Quality Assurance (QA) Lead - SQF Certified

Randstad USA; Perris (CA); On-site; USD 66,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Randstad USA is seeking a Food Safety & Quality Lead (SQF) for an on-site bakery manufacturing environment. You will drive audit readiness, lead recalls, and deliver hands-on staff training to uphold top food safety standards.

With 5+ years in QA/QC in food manufacturing and active SQF/HACCP certification, you will partner with operations and plant leadership to ensure continuous compliance and robust CAPA processes.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of QA/QC experience in food manufacturing (commercial bakery preferred).
• Active SQF Certification and HACCP Certification are required.
• Hands-on experience participating in SQF audits and coordinating product recall programs.

Responsibilities

• Audit & Certification: Assist site leadership during SQF audits using the current SQF Code version to maintain certification. Perform internal audits and plant inspections for GMP and HACCP compliance.
• Recalls & Mock Recalls: Execute and document annual mock recalls and assist with actual product recall procedures in compliance with regulatory and SQF standards.
• Training & Onboarding: Conduct, prepare, and track food safety and quality trainings for plant personnel using systems like Alchemy.
• Quality & Compliance Oversight: Ensure adherence to SQF, HACCP, GMP, and customer requirements. Support QA technicians to guarantee consistent quality processes.
• Issue Resolution & CAPA: Partner with production to resolve quality issues and minimize waste. Track quality metrics, manage non-conformances, and drive CAPA closures.
• Testing & Documentation: Manage product sampling (sensory, micro) and environmental monitoring programs. Maintain SOPs, review HACCP/production records, and verify ingredient/packaging specs.

Skills

Quality Assurance

Quality Control

Manufacturing

Operations

Production Control

Leading

SQF Certification

ZPMLSTCM

Education

High School

Tools

MS Office

Quality management platforms

Job description

Food Safety & Quality Lead (SQF)

Job Title: Food Safety & Quality Lead (SQF)

Location: On-Site (Bakery Manufacturing)

Are you a seasoned FSQA pro who knows the plant floor as well as you know the SQF Code? We are a premier, fast-growing commercial bakery, and we are looking for a Food Safety & Quality Lead to safeguard our high standards, champion audit readiness, and coach our team.

If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and take pride in rock-solid compliance, we want you on our team.

THE ROLE

As our Food Safety & Quality Lead, you won't just be checking boxes—you’ll be the operational backbone of our food safety program. Working directly with operations and plant leadership, you will ensure our facility stays audit-ready year-round, lead recall exercises, and empower team members through engaging hands-on training.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

• Audit Command: Assist site leadership in preparing for and navigating SQF audits using current Code standards (Edition 9 / Edition 10 transition) to keep our site certified.
• Recall Readiness: Lead mock recalls, manage tracing exercises, and maintain total execution readiness for actual recall procedures.
• Staff Training: Develop, deliver, and track impactful food safety and quality training using platforms like Alchemy.
• Floor Oversight & Auditing: Conduct regular internal audits, GMP checks, and HACCP reviews to keep production running safely and efficiently.
• Continuous Improvement: Partner with production to eliminate quality errors, manage CAPAs, log non-conformances, and drive root-cause solutions.
• System Maintenance: Maintain SOPs, verify incoming ingredient/packaging specs, and manage product micro, sensory, and environmental testing.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• Seasoned Experience: 5+ years of QA/QC experience in food manufacturing (commercial bakery preferred).
• Certified Expertise: Active SQF Certification and HACCP Certification are required.
• Audit & Recall Tested: Hands-on experience participating in SQF audits and coordinating product recall programs.
• strong Communicator: Ability to train staff, solve problems proactively, and collaborate cross-functionally. (bilingual in English/Spanish is a major plus!)
• Tech-Savvy: Proficient in MS Office (Excel, Word) and quality management platforms.

Responsibilities

• Audit & Certification: Assist site leadership during SQF audits using the current SQF Code version to maintain certification. Perform internal audits and plant inspections for GMP and HACCP compliance.
• Recalls & Mock Recalls: Execute and document annual mock recalls and assist with actual product recall procedures in compliance with regulatory and SQF standards.
• Training & Onboarding: Conduct, prepare, and track food safety and quality trainings for plant personnel using systems like Alchemy.
• Quality & Compliance Oversight: Ensure adherence to SQF, HACCP, GMP, and customer requirements. Support QA technicians to guarantee consistent quality processes.
• Issue Resolution & CAPA: Partner with production to resolve quality issues and minimize waste. Track quality metrics, manage non-conformances, and drive CAPA closures.
• Testing & Documentation: Manage product sampling (sensory, micro) and environmental monitoring programs. Maintain SOPs, review HACCP/production records, and verify ingredient/packaging specs.

The essential functions of this role include:

• manual lifting up to 40lbs

Skills

• Quality Assurance
• Quality Control
• Manufacturing
• Operations
• Production Control
• Leading
• SQF Certification
• ZPMLSTCM

Qualifications

• Years of experience: 0 years
• Experience level:

Experience & Education

• High School

Equal Opportunity Employer: Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, National Origin, Age, Genetic Information, Disability, Protected Veteran Status, or any other legally protected group status.

At Randstad, we welcome people of all abilities and want to ensure that our hiring and interview process meets the needs of all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation to make your application or interview experience a great one, please contact [e-mail].

Pay offered to a successful candidate will be based on several factors including the candidate's education, work experience, work location, specific job duties, certifications, etc.

This posting is open for thirty (30) days.

Qualified applicants in San Francisco with criminal histories will be considered for employment in accordance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

We will consider for employment all qualified Applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

salary: $66,000 - $72,000 per year

shift: First

work hours: 8 AM - 4 PM

education: High School