Quality Specialist

Central Garden & Pet; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401k with employer match

Paid vacation and holidays

Life Insurance

Education Assistance

Referral Program with cash bonus

Access to on-demand pay

Parental leave

Job summary

Central Garden & Pet Company in Fort Wayne, IN is seeking a Quality Specialist to ensure products meet quality standards. The role involves inspections, testing, and meticulous record keeping to support continuous improvement in manufacturing.

Responsibilities include end-to-end quality control, manual process tracking, and coordinating labels and POP with the line and Inventory Team. A high school diploma is required; bilingual ability is a plus and forklift training may be offered.

Qualifications

• Requires high school diploma or equivalent.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred but not required.
• Prior quality experience in manufacturing preferred.

Responsibilities

• Ensure quality from start to finish: first article inspection through finished pieces.
• Track and record each step of the quality process manually.
• Manage flow of labels, tags, and POP to and from the line with accuracy checks.
• Maintain organized QC lab space and coordinate label storage with Inventory Team.
• Support production and inventory teams as needed; perform general plant/warehouse housekeeping.

Skills

Attention to detail

Measurement tools

Microsoft Office

Independent worker

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Quality inspection equipment

Job description

Location: Fort Wayne, IN, United States
Date Posted: Oct 28, 2026
Job ID: JV-2641

Work Schedule: 1 st shift 7-3:30pm M-Fri (OT will be required during peak season)

The Quality Specialist plays a crucial role in ensuring that manufacturing processes and products meet established quality standards. This position is responsible for performing inspections, conducting tests, and maintaining quality records to ensure that all products are compliant with company and industry standards. The Quality Specialist works closely with the production team to identify , document, and resolve quality issues, thereby contributing to continuous improvement in the manufacturing process.

Primary Responsibilities:

Ensure quality of end-to-end production; first article inspection to finished packed pieces.

Track and record each step of the quality process manually.

Manages the flow of labels, tags, POP to and from the line, double checking accuracy with each transition.

Maintains organization and tidiness of QC lab space and all items within, coordinates storage of labels, tags, POP with Inventory Team .

Supports production and inventory teams as requested.

Other duties as requested, including general housekeeping of plant/warehouse.

Required Skills:

Proficient in the use of measurement tools and quality inspection equipment.

Strong attention to detail and problem-solving abilities.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook). Comfortable looking up information in various databases.

Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Excellent organizational skills.

Education And Experience :

High school diploma or equivalent.

Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred but not required .

Prior quality experience in a manufacturing setting preferred.

Prior forklift operator experience preferred, must be willing to be trained and certified to operate a forklift.

Physical Requirements:

Must be able to sit, bend, twist, stoop, stand and walk for at least 3 hours at a stretch, over an 8 or 10-hour shift, with 15-minute breaks.

Ability to lift, push, and/or pull up to 50 lbs.

BENEFITS PACKAGE & EMPLOYEE PROGRAMS

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Free Life and Disability Insurance
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• 401k with 3% company match and annual employer discretionary contribution
• Paid vacation, holidays and sick time
• Employee Assistance Program
• Access to thousands of free online courses
• Discounts on cell phones, movie tickets, gym memberships, and more!
• Education Assistance (both college degrees and professional certifications)
• Referral Program with cash bonus
• Access to on-demand pay
• Paid parental leave

Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENT) (NASDAQ: CENTA) is a leading consumer goods company in the pet and garden industries. Guided by the belief that home is central to life, the Company's purpose is to proudly nurture happy and healthy homes. For over 45 years, its innovative and trusted solutions have helped lawns grow greener, gardens bloom bigger, pets live healthier, and communities grow stronger. Central is home to a diversified portfolio of market‑leading brands including Amdro®, Aqueon®, Best Bully Sticks®, Cadet®, C&S®, Farnam®, Ferry-Morse®, Kaytee®, Nylabone®, Pennington®, Sevin® and Zoёcon®. With fiscal 2025 net sales of $3.1 billion, Central has strong manufacturing and logistics capabilities supported by a passionate, entrepreneurial growth culture. The Company is headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and employs over 6,000 people, primarily across North America. Visit www.central.com to learn more.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.