Quality Control Technician (Onsite, Columbus, OH)

Paleovalley & Wild Pastures • Columbus, OH

7h • $25 - $30 • Onsite

About The Position

The Quality Control Technician serves as the primary onsite Quality & Food Safety representative at their assigned Paleovalley and Wild Pastures warehouse. This hands-on technical role helps ensure products are received, stored, handled, and shipped in accordance with company quality standards, product specifications, food safety requirements, and applicable FDA and USDA requirements. Working independently onsite and in close partnership with the broader Quality & Food Safety team, the Quality Control Technician performs and evaluates Quality inspections and verification activities, addresses routine Quality issues within established procedures and authority, initiates Quality holds when needed, maintains accurate Quality records, and escalates elevated-risk or complex FSQA concerns to their supervisor. The role also identifies trends, recurring issues, and opportunities to strengthen onsite Quality processes and controls.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required
• 3+ years of progressively responsible experience in food quality control, quality assurance, food safety, food manufacturing, distribution Quality, or a related regulated environment; equivalent combinations of relevant education, training, and experience will be considered.
• Strong working knowledge of food safety, quality, sanitation, GMPs, and applicable Quality requirements within a regulated food manufacturing, warehousing, or distribution environment.
• Demonstrated ability to independently apply specifications, SOPs, work instructions, and Quality standards to evaluate routine Quality conditions, take appropriate action within established authority, and recognize when escalation is required.
• Strong inspection, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with experience identifying and documenting product defects, temperature deviations, nonconformances, product holds, traceability activities, and other Quality concerns.
• Ability to recognize trends or recurring issues and recommend practical improvements to Quality processes, controls, procedures, or documentation.
• Sound technical judgment, attention to detail, and strong communication and organizational skills, with the ability to work independently as the primary onsite Quality representative, manage changing priorities, and collaborate effectively with Warehouse Operations and the broader Quality & Food Safety team.

Nice To Haves

• Associate degree, technical training, or coursework in Food Science, Food Safety, Quality Assurance, Manufacturing, or a related field preferred.
• Previous Quality Control, Quality Assurance, or Food Safety experience within a food, beverage, dietary supplement, meat, or other regulated consumer-products environment.
• Experience working with FDA- and/or USDA-regulated products or performing receiving, shipping, warehouse, or finished-product Quality inspections.
• HACCP, GMP, SQF, PCQI, ServSafe, or other relevant food safety or Quality training/certification.
• Experience with product holds, nonconformance documentation, traceability/recall activities, continuous improvement, or Quality systems such as Acumatica.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary onsite Quality & Food Safety resource for the assigned warehouse, independently applying established standards and technical knowledge to identify, address, document, and escalate Quality and compliance concerns.
• Perform routine Quality and Food Safety inspections of incoming, stored, returned, and outbound Paleovalley and Wild Pastures products and shipments, including transportation conditions, packaging, labels and lot information, shelf life, temperatures, and other established criteria.
• Collect product samples as needed in accordance with established procedures and coordinate shipment to approved laboratories for testing.
• Control nonconforming or potentially compromised product by initiating Quality & Food Safety holds or quarantine, maintaining required documentation and product controls, and coordinating with the supervisor on disposition and release decisions.
• Conduct warehouse Quality & Food Safety verification activities, monitoring GMPs, sanitation, pest control, storage and segregation, temperature controls, product rotation, allergen/cross-contact controls, and other conditions that may affect product safety, quality, or compliance; maintain applicable pest-control accounts and records.
• Maintain accurate Quality and Food Safety records and data in Acumatica and other approved systems, including inspections, holds, nonconformances, temperatures, product conditions, and supporting documentation; identify trends or recurring concerns requiring follow-up.
• Document product-quality concerns and support supervisor-led investigations, including customer returns, damaged or compromised product, freight damage, and other nonconformances by gathering relevant records, observations, photographs, and supporting information.
• Support traceability, mock recalls, recalls, corrective actions, and audit preparation by locating and verifying affected product and records and gathering required documentation under the direction of the supervisor.
• Observe adherence to established Quality & Food Safety requirements throughout warehouse operations and promptly escalate identified gaps or concerns for appropriate follow-up, guidance, or training.
• Identify trends and recommend improvements to onsite Quality and Food Safety processes, controls, procedures, and documentation; support implementation of approved changes with the Quality & Food Safety team.
• Independently manage routine onsite Quality activities and issues using technical judgment within defined authority, escalating elevated-risk, complex, novel, or regulatory-sensitive FSQA matters to the supervisor.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage with 100% employer-paid dental/vision and a small monthly medical premium for employees; dependents may be added at employee cost
• Generous Paid time off to support balance and rest
• Paid sick time for when you need it
• Six (6) paid holidays each year
• Paid parental leave for growing families
• 100% company-paid Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, and Life Insurance
• 401(k) with up to a 4% company match after one year of service
• Monthly product stipend or access to perfectly imperfect damaged product so you can enjoy the nutrient-dense foods you help bring to others

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED