Quality Control Manager

Job Title: Quality Control Manager

Job Description

The Quality Control Manager provides enterprise-level leadership for all quality, food safety, and regulatory compliance programs within a manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for ensuring best-in-class product integrity, driving continuous improvement initiatives, and aligning quality systems with business objectives and customer expectations. As a key member of the leadership team, this individual partners cross-functionally to support operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction. This role oversees food safety systems, audit readiness, preventive controls, laboratory operations, and crisis management while developing and mentoring a high-performing quality organization.

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise-level quality and food safety strategy.
• Oversee food safety systems, audit readiness, preventive controls, laboratory operations, and crisis management.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and manage audits from customers, regulatory bodies, and third parties.
• Drive continuous improvement, KPI development, and SPC implementation.
• Conduct root cause analysis and lead CAPA initiatives.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Manufacturing, R&D, and Supply Chain teams.
• Handle customer-facing quality leadership and crisis management.
• Develop, coach, and manage team performance.
• Implement sanitation, allergen control, environmental monitoring, and food defense measures.
• Participate in FDA inspections and handle related responses and reports.
• Address and resolve customer complaints, including high-value and complex cases.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or related Life Sciences.
• 5-12+ years of progressive quality or food safety leadership experience in food or consumables manufacturing.
• Proven experience leading audits and regulatory inspections.
• Strong executive communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience with laboratory oversight, calibration, and data integrity.
• Crisis management and enterprise risk mitigation experience.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Master's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or related field.
• Multi-site quality leadership experience.
• Experience integrating quality systems into new product commercialization.
• Pest control certification.
• Advanced data analytics and dashboard development.
• Familiarity with FDA, USDA, and FSMA regulations.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Chicago, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $100000.00 - $130000.00/yr.

Medical, dental, and vision coverage Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital plans 401(k) retirement plan (pre-tax and Roth options) Voluntary life insurance and AD&D Short-term and long-term disability Health Savings Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Time Off / Leave (PTO, vacation, or sick leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Chicago,IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 30, 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.