Lab Technician - Line Inspection

World’s Finest Chocolate•Chicago, IL

1d•$22 - $22•Onsite

About The Position

The Lab Technician – Line Inspection is responsible for supporting World’s Finest Chocolate’s commitment to product quality, food safety, and regulatory compliance by performing in-process and finished product inspections on the production floor. This role plays a critical part in ensuring that all products meet established quality standards, specifications, and customer requirements. The Lab Technician conducts routine testing, monitors production processes and equipment, maintains accurate quality documentation, and communicates findings to manufacturing operators and supervisors to drive timely corrective actions. This position requires close collaboration with production and quality teams to identify non-conformances, prevent potential quality or food safety issues, and ensure adherence to company policies, GMPs, and applicable HACCP principles. The Lab Technician – Line Inspection also supports sampling, micro-testing, and special quality projects as assigned, while maintaining a strong focus on detail, documentation accuracy, and professional communication.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required
Minimum of 1 year of experience in a food manufacturing, quality assurance, laboratory, or production inspection environment preferred.
Basic understanding of food safety, quality assurance principles, and current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs).
Ability to accurately perform and document in-process and finished product inspections according to established specifications and procedures.
Experience maintaining detailed, accurate records and quality logs in compliance with company and regulatory requirements.
Ability to follow standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and safety guidelines in a manufacturing setting.
Working knowledge of quality testing methods related to weight, dimensions, appearance, packaging, and product integrity.
Ability to identify product defects, non-conformances, and potential food safety concerns, including foreign material risks.
Strong attention to detail with a commitment to product quality, food safety, and accuracy.
Effective verbal and written communication skills to clearly report findings and escalate issues to operators and supervisors.
Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, including Production, Quality, and Operations.
Good time management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities.
Dependable, accountable, and professional in attendance, performance, and interactions with others.
Ability to stand, walk, bend, and perform repetitive tasks for extended periods in a production environment.
Ability to lift and move materials in accordance with safety guidelines.
Willingness to work varied shifts, overtime, and weekends as required by production needs.
Ability to work in a food manufacturing environment with exposure to noise, temperature variations, and food allergens, including chocolate and dairy products.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s/Bachelor’s degree in food science, laboratory technology, or a related field preferred
Familiarity with production equipment monitoring, including metal detectors or similar inspection systems, preferred.
Familiarity with SAP and RedZone

Responsibilities

Perform assigned duties accurately and on time, while supporting additional tasks and responsibilities as directed by the Supervisor.
Conduct in-process quality testing for World’s Finest Chocolate and Contract Manufacturing products, including but not limited to weight, thickness, length, product density, and package appearance; inspect for potential foreign material contamination.
Accurately document all quality checks, test results, and observations in required quality logs and reports; promptly communicate abnormalities or deviations to manufacturing operators and supervisors.
Inspect finished products to verify compliance with specifications, including net weight, appearance, wrapping, coding, breakage, product count, and overall quality.
Ensure all in-process analyses are performed effectively and in accordance with established quality standards, procedures, and policies.
Monitor adherence to product and production quality requirements; identify non-conformance situations, notify operators and production leadership, and support timely corrective actions.
Monitor production equipment, including metal detectors, to ensure proper functionality and immediately report malfunctions or defective conditions to supervision.
Collect, label, and retain product samples in accordance with established procedures and supervisor direction.
Perform sample reviews and micro-testing, and assist with additional quality-related projects as assigned.
Demonstrate understanding of HACCP principles and, when applicable, monitor designated Critical Control Points (CCPs) following appropriate training.
Communicate quality findings, concerns, and business-related information clearly and professionally to coworkers and leadership, both verbally and in writing.