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Food Quality Control Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Ashland has an exciting opportunity for a Quality Control Analytical Chemist to join our Ashland ... Understanding of Food Safety, EFfCI, and EXCiPACT standards. * Minimum of 2 years of quality or ...

New

Ashland has an exciting opportunity for a Quality Control Analytical Chemist to join our Ashland ... Understanding of Food Safety, EFfCI, and EXCiPACT standards. * Minimum of 2 years of quality or ...

... our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer. Work Schedule Second Shift (Days) Location ... Minimum of 1 year of work experience in QA or QC or related field * Preferred: Experience in a cGMP ...

QC Technician II

Middletown, VA ยท On-site

$16.95 - $25.42/hr

... our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer. Work Schedule Second Shift (Days) Location ... Minimum of 1 year of work experience in QA or QC or related field * Preferred: Experience in a cGMP ...

... our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer. Work Schedule First Shift (Days) Location ... Minimum of 1 year of work experience in QA or QC or related field * Preferred: Experience in a cGMP ...

QC Technician II

Middletown, VA ยท On-site

$16.95 - $25.42/hr

... our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer. Work Schedule First Shift (Days) Location ... Minimum of 1 year of work experience in QA or QC or related field * Preferred: Experience in a cGMP ...

Performs general daily Quality Control tasks based on established procedures. * Monitors food processing procedures by all plant personnel to ensure regulatory compliance while producing premium full ...

Performs general daily Quality Control tasks based on established procedures. * Monitors food processing procedures by all plant personnel to ensure regulatory compliance while producing premium full ...

Performs general daily Quality Control tasks based on established procedures.Monitors food processing procedures by all plant personnel to ensure regulatory compliance while producing premium full ...

Showing results 21-40

Food Quality Control information

See Virginia salary details

$30.2K

$80.6K

$128.4K

How much do food quality control jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for food quality control in Virginia is $80,626.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $60,000.00 and $99,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does food quality control do in the food industry?

Food quality control professionals ensure that food products meet safety, quality, and regulatory standards by inspecting ingredients, processing methods, and final products. They use tools like testing equipment and follow strict protocols to identify contamination, defects, or deviations from specifications, helping to prevent foodborne illnesses and ensure consumer safety.

How does a food quality control professional typically collaborate with production and R&D teams to maintain product standards?

Food Quality Control professionals work closely with production teams to monitor processes, conduct inspections, and ensure all products meet safety and quality standards. They frequently communicate with Research & Development (R&D) teams to implement new formulations or processes, providing feedback on potential quality or compliance issues. This collaboration ensures that any new products or changes in production maintain consistency, comply with regulations, and deliver the desired taste and safety profiles. Effective teamwork and clear communication across these departments are essential for maintaining high product quality.

What is the difference between Food Quality Control vs Food Safety Specialist?

AspectFood Quality ControlFood Safety Specialist
CertificationsHACCP, SQF, GFSIHACCP, GFSI, ISO 22000
Work EnvironmentManufacturing plants, laboratoriesRegulatory agencies, consulting firms
Employer & Industry UsageFood production companies, quality assurance departmentsGovernment agencies, food safety consulting

Food Quality Control focuses on inspecting and testing products to ensure they meet quality standards, while Food Safety Specialists concentrate on implementing safety protocols to prevent contamination and ensure compliance with safety regulations. Both roles are essential in the food industry and often overlap, but their primary focus differs: quality versus safety.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a food quality control professional?

To thrive in Food Quality Control, you need a solid understanding of food safety standards, quality assurance processes, and ideally a degree in food science or a related field. Familiarity with laboratory testing equipment, HACCP, and regulatory compliance systems is typically required, along with certifications like SQF or ISO 22000. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and strong communication skills set outstanding professionals apart in this field. These competencies ensure the safety, consistency, and regulatory compliance of food products, which are critical for consumer trust and company reputation.

What does a food quality control professional do?

A Food Quality Control professional is responsible for ensuring that food products meet safety, quality, and regulatory standards throughout the production process. Their duties include inspecting raw materials, monitoring production operations, conducting tests on finished products, and documenting results to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations. They work closely with production teams to identify and address quality issues, helping to prevent contamination or defects. This role is essential for protecting consumers and maintaining the reputation of food manufacturers.

How to get into food quality control?

To enter food quality control, candidates typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, with many roles preferring or requiring a bachelor's degree in food science, microbiology, or a related field. Gaining experience through internships or entry-level positions, developing skills in inspection, testing, and understanding food safety standards such as HACCP, and obtaining relevant certifications can improve job prospects.
What are the most commonly searched types of Food Quality Control jobs in Virginia? The most popular types of Food Quality Control jobs in Virginia are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Food Quality Control jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Food Quality Control job openings:
Infographic showing various Food Quality Control job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, 19% Part Time, and 6% Nights. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $80,626 per year, or $38.8 per hour.

Quality Control Analytical Chemist

Ashland

Hopewell, VA โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Posted 3 days ago

New


Job description

Ashland Specialty Ingredients, GP

Are you the kind of person that is always thinking, sketching, seeking, and adjusting? Who needs to understand how things work and then figure out how they can work better? Are you a passionate, tenacious, solver who loves to work with others who share your drive? Are you positive, constructive, and ingenious?

Are you always solving?

Then we'd like to meet you and bet you'd like to meet us.

Ashland has an exciting opportunity for a Quality Control Analytical Chemist to join our Ashland LLC, Specialty Ingredients G.P. business at our Hopewell, Virginia site. This is a very visible, significant role within the Company and the Quality function. This position will report to the Compliance Manager.
The responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

Oversees all aspects of Laboratory instrument operations that contribute to the site's production of high-quality products.

  • Responsible for documented test methodology and associated work instructions.
  • Ensures that analytical laboratory methods are validated and compliant.
  • Ensures that all laboratory equipment and testing facilities are well maintained and in good working order.
  • Troubleshoots laboratory instrument and analytical problems.
  • Manage laboratory instrument preventive maintenance and internal calibration verification checks.
  • Monitors and resolves laboratory data drifts and trends.
  • Perform non-routine testing for the purposes of new instrument validation or method transfers.
  • Develops analytical method equivalency and Gage R&R studies.
  • Prepares formal requests for new laboratory instrumentation (project capital requests).
  • Coordinates efforts with others in the site's Quality department and the corporate analytical teams to maintain the needed documentation required to support continued ISO 9001, EFfCI, EXCiPACT and other certifications or company standards, including data integrity of the laboratory equipment.
  • Provides training, instruction and adherence to analytical testing, safety procedures, ISO-9001 standards, data integrity, and current good manufacturing practices(cGMP).
  • Works to eliminate non-value-added work to increase efficiency in the Lab.
  • Participates in Quality, Safety and Environmental initiatives that will contribute to compliance of State/Federal regulations and improve existing Company programs.


In order to be qualified for this role, you must possess the following:

  • Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry or closely related discipline
  • Minimum of 5 years of laboratory experience
  • Well-versed in analytical laboratory testing, wet testing, analytical method development, and chemical plant processes.
  • Expertise in gas chromatography.
  • Knowledgeable in quality assurance systems, statistical quality control & procedures, cGMP guidelines & regulations, and ISO 9001 standards.
  • Effective communicator and can interface well with employees at all levels, outside vendors, customers, and corporate visitors. Holds working knowledge of current software systems, i.e. SAP, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).

The following skill sets are preferred by the business unit:

  • Understanding of Food Safety, EFfCI, and EXCiPACT standards.
  • Minimum of 2 years of quality or laboratory experience in a manufacturing environment.
  • Experience with Quality Risk Management and change management.

In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland LLC. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Our chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, personal care and pharmaceutical. Visit www.ashland.com to see the innovations we offer.
At Ashland our vision is to be a leading, global specialty chemicals company whose inspired and engaged employees add value to all we touch. In fact our people, employees, customers and vendors define who we are. They are the driving force behind everything we do.
Not only do we value our customers but we value our employees, and we work to offer them a dynamic and challenging environment. We hold ourselves to high standards at Ashland, and we value integrity and honesty.
Ashland has a history of attracting the best people and keeping them. The reasons are simple: industry competitive salary and benefits, pay-for-performance incentive plans and a diverse work environment where employees feel challenged and valued. People come to Ashland and stay. As a growing Fortune 500 specialty chemicals company, we offer opportunities for development and advancement throughout our global organization. Our values define who we are and what we care about as a company. If you are looking for a relationship with a company instead of simply a job, this may be a great fit.

Ashland is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation.ย 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. NOTE: ย We do not accept resumes from external staffing agencies or independent recruiters for any of our openings unless we have a signed recruiting agreement in place to fill a specific position.