Quality Investigator

SCN BestCo; Santa Cruz (CA); On-site; USD 67,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision

401(k) with employer matching

Life insurance

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Paid sick leave

Job summary

SCN BestCo is seeking a Quality Investigator to lead root cause analyses, CAPAs, deviation management, and customer-facing quality resolutions in a regulated food and supplement environment.

You will partner with Production, R&D, QA, and Supply Chain to maintain FDA and cGMP compliance, drive data-driven improvements, maintain documentation, and support risk mitigation across the product lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in food science, engineering or related field.
• 3 years’ experience in investigations, QA/QC in nutraceutical/food/pharma.
• Proficiency with RCA and CAPAs; Lean Six Sigma knowledge.
• Strong communication and documentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead root cause analyses and investigations for batch deviations, process failures, and complaints.
• Develop CAPAs and verify effectiveness to prevent recurrence.
• Oversee customer complaint resolution and communicate findings professionally.
• Maintain FDA/cGMP/HACCP/FSMA/ISO compliance in investigations and documentation.
• Collaborate with Production, R&D, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and Engineering to resolve quality issues.

Skills

RCA

CAPA

Lean Six Sigma

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in food science

Tools

Excel (Advanced)

Job description

We believe being healthy should not require tradeoffs. SCN BestCo is a leading innovator, developer and manufacturer of Vitamin, Mineral & Supplement (VMS), Over-the-Counter (OTC) and prebiotics/probiotics in enjoyable forms such as gummies, lozenges and chews. With over 50 years of excellence, our team leads the way in changing how consumers make healthier choices. With unique food science expertise and proprietary processes, we’ve pioneered many firsts. The fire in our belly to create new to the world products has guided and continues to be core to our mission of making health and wellness more enjoyable. Come join us and become a part of our winning formula!

The Quality Investigator plays a pivotal role in leading technical investigations, root cause analyses, and deviation management across regulated environments such as dietary supplements and food. This role supports product release, complaint handling, and risk mitigation by collaborating with cross-functional teams and applying process improvement tools in alignment with FDA and current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) standards. The investigator develops and maintains documentation, trending analyses, and corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) while driving continuous improvement initiatives. This position also serves as a key liaison for customer-facing quality issues, ensuring thorough and timely resolution. Overall, the Quality Investigator ensures safe, compliant, and high-quality products by maintaining a data-driven, system-oriented approach to quality management.

Estimated starting annual base salary is $66,980.88 - $100,471.32 per year less applicable withholdings and deductions, paid on a bi-weekly basis. Please note that the actual compensation offered may vary based on relevant factors as determined by the Company, which may include, but is not limited to, location, experience, qualifications, education, skillset, and market conditions. The target base compensation for this role is in the low to middle of the range, with the top of the range reserved for only exceptional circumstances. In addition, this role is eligible for a discretionary, variable annual incentive, paid based on Company performance factors. SCN BestCo offers a competitive benefits package to eligible full-time employees, which currently includes medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with employer matching contributions, life insurance, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and more, as well as paid sick leave in accordance with applicable law. Each benefit is subject to eligibility requirements as specified in plan documents, and the Company reserves the right to modify the benefits it offers from time to time.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct root cause analyses and investigations by leading in-depth assessments of batch deviations, process failures, complaints, and food safety concerns, ensuring thorough root-cause identification and resolution.
• Develop CAPAs by implementing quick and effective solutions to eliminate recurring quality issues, verifying CAPA effectiveness through structured analysis.
• Oversee customer complaint resolution and analysis including complaint investigations, communication of findings professionally, and driving continuous improvement initiatives to enhance customer satisfaction.
• Upkeep regulatory compliance & documentation by ensuring that the investigations align with FDA, cGMP, HACCP, FSMA, ISO, and industry regulations, maintaining audit readiness and reporting accuracy.
• Ensure food safety and risk mitigation by overseeing environmental monitoring, performing investigations for failures, assessing product implication, and ensuring adherence to food safety protocols.
• Conduct data trending and reporting by analyzing, trending, and presenting quality data using spreadsheets, graphs, and databases, identifying patterns that inform decision-making.
• Support process improvement and engineering by utilizing Six Sigma, DMAIC, statistical process control, and design of experiment tools to drive systematic problem-solving and efficiency.
• Collaborate cross-functionally, working with Production, R&D, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and Engineering to resolve quality concerns, ensure batch integrity, and optimize product processes.
• Oversee standard operating procedures (SOPs) including developing, refining, and maintaining SOPs related to investigations, complaints, and deviation protocols, ensuring consistency in execution.
• Run change control and quality assurance initiations, which include product modifications, equipment updates, and procedural shifts, ensuring no negative impact.
• Share training and knowledge by guiding team members, conducting internal training, and ensuring team members are proficient in investigation methods and compliance standards.
• Lead continuous improvement including identifying efficiency gains, defect reduction strategies, and customer satisfaction enhancements, ensuring that investigation processes evolve and remain effective.

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, engineering, or related field.
• 3 years’ professional experience in investigations, engineering, or related function in Quality Control or Assurance in the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, food, or medical device industry.
• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, QC/QA methodologies, tools, and processes.
• Experience working with FDA drug regulations.
• Proficiency with Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Corrective & Preventive Actions (CAPAs).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office including advanced Excel skills.
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced team oriented, ever-changing manufacturing environment.
• Ability to apply critical thinking in problem solving. Must be able to demonstrate practical problem solving and trouble shooting skills. Ability to demonstrate practical problem solving and trouble shooting skills. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Strong communication, organization, and prioritization skills. Must have the ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with internal staff and management. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in engineering or related field.
• Experience in Quality Improvement and/or Engineering Project Management or similar role in the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, food or medical device industry.
• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) and/or Lean Certification Six Sigma Black Belt.
• Proficient in statistical analysis software (Minitab, etc).

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.