Quality Control Specialist - Kennesaw, GA

Job Description

Quality Control Specialist - Kennesaw, GA

Job Responsibilities:
The Quality Control Specialist – Raw Materials provides direct support to the continuous improvement of laboratory and quality initiatives within the Quality Management System (QMS). This role is responsible for ensuring the quality, safety, and regulatory compliance of incoming raw materials through analytical testing, documentation review, supplier oversight, and quality system execution.
With guidance from the Quality Control Laboratory Manager, the Quality Control Specialist ensures raw material testing programs, specifications, validation activities, and laboratory systems are compliant with applicable regulatory, certification, and customer requirements. This role also supports method development, validation, and equipment qualification associated with raw material testing activities.

The Quality Control Specialist – Raw Materials is responsible for building and maintaining strong working knowledge of applicable Federal and State regulatory requirements, cGMPs, food safety standards, and certification expectations to ensure full compliance of raw material quality programs.
This role will train on and develop competency in all quality‑related activities supporting raw material receipt, testing, disposition, documentation, and supplier compliance.

SOPs, Lab Methods & Forms

•   Develop, revise, and maintain SOPs, laboratory methods, specifications, and forms related to raw     material testing and control.
•   Perform periodic reviews of SOPs, lab methods, specifications, and forms to ensure alignment with regulatory requirements, standards, and internal practices.
•   Initiate and manage change controls related to raw material quality documentation.
•   Maintain and update calculation worksheets and spreadsheets associated with raw material analytical methods.

• Perform or support analytical testing of incoming raw materials in accordance with approved methods and specifications.
• Review Certificates of Analysis (COAs) and supporting documentation to ensure compliance with material specifications and regulatory requirements.
• Support raw material release, rejection, or conditional approval decisions in accordance with internal procedures.
•  Ensure traceability, labeling, and proper disposition of raw materials.

•  Conduct laboratory error and out‑of‑specification (OOS) investigations related to raw material testing.
•  Identify failure modes, root causes, and corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) and document findings in clear, defensible written reports.
• Investigate nonconformances, deviations, and process failures impacting raw material quality.
• Execute CAPA activities and verify effectiveness within established timelines.
• Generate deviation reports, nonconformance records, and supporting quality documentation.
• Provide training to laboratory personnel on corrective and preventive actions as required.

• Support laboratory management with data collection, trending, and analysis for raw material quality metrics and QMS objectives.
• Prepare reports summarizing testing trends, supplier performance, laboratory efficiencies, and quality indicators.
• Appropriately archive laboratory and quality system records consistent with retention requirements.

Other Responsibilities

• Provide guidance and training on Quality Systems, quality assurance processes, and laboratory procedures.
• Develop and maintain raw material specifications, testing requirements, and acceptance criteria aligned with ISO, GFSI, and customer requirements.
• Support supplier qualification activities and raw material risk assessments.
• Support internal, customer, and third‑party audits (e.g., FDA, NSF, GFSI).
• Participate on cross‑functional project teams as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Provide internal department communication in regards to raw materials
• Evaluate requalification materials for stock conservsions or extensions
• Creation of raw material COA’s upon request

• Ability to take initiative, maintain confidentiality, meet deadlines, and work in a team environment
• Strong leadership skills
• Strong knowledge of current quality systems requirements and implementation techniques.
• Superior communication and analytical skills, plus demonstrated skills to handle a variety of assignments simultaneously.
• Customer-advocate to ensure on time task completion.
• Requires excellent written and verba