Job Title: Assistant QA Supervisor – Glendale Heights

Company: U.S. Spice Mills, Inc. 

Location: Glendale Heights, IL 

Reports To: QA Supervisor 

Position Type: Full-Time, Onsite 

Pay Rate Range: $28.00 – $33.00 / hour 

Shift: Predictable First Shift (6:30 AM – 4:00 PM), Monday to Friday (Occasional Saturday as needed) 

Language Requirements: Excellent English verbal & writing skills 

About U.S. Spice Mills

We’ve been flavoring America since 1986. As a major supplier of pure, high-quality spices to the food industry, we combine the stability of an established company with the welcoming, collaborative vibe of a family-centric environment. We care about our products, but we care about our people more. 

Job Summary

The Assistant QA Supervisor is a hands-on operational leadership role overseeing a shift team of four direct reports: a QC Tech, a QC Analyst, and two QA Specialists. In addition to maintaining floor quality control and food safety compliance, this position bridges the gap between daily laboratory operations and customer quality compliance. 

This role serves as the primary technical point of contact for our documentation team—directly supporting customer technical requests, issuing Certificate of Analysis (COAs), managing specification sheets, and maintaining product dispositions in our ERP system. 

CRITICAL REQUIREMENT: PLEASE READ BEFORE APPLYING

To be considered for this position, applicants MUST possess all three core competency areas below. Entry-level QA/QC Technicians without team leadership or customer documentation experience will not be considered.

1. Direct People Leadership: Minimum 2+ years of experience actively coordinating daily workflows, assigning tasks, and leading QA/QC personnel in a food or beverage manufacturing environment. 
2. Customer Documentation & Compliance: Proven hands-on experience generating COAs, updating customer specs, and completing complex customer technical questionnaires. 
3. Systems & Hold/Release Authority: Demonstrated experience managing product Hold/Release processes within an ERP system and conducting root-cause investigations for CAPAs. 

Key Responsibilities

1. Shift Leadership, Training & Operational Oversight

• Directly oversee daily QA floor operations, coordinate staff schedules, and assign daily tasks to the QC Tech, QC Analyst, and QA Specialists to ensure total shift coverage.
  
• Audit and verify the completion of critical floor quality checks, including Sieve Analysis, Pre-Operational Equipment Checks, Environmental/ATP Swabs, Allergen Testing, Magnet Checks, and Metal Detector Verifications.
  
• Coach, mentor, and train QC Technicians and production staff on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), allergen controls, and standard testing methodologies.
  

2. Documentation, Compliance & Verification

• Audit and review all hard-copy quality logs and documentation for accuracy and completeness before final supervisor review.
  
• Oversee and authorize product disposition (Hold/Release workflows) within the ERP system, ensuring all non-conforming raw materials and finished goods are properly segregated.
  
• Maintain the facility in a constant state of audit-readiness according to FSQA standards, regulatory guidelines, and third-party audit requirements.
  

3. Customer Technical Support & Documentation

• Serve as the key technical resource for the documentation team handling direct customer requests.
  
• Oversee the timely and accurate creation and updating of COAs, specification sheets, and product data within the ERP system.
  
• Complete complex technical questionnaires from commercial customers.
  
• Ensure all customer quality inquiries and documentation requests are answered thoroughly and promptly.
  

4. Advanced Lab & Sample Management

• Maintain ultimate accountability for laboratory cleanliness, chemical safety, and retains inventory management.
  
• Oversee the processing and fulfillment of Customer Sample Requests to exact specifications.
  
• Manage the sample pipeline for R&D trials and coordinate testing schedules with third-party analytical laboratories.
  
• Monitor laboratory inventory, manage vendor relations for testing media, and approve replenishment orders for lab supplies.
  

5. Food Safety, CAPA & Problem Solving

• Serve as the first-line lead for floor problem-solving, data verification, and food safety risk assessment when production deviations occur.
  
• Take full ownership of customer Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA) processes, root-cause investigations, and long-term solution implementations.
  
• Perform advanced analytical testing when required, including Monthly Titration Chemical Tests and organoleptic spice inspections.
  

Qualifications and Skills

• Experience: 3+ years of progressive FSQA experience in food manufacturing or spice processing. Prior experience in a Lead, Senior Technician, or Assistant Supervisory capacity required.
  
• Leadership: 2+ years of demonstrated experience leading, coaching, and managing workflows for a team of direct reports.
  
• Technical & Software: Hands-on proficiency with ERP systems (inventory/quality disposition modules), customer documentation management, and quality software.
  
• Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of food safety chemistry, microbiology sampling, HACCP/PCQI principles, and mechanical controls (metal detectors, magnets, sieves).
  
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written English communication skills suitable for customer-facing technical correspondence.
  
• Work Authorization: Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship now or in the future.
  

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

• Safety First: Commitment to wearing required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and strictly following food safety protocols.
  
• Sensory Environment: On-site position in an active spice processing facility. Must be comfortable working around strong spice aromas, airborne dust, and active moving equipment.
  
• Physical Stamina: Position requires standing, walking, bending, and the ability to lift up to 51 pounds as needed.
  

U.S. Spice Mills is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In accordance with Illinois state regulations, the compensation range provided ($28.00–$33.00/hourly paid weekly) reflects our good faith hourly rate for this role. Final starting pay is determined by relevant transferable skills, leadership experience, and operational background.