Quality Control Lead — Food Safety & USDA Standards

Always Fresh Farms; Florida; On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Always Fresh Farms is seeking a Quality Control Inspector Supervisor to oversee QC activities across our operations. You will lead the QC team, ensure standardized inspection practices, and drive continuous improvement to meet customer specifications and USDA grade requirements.

The role requires oversight of inspections for inbound and outbound product, training staff on quality procedures, and coordination with production, shipping, and sales.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 5+ years of quality assurance or quality control experience in fresh produce or food manufacturing.
• 2+ years of supervisory or management experience.
• Knowledge of USDA Grade Standards and Inspection Procedures.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and electronic quality management systems.
• Strong leadership, communication, and decision-making under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Supervise quality control leads and inspectors and coordinate daily activities.
• Ensure inspectors are trained on USDA grading standards, customer specifications, and food safety programs.
• Conduct regular inspector calibration to ensure consistency and accuracy.
• Oversee quality inspections of incoming/outgoing product, in-process packaging, and finished goods.
• Provide training, coaching, and performance monitoring for inspectors.
• Verify compliance with customer specs, USDA standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Review and approve quality inspection reports and product dispositions.
• Monitor quality trends and drive corrective and preventive actions.
• Ensure FIFO/FEFO and shelf-life management; authorize holds, rework, release, or rejection.
• Comply with GMPs and sanitation requirements; travel to remote locations as needed.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Electronic quality management systems

Job description

Job Title: Quality Control Inspector Supervisor Department: Operations Position Type: Full Time Employment Report to: Quality Control Manager Job Description Job Purpose:
The Quality Control Supervisor is responsible for overseeing all quality control activities within our operations to ensure we consistently meet company standards, customer specifications, USDA Grade requirements, and food safety regulations. This position provides leadership to the Quality Control team, ensures standardized inspection practices, drives continuous improvement initiatives, and collaborates with Commodity Management, Production, Shipping & Receiving, and Sales to maintain the highest levels of product quality throughout our supply chain.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Supervise, schedule, and coordinate the daily activities of Quality Control Leads and Quality Control Inspectors.
• Ensure inspectors are properly trained on company specifications, USDA grading standards, customer requirements, food safety programs, and inspection procedures.
• Conduct regular inspector calibration exercises to ensure consistency and accuracy across all inspections.
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, teamwork, and food safety.
• Oversee quality inspections of incoming and outgoing product shipment, in-process packing operations and finished goods.
• Provide training and coaching to quality control inspectors and monitor inspector performance
• Verify compliance with customer specifications, USDA grading standards, company quality standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Review and approve quality inspection reports and product disposition decisions
• Monitor product quality trends and identify opportunities for corrective and preventive actions.
• Ensure proper product rotation (FIFO/FEFO) and shelf-life management.
• Authorize product holds, rework, release, or rejection based on quality findings.
• Comply with GMPs (Good Manufacturing Practices), sanitation procedures, and food safety requirements.
• Travel to other remote locations as needed by the QC Manager
• Perform other quality control duties as assigned.
  

Skills/Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Minium of 5 years of quality assurance or quality control experience in fresh produce or food manufacturing
• Minium of 2 years of supervisory or management experience
• Knowledge of USDA Grade Standards and Inspection Procedures
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and electronic quality management systems
• Excellent organizational, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills under pressure
• Strong leadership and time management skills
• Commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence
• Ability to analyze data and identify quality trends
• Ability to lead, motivate and develop employees
• Bilingual English and Spanish language proficiency (reading, writing, and speaking) is preferred but not required.
  

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods throughout the warehouse
• Ability to lift 20-30lbs as needed
• Must be willing to work in a refrigerated warehouse environment of 33ºF – 40ºF
• Ability to work overtime, weekends and holidays
  

This job description is intended to outline the framework of the duties performed by employees in this job. It is not an exhaustive list of all the job’s responsibilities. All our jobs include a broad range of activities, duties, and responsibilities which may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.