QA Supervisor

Darigold • Caldwell, ID

2h • Onsite

About The Position

Darigold is seeking a Quality Assurance Supervisor for its Caldwell plant. The supervisor oversees daily laboratory operations, product quality, food safety programs, and regulatory compliance for a facility producing butter, skim concentrate, and buttermilk concentrate. The role partners with Operations, Sanitation, Maintenance, and Corporate Quality to ensure products meet specifications, quality systems are maintained, and risks are identified and resolved proactively. The successful candidate brings dairy industry knowledge, hands-on technical expertise, analytical problem-solving skills, and the ability to lead employees and promote accountability across the facility.

Darigold is a dairy cooperative producing more than 8.5 billion pounds of milk annually. Founded in 1918, it produces dairy products and ingredients for customers around the world.

The position provides technical direction and coaching to laboratory and quality personnel, supports the QA Manager in executing plant and corporate quality objectives, and reports quality and food safety performance and improvement opportunities to Plant Leadership.

Requirements

• Minimum 3–5 years of progressive quality assurance or laboratory experience in food manufacturing; dairy processing experience is strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of dairy product quality, laboratory testing, food safety systems, and manufacturing process controls.
• Experience with LIMS, laboratory data interpretation, quality trending, and investigation of out-of-specification results.
• Working knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, environmental monitoring, allergen control, sanitation, and regulatory compliance.
• Demonstrated ability to lead investigations, perform root-cause analysis, implement corrective actions, and prevent recurring issues.
• Strong communication, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and manage competing priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel for data analysis and reporting, and ability to work independently with minimal oversight.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree in Dairy Science, Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline preferred.
• Experience in dairy manufacturing, particularly with butter, cream, milk concentrates, or other dairy ingredients, strongly preferred.
• Previous supervisory or team-lead experience in a quality laboratory or food manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of dairy microbiology, pasteurization controls, vitamin fortification, and applicable Appendix N requirements.
• HACCP, PCQI, internal auditing, or Lean/Six Sigma training or certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee laboratory testing, equipment calibration, quality control, sample management, and documentation; ensure accurate and timely LIMS data entry and review, investigate abnormal results, and maintain compliance with approved laboratory methods and Corporate Quality requirements.
• Review laboratory results, processing parameters, operator quality checks, and production records daily; conduct product evaluations with Operations, identify trends and deviations, and support product holds, disposition, and corrective actions according to established procedures.
• Participate in the plant HACCP program and maintain applicable food safety programs, including allergen control, environmental monitoring, vitamin fortification, and Appendix N documentation and reporting; support compliance with FDA, PMO, customer, and company requirements.
• Maintain accurate, audit-ready records, procedures, and specifications; conduct routine plant self-audits, support regulatory and third-party audits, investigate findings, and ensure corrective actions are completed and verified.
• Lead investigations into product nonconformances, laboratory failures, environmental monitoring findings, and recurring quality issues; use structured problem-solving and data analysis to identify root causes, prevent recurrence, and improve product consistency and process performance.
• Review ingredient supplier Certificates of Analysis, investigate customer complaints, prepare technical responses, and coordinate corrective actions with internal teams and suppliers.
• Provide technical direction and coaching to laboratory and quality personnel; train employees on quality and food safety requirements, promote accountability across departments, and support the QA Manager in executing plant and corporate quality objectives.
• Track, trend, and report key quality and food safety metrics, identify emerging risks, and communicate performance and improvement opportunities to Plant Leadership.

Benefits

• 401k with competitive employer matching
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Employer-paid life and disability coverage
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• 8 weeks paid parental leave
• Education assistance
• Employee assistance program
• Community giving through matching donations
• Access to dairy products and participation in the employee butter purchase program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed