Quality Control Manager

Quality Control Manager – Food, Flavors & Ingredient Innovation

Location: Northbrook, Illinois
Status: Newly Created Role
Compensation: $120,000 – $130,000 with potential flexibility
Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K and others

Position Summary:

This is a newly created leadership position designed to strengthen and elevate Quality Control within a highly innovative, regulated food and ingredient manufacturing environment. As QC Manager, you’ll have the opportunity to build structure, elevate analytical capability, and influence product quality at the source — partnering closely with Operations, R&D, and Purchasing to ensure every product meets the highest standards.

This role is ideal for a hands-on, data-driven problem solver who thrives in fast-paced environments, enjoys tackling investigations, and brings a positive, optimistic leadership style to their team. In addition, this role will serve as a key cross-functional partner to Operations, Purchasing, and R&D, helping resolve quality issues, support new product launches, and ensure raw materials and finished products meet strict standards. The QC Manager will lead investigations, perform root cause analysis, and use data to drive corrective actions and continuous improvement.

What You’ll Own

• Lead and Develop the QC Function
  • Manage, coach, and develop a QC Supervisor and team of ~10 technicians and analysts, fostering accountability, technical growth, and engagement.
  • Provide oversight of daily laboratory operations, ensuring accurate, timely analytical testing and efficient workflow.
  • Establish clear priorities and ensure alignment with production schedules and business needs.
• Drive Investigations and Problem Solving
  • Lead quality investigations, non-conformance reviews, and out-of-specification (OOS) events with a strong focus on identifying root cause and corrective actions.
  • Partner with cross-functional teams to resolve quality issues and prevent recurrence.
  • Use data and trend analysis to identify risks, improve processes, and strengthen overall quality performance.
• Champion Analytical Excellence
  • Oversee and ensure execution of analytical testing of raw materials, in-process samples, and finished products to support product quality and compliance.
  • Ensure laboratory practices, documentation, and procedures meet regulatory, customer, and internal standards.
  • Evaluate lab capabilities and identify opportunities to improve accuracy, efficiency, and reliability.
• Collaborate Across the Business
  • Work closely with Operations to support production, resolve issues, and ensure quality standards are met.
  • Partner with R&D on new product launches, scale-ups, and product troubleshooting.
  • Collaborate with Purchasing and suppliers to address raw material quality and drive continuous improvement.

What You Bring

• Leadership experience managing QC teams and laboratory operations.
• Strong background in food, flavors, ingredients, additives, or nutritional products.
• Hands-on experience with analytical testing and laboratory oversight in a regulated environment.
• Demonstrated success leading investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• A data-driven mindset with the ability to analyze trends and make informed decisions.
• A proactive, optimistic leadership style with strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, reactive environment where problem solving is critical.

What You’ll Impact

• Strengthen the company’s ability to quickly identify and resolve quality issues
• Improve laboratory performance and analytical capability
• Help bring new, innovative products to market successfully
• Develop and mentor a high-performing quality team
• Play a key role in ensuring product safety, compliance, and customer satisfaction

If you are interested in learning more or being considered for this position, please apply today!

Krisi O’Donnell
National Search
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