Certified Quality Team Member

Winland Foods•Elk Grove, IL

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Winland Foods is hiring a Certified Quality Team Member to help ensure its products are safe, consistent, and compliant with food safety regulations and company standards. The role works closely with production and sanitation teams and supports inspections, testing, audits, documentation, training, and continuous improvement. The position is based at 1325 Chase Ave, Elk Grove Village, Illinois, and is scheduled for 2nd shift, 5:00 p.m. to 3:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, with rotating Saturday work according to the production schedule. Salary is $22.35–$26.00 per hour based on experience and other qualifications, plus a $0.25 shift differential. The position requires a high school diploma or GED and at least one year of manufacturing or food production experience. A degree in Biology, Chemistry, or Food Science is preferred. Team members must be able to perform physically demanding work, including standing and walking for extended periods and frequently lifting up to 50 pounds. They must follow required PPE, safety, sanitation, and food safety procedures, and maintain a clean and safe work environment.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least one year of work experience in manufacturing or food production.
Must be 18 years of age or older.
Ability to operate and troubleshoot equipment and advise on minor adjustments to formulas or processes.
Mechanical aptitude and ability to identify and resolve quality irregularities.
Proficiency in SAP, hand scanners, and basic math.
Computer literacy in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Knowledge of GMPs, SQF, HACCP, FSMA, and other food safety regulations.
Commitment to following company safety policies and procedures.
Ability to communicate effectively with coworkers, supervisors, and others at the worksite, including understanding oral and written information and communicating in writing as needed; work matters are mostly conducted in English.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment, with a proactive, team-oriented mindset.
Dependable, self-motivated, and able to maintain a positive attitude and strong attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to multitask.
Demonstrated accountability for work quality, attendance, and continuous improvement.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds, push heavy loads, stand and walk for up to 90% of the shift, and climb as needed.
Ability to stand and walk for extended periods and perform tasks involving frequent climbing, pulling, pushing, carrying, grasping, reaching, twisting, turning, and stooping.
Good hand-eye coordination and motor skills; 20/20 corrected vision, normal hearing and vision with correction if needed, near and far visual acuity, and ability to distinguish colors used for color-coded production containers.
Ability to wear required PPE and adhere to safety policies, including lock-out/tag-out and safe lifting techniques.
Willingness to work overtime or weekends as needed.

Nice To Haves

Degree in Biology, Chemistry, or Food Science.
For advanced levels, proficiency in MII and WE systems and ability to interpret line huddle measures to resolve issues.
For advanced levels, ability to lead projects, identify skill gaps, and support multiple initiatives with minimal supervision.
For higher levels, ability to provide training, guidance, and feedback to team members.

Responsibilities

Perform daily inspections, environmental swabbing, and product inspections, and verify compliance with established standards.
Inspect and perform preventive maintenance on quality equipment.
Conduct sensory testing, label verification, and analytical testing to confirm product attributes.
Follow plant procedures for placing materials on hold and collecting retention samples.
Assist with inventory control for approved suppliers using FIFO practices.
Support customer sample requests and microbiological testing required for shipping.
Communicate quality results to other plant teams.
Lead facility inspections and assist with quality checks, audits, and internal auditing.
Follow GMP, HACCP, SQF, FSMA, and company food safety policies; maintain cleanliness and sanitation.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve quality issues and investigate customer complaints.
Assist team members, adapt to operational changes, and contribute to productivity, safety, and quality goals.
Provide backup coverage for multiple roles, share knowledge with peers, and support team training.
Assist with SOP development and training, and facilitate cross-departmental collaboration.
Manage specialized quality programs and documentation using SAP and other quality management software.
Record inventory transactions, shipments, and quality results in SAP, ensuring accurate test-result documentation and reporting.
Support plant trials, process improvements, and cost-saving projects; participate in 5S efforts and act as the area 5S champion.
Assist with quality paperwork reviews and document control programs.
Work with supervisors and team members to develop solutions to issues.
Report food safety or quality issues to management immediately and maintain a clean, safe work environment.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
401(k) with match.
Short-term disability, long-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment, and life insurance.
Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Hospital indemnity insurance.
Accident insurance.
Identity and fraud protection plan.
Legal coverage.
Critical illness insurance.
$0.25 per hour shift differential.