Quality Control Manager

Chicago, IL

Posted: 09/28/2026 Industry: Laboratory - Food & Beverage Job Number: 9.28.26MR Pay Rate: $110,000-130,000 Remote Friendly: On-Site Experience: 5 years or greater

Job Description

Summary

We are looking for an experienced Quality Control Manager to oversee laboratory and QC activities within a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This position will provide leadership to the Quality Control team and ensure that incoming materials, in-process materials, and finished products consistently meet company, regulatory, safety, and customer expectations.

Core Responsibilities

· Direct the day-to-day activities of the Quality Control laboratory, including analytical, microbiological, and sensory/organoleptic testing.

· Oversee testing and approval processes to ensure raw materials and finished goods are evaluated and released within established timelines and specifications.

· Establish and evaluate QC performance metrics, using data related to laboratory workload, testing volume, turnaround times, and overall department effectiveness.

· Provide leadership, coaching, training, and development for laboratory staff while identifying opportunities for cross-training and professional growth.

· Ensure laboratory practices and documentation comply with applicable cGMP, GLP, HACCP, SQF, FDA, USDA, OSHA, customer, and internal standards.

· Coordinate activities associated with customer and regulatory audits, as well as internal quality system audits.

· Manage quality investigations involving product or material discrepancies, OOS results, customer complaints, and other quality concerns. Lead root cause investigations and implementation of CAPAs and corrective actions.

· Maintain and improve laboratory systems, including SOPs, analytical methods, validation activities, change controls, deviations, equipment calibration and qualification, and service agreements.

· Work collaboratively with R&D, Production, QA, Procurement, and senior leadership to identify quality issues, determine appropriate solutions, and implement continuous improvement initiatives.

· Maintain a strong focus on laboratory safety, housekeeping, and compliance with established manufacturing and safety procedures.

Salary Range

$110,000-$130,000

 

Qualifications & Experience

· Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Food Science, Biology, or a related scientific discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

· 5+ years of experience in Quality Control, analytical chemistry, or laboratory operations within a food, flavor, beverage, pharmaceutical, or comparable manufacturing environment.

· 2-5 years of experience supervising, managing, or leading laboratory personnel.

· Demonstrated knowledge of FDA, USDA, HACCP, SQF, cGMP, GLP, and applicable food safety and quality regulations.

· Practical experience with sensory evaluation, organoleptic assessment, and analytical testing relevant to food or flavor manufacturing.

· Strong people leadership skills with the ability to coach, develop, and motivate laboratory employees.

· Excellent communication, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities.

· Ability to prioritize multiple projects and department needs while using quality data and trends to identify opportunities for improvement.

· Experience with USDA-regulated processing, an advanced scientific degree, and/or SQF Practitioner experience is preferred.

 

**If you’d like to hear more about this opportunity and others we are currently working on, please contact Mike Ribando at mribando@cps4jobs.com.

JO: 9.28.26MR

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