Quality Assistant Jobs in Appleton, WI (NOW HIRING)

Job Title: QA Supervisor

Job Description

The QA Supervisor is responsible for the daily execution of all food safety and quality processes, ensuring they meet company, customer, industry quality certification, and regulatory requirements. This role oversees the laboratory team and day-to-day activities within the quality function to ensure consistent product quality and food safety, while driving continuous improvement and supporting a culture of safety and engagement.

Responsibilities

• Lead and own communication within the quality area and across functions, ensuring clear, timely, and transparent information sharing.
• Serve as a primary contact and reliable resource for employee and team needs, providing meaningful follow-up to questions, concerns, and ideas.
• Maintain high visibility and approachability on the production floor to support and engage employees.
• Involve and engage team members through regular meetings, process improvement discussions, and follow-up on employee suggestions.
• Conduct effective formal and informal coaching, performance management, and development for quality team members.
• Provide recognition and praise to encourage positive work behaviors and maintain focus on quality and safety.
• Use performance metrics to monitor and improve efficiency and effectiveness within the quality function.
• Continually assess team effectiveness and identify resources or support needed to enhance team performance and development.
• Review product on hold daily, determine appropriate disposition, and ensure timely resolution of quality issues.
• Manage area-specific production quality processes and lead improvement activities, including identifying opportunity areas and executing planned improvements.
• Participate in production and staffing scheduling and adjust plans as needed to support operations and quality requirements.
• Work with employees to effectively manage housekeeping, sanitation, and food safety practices in the quality and production areas.
• Manage resources, including equipment and personnel, to ensure maximum uptime and consistent product quality.
• Assist in the hiring process for new quality technician employees, including interviewing and onboarding support.
• Follow through on issues to resolution or establish clear and agreed-upon hand-offs to appropriate stakeholders.
• Act as a leader and champion of human and food safety, modeling safe work behaviors and reinforcing safety expectations.
• Document and investigate safety incidents, ensuring accurate records and appropriate corrective actions.
• Proactively identify safety risks related to behavior and facility conditions and drive quick resolution to reduce risk.
• Ensure team members use proper procedures and attend required safety and quality training sessions.
• Maintain product quality levels that meet or exceed customer expectations and internal standards.
• Ensure compliance with all quality, sanitation, and food safety processes, policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Follow food safety and regulatory policies and procedures, execute responsibilities as defined in standard operating procedures, and promptly report food safety or regulatory concerns to appropriate leadership.
• Provide proper training, coaching, and feedback to new employees to support their successful integration into the team.
• Assess, identify, and address ongoing training opportunities, including job skills development and goal setting for team members.
• Facilitate effective team meetings focused on performance, improvement initiatives, and quality and safety priorities.
• Promote and manage cross-training within the quality team to ensure appropriate depth of skills and coverage across all areas.
• Support and uphold standards related to SQF, HACCP, PCQI, and other relevant food safety and quality programs.
• Oversee laboratory and QC testing activities to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant analysis of products.
• Lead quality assurance and quality control efforts to ensure products consistently meet specifications and regulatory requirements.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 5 years of quality experience in the food or beverage industry.
• Leadership experience, ideally at least 3 years, in roles such as lead, supervisor, coordinator, or project owner with responsibility for directing others.
• Experience overseeing a small team, including responsibility for approximately four team members on a shift.
• Hands-on experience with HACCP programs and principles.
• Experience working within SQF-certified environments or similar food safety schemes.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Strong experience in quality assurance and quality control within food or beverage manufacturing.
• Practical experience with laboratory operations and QC testing in a production setting.
• Demonstrated leadership skills, including coaching, performance management, and team development.
• Ability to use performance metrics and data to drive efficiency and continuous improvement.
• Knowledge of food safety regulations and industry standards and the ability to apply them in daily operations.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, follow through on issues, and ensure timely resolution of quality and safety concerns.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with alternative food safety certification programs such as BRC, GFSI, or ISP is acceptable and considered valuable.
• HACCP or SQF certification is a plus.
• Experience with PCQI and related preventive controls programs is beneficial.
• Experience in private label beverage production or contract manufacturing is advantageous.
• Experience supporting or launching new beverage or nutrition products, such as protein drinks, is a plus.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to engage and involve employees through meetings and improvement discussions.
• Proven ability to champion safety culture and drive corrective actions related to safety and quality.
• Ability to facilitate effective team meetings and training sessions.
• Experience in cross-training team members and building flexible, multi-skilled teams.

Work Environment

This role operates in a beverage manufacturing facility with a strong focus on quality, sanitation, and food safety. The position follows a 2-2-3 schedule, working from 5:45 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., with training likely conducted on a first-shift schedule initially. The environment includes laboratory and production areas where QC testing, quality assurance, and food safety programs such as SQF, HACCP, and PCQI are actively implemented. Team members work closely with operations, production, and quality staff in a fast-paced, growth-oriented setting where private label and contract-manufactured beverages are produced. Appropriate attire typically includes standard manufacturing and lab safety gear consistent with food production, and employees are expected to follow all safety, sanitation, and food safety procedures and attend required training. The culture emphasizes internal advancement, engagement, and continuous improvement within a rapidly growing QA team.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Appleton, WI.

The pay range for this position is $39.42 - $45.67/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)

This is a fully onsite position in Appleton,WI.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 11, 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.