Quality Assurance Lead - Weekend Day Shift

Utz Brands, Inc.; Kings Mountain (NC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision plans

Employer match 401k

Profit sharing plan

Employee stock purchase plan

Job summary

Utz Quality Foods seeks a Quality Assurance Technician Lead at the King’s Mountain, NC plant to lead QA activities, train staff, and ensure food safety and quality. You will perform product testing, audits, and supplier coordination while maintaining equipment, compliance, and continuous improvement.

You will oversee SQF, Organic, and third‑party audits, mentor QA technicians, and partner with production to uphold rigorous quality standards in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Strong communication skills across departments and in writing.
• Solid math skills for testing and data entry.
• Safety awareness when handling chemical solutions and test samples.
• Good organizational and teamwork abilities with data tracking.

Responsibilities

• Conduct in-process and finished product quality control tests and document results.
• Verify sanitation effectiveness via pre-op inspections, equipment checks, and ATP testing.
• Identify non-conformance, place product on hold, investigate root causes, and support corrective actions.
• Maintain calibration and stocking of lab equipment and supplies.
• Generate daily and monthly audits to ensure GMP and sanitation compliance.
• Train, mentor, and provide technical support to QA Technicians and production staff.
• Set up, calibrate, and maintain testing equipment and processes.
• Coordinate testing of purchased products and manage inbound testing records.
• Enter QA attribute data into databases and communicate results to management.
• Interact with vendors and equipment reps on compliance and complaints.
• Oversee SQF, Organic, NGMP, GFCO programs and assist third-party audits.
• Audit QA SOPs and recommend improvements.
• Ensure shift coverage and replacements during absences.

Skills

Communication skills

Math skills

Safety awareness

Organizational skills

Teamwork

Basic computer skills

Job description

Are you passionate about food safety and quality? Do you have an eye for detail and the leadership skills to guide a team in a fast-paced environment? If so, Utz Quality Foods wants you to join our team as a Quality Assurance Technician Lead at our King’s Mountain, NC manufacturing facility!

In this role, you’ll perform product testing and inspections while leading and supporting the QA team to ensure our products meet the highest standards of food safety and quality. You’ll be hands‑on in daily operations while also overseeing training, equipment, compliance programs, and audits.

Rotating Work Schedule

• Week 1: Friday to Sunday, 6:00 AM–6:30 PM
• Week 2: Thursday to Sunday, 6:00 AM–6:30 PM (Schedule repeats weekly)

Responsibilities

• Conduct in-process and finished product quality control tests, documenting results accurately.
• Verify sanitation effectiveness through pre‑op inspections, equipment checks, and ATP testing.
• Identify and document non‑conformance issues, place product on hold when necessary, investigate root causes, and support corrective actions.
• Maintain organization and calibration of lab equipment, ensuring supplies are fully stocked.
• Generate daily and monthly audits to confirm compliance with GMP and sanitation standards.
• Train, mentor, and provide technical support to QA Technicians and production associates.
• Set up, calibrate, and maintain existing and new testing equipment.
• Coordinate testing of purchased products, managing inbound testing records and reports.
• Enter QA attribute data into databases, track trends, and communicate results to management.
• Interact with vendors and equipment representatives regarding compliance issues and complaints.
• Oversee compliance programs such as SQF, Organic, NGMP, and GFCO, and assist with third‑party audits.
• Audit QA Standard Operating Procedures and recommend improvements.
• Ensure shift coverage, including arranging replacements during absences.

Requirements

• Strong communication skills - ability to collaborate with other departments both in person and in writing.
• Strong basic math skills and safety awareness when handling chemical solutions and test samples. Solid organizational, communication, and teamwork skills with the ability to work across all levels. Basic computer skills for entering, tracking, and analyzing quality data. Prior QA or food safety experience required; leadership or training experience strongly preferred. Mechanical aptitude helpful but not required.
• Willingness to wear non‑slip shoes and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

Continuously Pursuing Excellence

Here at Utz, we have a passion for exciting and delighting consumers with delicious snack foods made from high quality ingredients. After over a century with a strong family heritage, our diverse portfolio of brands includes Utz, Zapp’s, Boulder Canyon, and On the Border. Our associates are the reason for the success of this company, so it is important we provide a supportive, caring and inclusive environment that offers opportunities for career growth and advancement. We also help take care of our associates by providing benefits, resources, and programs that ensure they live their healthiest lives.

• medical, dental, and vision plans
• employer match 401k
• profit sharing plan
• employee stock purchase plan

Join our world class team and help us become the fastest growing pure‑play U.S. snacking company of scale!

Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.