Lead Quality Control Technician

WM B REILY & COMPANY INC•Knoxville, TN

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Quality Assurance Technician serves as the primary support to the QA Supervisor and acts as a working leader within the Quality Department. This role is responsible for providing day-to-day direction to QA Technicians, ensuring quality systems are executed consistently, supporting food safety and quality initiatives, and maintaining a strong quality presence on the production floor. The Lead QA Technician drives accountability, supports continuous improvement projects, reviews and closes daily quality activities, and serves as a resource for production and quality teams.

Requirements

Continuous improvement mindset with the ability to proactively lead change within the department and process.
Ability to effectively present information in a clear manner, demonstrate procedures and respond to questions.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to take on new projects within a fast-paced, time-sensitive environment while managing priorities.
Certified Internal Auditor or willingness and ability to become certified.
Resourceful and effective decision maker with good problem solving and analytical skills.
Solid communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to work effectively with leadership and peers.
Proficient in MS Office; must be able to create detailed reports.
Willingness to work alternate hours and days as required to support the quality and production teams.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of manufacturing software such as Redzone highly desired.

Responsibilities

Serves as the lead technician on shift and provides guidance, training, and support to QA Technicians.
Supports the QA Supervisor in daily execution of quality and food safety programs.
Maintains a visible presence on the production floor to ensure quality standards, product specifications, and food safety requirements are consistently met.
Coaches and guides Quality Technicians on proper procedures, standards, and expectations; reinforces accountability across the team.
Communicates quality issues, trends, and escalations to the QA Supervisor in a timely and organized manner.
Makes and executes data driven decisions at the floor level.
Performs quality testing and verification activities across all production areas including coffee, tea, flour, mayonnaise, sauces, retains, and bulk operations.
Conducts in-process inspections, finished product evaluations, sensory analysis, and specification verification.
Supports traceability exercises, mock recalls, internal audits, and customer or third-party audit preparation activities.
Assists in monitoring quality trends, identifying recurring issues, and escalating concerns to the QA Supervisor and QA Manager.
Supports continuous improvement projects related to food safety, quality systems, documentation control, and operational excellence.
Ensures all required quality documentation is accurate, complete, and maintained in accordance with company requirements.
Assists with calibration, verification, and troubleshooting of quality testing equipment.
Provides real-time support to Production and Maintenance teams during process deviations and quality-related issues.
Participates in department huddles, and shift communications.
Supports training and onboarding of new QA Technicians and cross-functional employees on quality-related programs.
Ensures compliance with GMPs, HACCP requirements, allergen controls, sanitation programs, food defense programs, and regulatory requirements.
Serves as a backup to the QA Supervisor during absences and assists with departmental leadership responsibilities as needed.
Demonstrates ownership of assigned projects and follows through to completion while meeting established deadlines.
Follows all safety procedures and participates in safety training; reports injuries, incidents, and unsafe conditions immediately.
Supports food safety, quality, legality, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

10 Paid Company Holidays
Generous Paid Vacation & Sick Time
Comprehensive, Affordable Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage for you and your family
Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contributions
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) & Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA)
401(k) Retirement Plan with company match and discretionary profit sharing
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and financial wellness resources
Company‑Paid Disability
Company‑Paid Life Insurance equal to 3× annual compensation
And more benefits designed to support your health, wealth, and well‑being