Quality Assurance Lead

Shape What's Next at Select Custom Solutions

At Select Custom Solutions, we don't just make ingredients—we create possibilities. From La Crosse, WI, our team brings innovation and expertise to contract manufacturing, branded dairy and non-dairy ingredients, custom blends, and ingredient distribution. With modern facilities and cutting-edge capabilities, we help some of the world's most trusted brands deliver products that make a difference in people's lives.

With a strong focus on growth, innovation, and excellence, Select Custom Solutions offers opportunities to be part of meaningful work that impacts industries worldwide. Whether you're working hands-on in manufacturing or supporting operations, your contributions help drive the future of food and nutrition.

We're proud to be partnered with Select Milk Producers, one of the nation's most progressive dairy cooperatives. With over 110 family-owned dairies and multiple processing plants and joint ventures nationwide, our partnership connects us to a powerful network driving the future of food and nutrition.

Join us—and help shape what's next.

What Select offers you:

Comprehensive benefits package focusing on your physical, financial and emotional health to include the following perks as well as the standard benefit offerings (health, dental, vision, etc.): 

• Paid Time Off 
• Paid Holidays Off 
• Uniform Program 
• Shoe Allowance  
• Onsite gym 
• Career Advancement Opportunities  
• Leadership Development  
• Opportunities to support our local communities 
• Chance to apply best practices in sustainability and environmental initiatives 
• Commitment to producing high quality nutritious products and providing nourishment around the world  

What this role is all about: 

We are looking for a Quality Assurance Lead in La Crosse, WI. 

Schedule: Monday – Friday, 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM 

The Quality Assurance Lead is responsible for training, monitoring, and instructing the Quality Assurance Technicians in the plant to ensure the department possesses the necessary skills and knowledge to achieve organization goals. This position assists the Quality Assurance Supervisor with daily tasks and workload as needed and partners with the production leadership team on resolution of quality-related issues. The Quality Assurance Lead is also responsible for educating plant employees on quality requirements related to production and Select Custom Solutions' pre-requisite programs. Finally, this position assists in decision making regarding plant and process deviations, quality issues and retail packaging/labeling issues.   

Job Duties:

• Train all new QA Technicians and act as the primary resource for QA technicians regarding line deviations.
• Verifies that QA Technician projects are completed on time and correctly. 
• Monitor quality and food safety practices to assure adherence to product specifications, regulatory auditing compliance, and plant policies/ procedures. 
• Update and review production and quality inspection checklists. 
• Monitor and educate production employees on quality requirements; schedule and perform all sample training for production operators. 
• Report observations/ issues pertaining to pre-requisite programs (Good Manufacturing Processes, training, calibrations, pest management, cleaning/sanitation, environmental monitoring, supplier approval, and allergen control). 
• Collaborate in investigations, decision-making, and the implementation of changes to plant and process deviations, customer complaints and other product/material non-conformances (retail packaging/labeling, raw ingredients) within production as needed.   
• Lead the resolution of assigned customer complaints; providing formal communication back to customers as appropriate. 
• Investigate quality-related events that occur on all three shifts and ensure that events were handled appropriately; follow-up to obtain additional information to be used during Corrective Action meetings. 
• Evaluate product disposition and decision-making regarding Product Holds.   
• Act as back-up hold program manager if the QA Plant Supervisor and QA Manager are absent or unavailable. 
• Coordinate, issue, and track product hold movements within hold manager.  Regularly update product hold records and submit for final approval.
• Initiate and direct periodic hold inventory reconciliation. 
• Review contractor permits and establishes quality controls for contracted construction projects within the facility. 
• Actively participate in maintaining required plant certifications including, but not limited to SQF, NFS, Kosher, Organic, Certified Gluten Free, and Halal.   
• Successfully complete special projects for continuous improvement, cost reductions, or safety improvements as assigned. 
• Fill in for the Quality Assurance Technician in the production facility as needed. 
• This position has contact with customers for tours and audits, regulatory agencies for audits, suppliers and vendors, and trade organizations for professional development. 
• Maintain a thorough knowledge of the HACCP program and participate on the HACCP team as needed 
• This position requires the ability to use lab equipment such as scales, pH meters, stir plates, titratable acidity test kit, shaker cups, beakers, graduated cylinders, blender, dishwasher and other equipment as needed.    
• Serve on committees/groups as needed.   
• Understand and adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices. 
• Safety Protocol: 
• Stop any observed unsafe acts and obey facility safety rules and procedures. 
• Correct or report any observed safety hazards. 
• Support safety policies and programs. 

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities, as management may deem necessary from time to time. 

Qualifications:

Education Required: 

• Associate's Degree from a two-year college or technical school .  
• Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Microbiology or related field preferred. 
• Equivalent combination of education and/or experience will be considered.     

Experience Required: 

• Minimum two (2) years of food production/manufacturing experience preferred. 
• Working knowledge of food manufacturing regulations required.  

Where you'll be working:

Our La Crosse, WI, plant is home to approximately 330 employees. This facility supplies the food, beverage, and nutritional industries with innovative functional ingredients and superior quality contract manufacturing services. 

La Crosse, WI, is nestled between the Mississippi River and the rolling river bluffs. This town is home to a plethora of colleges, high-quality health care, community events, and cultural opportunities. If you want to enjoy outdoor activities there are many opportunities, such as hiking, cycling, skiing, and boating. The town hosts multiple events annually and is famously known for their Oktoberfest celebration as well as offering a minor league baseball team. Visit the La Crosse Chamber site for more information on local events. 

AA/EEO – Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity 

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