Cookie Quality Assurance Specialist

The Quality Assurance Specialist supports Joy Baking Group commitment to safe, high-quality products by monitoring processes, reviewing quality data, and ensuring compliance with internal and external requirements. This role helps maintain quality programs, analyze trends, support audits and investigations, and work closely with operations and other departments to drive continuous improvement. The position also assists with training, documentation, and traceability activities while providing backup support to the quality team as needed.​​Review and analyze Statistical Process Control (SPC) data to verify compliance with customer specifications; prepare Certificates of Analysis (COAs) for outgoing products and escalate nonconformances to management​Receive, review, and verify COAs for all incoming materials, ingredients, and processing aids​Maintain and execute the environmental monitoring program, including routine sampling, escalation testing, and documentation​Review, document, and trend daily microbiological test results to ensure compliance with established product and environmental specifications​Assist Quality Manager, Assistant Quality Manager, and Sanitation Supervisor with environmental result reviews, risk assessments, and data analysis evaluations​Coordinate quarterly AOAC laboratory proficiency testing, review results with the Quality management team, and provide retraining as warranted​Maintain inventory of chemical and microbiological testing supplies for the laboratory​Collaborate with Operations to support the consistent delivery of safe, high-quality food products​Support Research & Development initiatives by assisting with testing protocols, analyzing microbial trends, supporting validation studies, and evaluating finished product quality through trend analysis and investigative physical assessments​Provide training and guidance to employees on quality assurance and food safety requirements​Assist with product traceability activities, including mock recalls and investigations​Participate in internal, customer, and regulatory audits as assigned, including preparation and documentation support​Conduct and support root cause investigations for quality and food safety nonconformances and develop, implement, and verify the effectiveness of corrective and preventive actions using data analysis, trending, and documented follow-up​Serve as a backup for the Quality Assistant and assist with backup of the Assistant Quality Manager as needed​Serve as a backup to Quality Technician functions, as required, in the event of staffing gaps or absences​Perform additional tasks assigned by the Quality management team​​​Must be highly motivated, able to follow direction, and perform assigned work duties independently with minimal supervision ​​Must be able to speak, listen, and effectively communicate with team members both verbally and in writing ​​Must be able to work collaboratively with multiple departments and plant leadership ​​Strong organizational skills and ability to analyze and interpret technical information, mathematical concepts, and form conclusions ​Commitment to gain a thorough understanding of company policies and procedures and supporting their application ​​Able to read, understand, and strictly follow written procedures for multiple controlled processes ​​Able to organize and coordinate multiple tasks and work under time constraints to meet deadlines ​​Involves collection, organization, processing, verifying and filing of required paperwork ​​Accuracy, attention to detail, and excellent organizational skills a must ​​Lift up to 50 lbs and push or pull with up to 50 lbs. of force ​​Stoop, kneel, climb or squat on an occasional basis ​​Use hands to grip, pinch, handle, reach, or feel on a frequent basis ​​Able to stand, walk, and sit for duration of shift ​Able to work Full time, approximately 45-50 hours/week, primarily day turn hours ​​Involves extensive keyboard operation and regular use of office equipment High school diploma or equivalent required (additional coursework or certifications in food safety or quality assurance is a plus)Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, with strong skills in Excel for data analysis, reporting, and documentation managementFamiliarity with HACCP principles, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), SQF standards, and FSMA compliance requirements preferredPrevious experience in Quality Assurance or a food safety-related role is preferred, particularly in managing environmental monitoring programs and reviewing Certificates of Analysis (COAs)Experience in a production environment with an understanding of operational processes and product quality expectations

Created: 2026-02-09