Quality Assurance Specialist -Palatka Grow Facility
The Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist serves as a critical guardian of organizational integrity, operational excellence, and regulatory compliance within the Medical Marijuana Treatment Center (MMTC) ecosystem. This role is pivotal in safeguarding product safety, brand reputation, and operational continuity. By spearheading quality oversight, driving rigorous adherence to GMP standards, and championing a culture of continuous improvement, the QA Specialist ensures that all cultivation, processing, and distribution workflows meet or exceed state statutes and industry benchmark
Reporting Relationship
Reports directly to the VP of Cultivation & Production.
Key Strategic Responsibilities
- Regulatory Excellence & Compliance
- Ensure comprehensive alignment with OMMU statutes, state medical marijuana regulations, and FDA guidelines.
- Lead the seamless integration of seed-to-sale tracking data (e.g., Metrc/BioTrack), ensuring zero-error reporting.
- Oversee chain of custody protocols for third-party lab compliance testing, maintaining end-to-end traceability and security.
- Verify that packaging and labeling strategies strictly adhere to regulatory mandates, including potency compliance and mandatory safety warnings.
- Quality Systems & Process Optimization
- Architect, implement, and refine robust Quality Management Systems (QMS) that support scalable cultivation a manufacturing operations.
- Direct the development and lifecycle management of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), ensuring documentation is accurate, actionable, and audit-ready.
- Perform rigorous batch record reviews, raw material qualification, and quality control analysis to release products that me premium quality standards.
- Proactively manage and resolve deviations, non-conformances, and CAPA (Corrective and Preventative Actions) to drive long-term process stabilization.
- Manage Internal and External Quality Alerts: Proactively investigate, document, report, and implement corrective actions for all quality incidents.
- Auditing & Risk Mitigation
- Conduct high-frequency internal audits and vendor assessments to preemptively identify operational risks.
- Spearhead periodic mock recall exercises, refining rapid-response protocols to protect patient safety and company asset
- Provide oversight for facility sanitation, pest control, and hygiene protocols, ensuring an impeccable manufacturing environment.
- Organizational Culture & Development
- Foster a "Quality-First" mindset throughout laboratory and production teams through targeted training programs and compliance awareness initiatives.
- Act as the primary cross-functional liaison, translating complex quality data into actionable insights for leadership and operational partners.
- Create and distribute training tools and resources to management teams to facilitate consistent quality training for their respective teams.
Qualificatio
Experience & Competency Framework
- Level I (Foundational) HS Diploma; foundational understanding of compliance; high aptitude for process adherence.
- Level II (Practitioner) 2+ years of QA experience in a regulated (GMP) environment. Proven ability to manage documentation and audit trails.
- Level III (Strategic) 3-5+ years of QA experience in Cannabis/Regulated Manufacturing. GMP Certified. Demonstrated ability to le complex investigations and influence organizational quali strategy.
Core Competencies
- Regulatory Fluency: Advanced knowledge of GMP systems, guidance documents, and state-specific compliance statute
- Analytical Rigor: Proficient in data-driven decision-making, trend analysis, and metrics tracking to drive continuo improvement.
- Influence & Communication: Exceptional interpersonal skills; ability to negotiate quality standards with stakeholders a provide clear, persuasive technical guidance.
- Operational Precision: Impeccable attention to detail; expert in document control systems (MS Office/Google Workspace suite).
Physical Requirements & Working Environment
- Physical Demand: Capability to perform medium work, including lifting up to 50 lbs.
- Operational Mobility: Frequent requirement for standing, walking, reaching, and detailed manual work in laboratory/cultivation areas.
- Environment: Professional office and active laboratory/production facility settings.