Find & Apply For Quality Control Systems Manager Jobs in Melrose Park, Illinois

Quality Manager Accelera - 3.5 Melrose Park, IL Job Details Full-time $61.66 - $79.33 an hour 1 day ago Qualifications Customer communication Food safety management Quality assurance experience within food and beverage industry Food processing plant experience Team leadership Corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) Quality control audit Manufacturing facility experience Team development Managing laboratory teams Supervising experience Bachelor's degree Food & beverage production Mentoring Quality control experience within food and beverage industry Manufacturing company experience Food safety auditing Audit support Customer complaint resolution Full Job Description Quality Manager - Food Manufacturing (SQF, GMP, Lab, Leadership) Melrose Park, Illinois (Local candidates preferred) Why This Role Is a Great Opportunity Step into a pivotal plant-level leadership position where you will have full authority over the quality function rather than just overseeing it. You will be joining a rapidly scaling business that has grown from $20 million to over $100 million in annual revenue. With ongoing investments and the expansion of second-shift operations, this is a prime chance to influence and refine the quality organization. You will work closely with the President and Director of Operations in an environment that values ownership and minimizes red tape. Your input will directly shape production standards, food safety protocols, and overall plant performance. What You Will Lead and Own Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will manage a hands-on team of 6-8 professionals, including: Quality Coordinators Quality Technicians (covering second shift) In-house laboratory staff R D and Product Development support for culinary and new product initiatives You will also be responsible for mentoring staff, educating production personnel, and enhancing the quality infrastructure throughout the facility. What You Will Do Food Safety, Compliance & SQF Leadership Maintain the facility's SQF certification and overall Quality Management System. Ensure the entire plant meets GMP, food safety, and regulatory requirements. Manage the full lifecycle of internal, customer, and third-party audits. Collaborate across departments to help ensure the facility remains audit-ready at all times. Laboratory & Product Quality Direct all laboratory functions, instrumentation, and testing protocols. Verify the accuracy of testing for raw ingredients and finished goods. Oversee calibration schedules, equipment maintenance, and lab inventory. Provide essential support for product validation and new launches. Work alongside R D to help improve product consistency and culinary development. Customer Quality & Corrective Actions Act as the primary point of contact for all customer quality inquiries. Investigate complaints and lead CAPA initiatives to prevent recurrence. Complete customer-requested questionnaires and facilitate site audits. Perform root cause analysis to help drive long-term improvements across the plant. Maintain clear and professional communication with all customer stakeholders. Continuous Improvement Utilize performance data to drive meaningful quality improvements. Increase first-pass quality rates throughout production. Create and update standard operating procedures and documentation. Partner with Maintenance and Operations to help stabilize and improve processes. Leadership & Team Development Provide coaching and development for the Quality department. Train staff on food safety standards and quality systems. Foster a culture of accountability to help strengthen plant-wide food safety. Communicate effectively with all production staff, including Spanish-speaking team members. Operational Leadership Oversee the Quality department budget. Manage all laboratory supplies and resources. Ensure adequate staffing and quality oversight across all shifts. What We're Looking For Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Food Science, or a related discipline. At least 3 years of experience in a supervisory or quality leadership role. Proven background within the food manufacturing industry. Practical experience managing GMP and SQF systems. Experience with laboratory testing and quality control procedures. Proven ability to lead corrective action programs and audits. Strong communication skills for customer-facing interactions. Demonstrated success in mentoring and leading high-performing teams. Ability to lead a diverse workforce, including Spanish-speaking employees (Spanish proficiency is a plus). What Makes This Different Full ownership of the plant-level quality function. Direct access to executive leadership. High level of autonomy with minimal bureaucracy. Opportunity to build and shape the quality organization. Growth-oriented company with expanding second-shift operations. High visibility across all levels of leadership and operations. Clear career progression toward future Director-level roles. Key Proficiencies Continuous Improvement Food and Beverage Manufacturing Quality Control Experience Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)