Job Title: QA & QC Associate (Food & Beverage Flavors)
Job Description: Element Staffing is recruiting for a dual-function QA & QC Manager / Lead Associate for an agile custom flavor development and food science manufacturing organization. Reporting directly to the Director of Operations, this hybrid leadership and hands-on operational role oversees Quality Assurance programs (SQF, HACCP, FSMA) while managing day-to-day Quality Control testing. The successful candidate will interface directly with Production, R&D, Procurement, and external auditors to ensure every lot shipped meets exact flavor profile, chemical, and microbiological specifications.
Duties/Responsibilities/Qualifications:
-
QC Testing & Lab Operations: Oversee and perform daily physical-chemical evaluations on raw materials, liquid extracts, powders, and finished flavor lots (pH, specific gravity, Brix, refractive index, titratable acidity, flash point). Lead organoleptic sensory panels to verify profile matching and lot-to-lot consistency.
-
Equipment & Environmental Monitoring: Calibrate and maintain analytical equipment (refractometers, density meters, moisture analyzers, titrators). Execute environmental swabbing programs and sample prep for third-party microbiological testing.
-
QA Compliance & SQF Leadership: Serve as Primary SQF Practitioner; maintain and update the site Food Safety Plan (HACCP, HARPC, SSOPs, Allergen Management). Lead GFSI/SQF certification, internal audits, and regulatory inspections (FDA/CDPH/State agencies).
-
CAPA & Lot Release: Manage the CAPA program; investigate non-conformances, out-of-spec (OOS) batches, and customer complaints using Root Cause Analysis. Review batch records, vendor documentation (Kosher, Organic, Non-GMO, SDS), and approve final Certificates of Analysis (CoAs).
-
Plant Training & Scale-Up: Partner with R&D Flavorists and Production to scale up new liquid/dry formulations from benchtop to commercial plant lines. Train production personnel on cGMPs, allergen controls, and hygiene safety.
Additional Information:
-
Years of Experience: 3–6+ years of combined QA/QC experience within a food, beverage, ingredient, or liquid flavor manufacturing environment.
-
Education: Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) in Food Science, Chemistry, Microbiology, or a related scientific discipline.
-
Certifications: PCQI and HACCP certifications required; SQF Practitioner certification strongly preferred.
-
Shift/Schedule: Standard daytime hours. Candidates must be flexible and open to working overtime or weekend shifts based on production campaign schedules and audit preparation.
-
Physical Requirements & Working Conditions: Split between lab/office and wet/dry plant production floor. Must be able to lift up to 35 lbs and sit/stand for extended periods.
-
Requirements: Strong organoleptic skills (sensory taste/aroma evaluation) and direct working knowledge of FDA regulations, FSMA, cGMPs, Kosher, and Organic frameworks. Hands-on experience with ERP/LIMS software (SAP, Deacom, Microsoft Dynamics, or similar).
-
Compensation: $70,800 – $95,840 annualized equivalent DOE
-
Location – On-site at One of these locations: Riverside, CA
For immediate consideration, please send your resume to resumes.westcoast@element-staffing.com.
Keyword Cloud
Skill Areas:
QA QC Manager, Quality Assurance Lead, SQF Practitioner, PCQI, HACCP, HARPC, Food Safety Plan, Brix Testing, Specific Gravity, Refractive Index, Titratable Acidity, Flash Point, Organoleptic Evaluation, Sensory Panel, Environmental Swabbing, CAPA, Root Cause Analysis, OOS Batch Investigation, Certificates of Analysis, CoAs, Allergen Management, SSOPs, cGMP, Vendor Qualification, ERP, LIMS, 35lb Lifting.
Industry:
Food Science, Flavor Manufacturing, Beverage Industry, Liquid & Dry Formulations, Food Safety, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Scientific Staffing.
Geography:
Riverside, Corona, Inland Empire, SoCal, Southern California