Lab Quality Technician

Lab Quality Technician

Job Description

The Lab Quality Technician performs chemical and physical analyses on ingredients, work-in-progress materials, and finished goods in an accurate and timely manner. This role provides technical analytical support to internal departments and manufacturing locations, including gluten and other allergen testing, and plays a key part in ensuring product quality and food safety. The technician operates and maintains laboratory equipment, prepares samples for third-party testing, and manages documentation related to suppliers, ingredients, and packaging to support quality and compliance standards.

Responsibilities

• Perform chemical and physical analyses on ingredients, work-in-progress materials, and finished goods accurately and within required timeframes.
• Provide technical analytical support to other departments and manufacturing locations, including gluten and other allergen testing.
• Calculate, evaluate, and verify test results for accuracy, initiating retests as needed to confirm findings.
• Record test results on a daily basis in accordance with laboratory and quality control procedures.
• Prepare samples for analysis at third-party laboratories, ensuring proper handling, labeling, and documentation.
• Operate, calibrate, and maintain laboratory equipment used for analyses, following established procedures.
• Document all quality control activities, including equipment calibrations, maintenance, and testing performed.
• Maintain a safe and clean working environment by complying with all procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Complete documentation required for the manufacturing location, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Review supplier documentation to assess compliance with quality and food safety requirements.
• Coordinate supplier approvals to determine whether proposed suppliers meet established food quality and safety standards.
• Manage the addition and removal of suppliers as appropriate based on quality and compliance criteria.
• Manage supplier-level documentation, including maintaining up-to-date records and tracking changes.
• Manage ingredient-level and package-level documentation to support quality assurance and traceability.
• Respond to supplier questions as needed, providing clear information related to quality, specifications, and documentation.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor"s degree in Biology, Food Science, Life Sciences, or a related field.
• At least 1 year of related experience in a laboratory, food quality, or quality assurance environment.
• Hands-on experience with chemical and physical testing methods used in food or ingredient analysis.
• Ability to perform gluten and other allergen testing in accordance with established procedures.
• Proficiency in operating, calibrating, and maintaining laboratory equipment used for analytical testing.
• Strong understanding of food quality, food safety, and quality control principles.
• Experience working in food manufacturing or a similar production-focused environment.
• Ability to accurately calculate, interpret, and evaluate test results and initiate retests when necessary.
• Competence in documenting quality control activities, test results, calibrations, and maintenance in a clear and organized manner.
• Knowledge of microbiology and food science concepts relevant to product quality and safety.
• Familiarity with SQF or similar food safety and quality management systems.
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills for managing supplier, ingredient, and packaging documentation.
• Ability to comply with laboratory safety procedures, rules, and regulations to maintain a safe and clean work environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Background in chemistry, biology, food science, or life sciences with practical laboratory experience.
• Experience in food manufacturing quality assurance or quality control functions.
• Understanding of food quality standards and regulatory requirements in a manufacturing setting.
• Ability to review and interpret supplier documentation related to quality and food safety.
• Experience coordinating supplier approvals and managing supplier relationships from a quality perspective.
• Skill in managing documentation at supplier, ingredient, and packaging levels to support audits and compliance.
• Strong communication skills to respond effectively to supplier questions and collaborate with internal teams.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced environment while maintaining accuracy and thoroughness in testing and documentation.

Work Environment

This role operates in a fast-paced laboratory and food manufacturing environment with standard weekday hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., including a 30-minute lunch break. The dress code is casual, with steel-toed shoes required when working on or visiting the production floor. The position involves regular use of laboratory equipment for chemical, physical, and allergen testing, as well as computer-based documentation and communication. The work setting emphasizes safety, cleanliness, and adherence to procedures, rules, and regulations to maintain a high level of product quality and food safety.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Ankeny, IA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $23.00 - $23.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Ankeny,IA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 27, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.