clutch Canada; Joliet (IL); Hybrid; USD 16,531,000 - 24,797,000; Part time

Job summary

Rip Van is seeking a part-time Quality Assistant to help ensure product quality and safety through inspections and data trending. The role blends hands-on sample checks with reporting and SOP documentation in a fast-paced, remote-first environment.

The successful candidate will have a quality or food-safety background, at least 1 year in QA, and be based in the Chicago area with regular travel to Joliet, IL. Detail-oriented, organized, and communicative individuals will excel.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (food safety, quality, or similar) preferred.
• Minimum 1 year of quality control/assurance experience.
• Based in the Chicago area with reliable transportation for regular warehouse travel to Joliet, IL.
• Knowledge of auditing.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate production samples against Rip Van specifications for compliance.
• Assist in warehouse inspections as needed.
• Trend sample data and report results to leadership.
• Create and maintain Rip Van's SOP library.

Skills

Auditing

Education

Bachelor's degree in food safety/quality

Job description

About Rip Van

Rip Van is a food company creating better-for-you snacks — wafels, wafers, and others — sold across major US retailers including Costco, Whole Foods, Target, Amazon, Walmart, and Meijer.

Role Overview

The Quality Assistant helps ensure Rip Van product complies with the overall product quality and safety requirements of the company, mainly via product inspections. This is a part-time position requiring an estimated 15-20 hours per week; in some instances additional hours may be required.

This position is ideal for someone who is detail-oriented, resourceful, and enjoys combining hands‑on inspection work with data trending, reporting, and process documentation in a fast-paced, remote-first environment.

Main Responsibilities

Product Inspection & Quality:

• Evaluate production samples against Rip Van specifications for compliance.
• Assist in warehouse inspections as needed.

Data Trending & Reporting:

• Assist the quality team in trending sample data and reporting results.
• Assist the quality team in creating and presenting reports to executive leadership.

Specifications & Corrective Actions:

• Support the Quality Department with development and review of specifications.
• Assist the quality team in identifying and applying supplier corrective action report elements, such as problem identified and potential root cause.
• Assist the quality team in consumer complaints handling and reporting.

Documentation:

• Assist in creating and maintaining Rip Van's SOP library.

What you bring

Experience & Education

• Bachelor's degree (food safety, quality, or similar university degree preferred).
• Minimum 1 year of quality control/assurance experience required (an equivalent combination of experience and education may be acceptable).
• Based in the Chicago area with reliable transportation for regular warehouse travel to Joliet, IL.
• Knowledge of auditing.

Skills & Mindset

• Detail-oriented.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Critical thinking.
• Organization.
• Flexible, adaptable, and resourceful.

Why join us?

• Be part of a mission-driven company that's making a real difference.
• Work with a passionate and collaborative team.
• Opportunity to grow and develop your skills in a fast-paced environment.