Quality Assurance Specialist

ADM

Sabetha, KS

Quality Assurance Specialist - Sabetha, KS This is an exempt level position. Job Summary: The Quality & Food Safety (QFS) Specialist supports campus Quality & Food Safety execution by providing hands-on verification, audit, and investigative support across manufacturing operations. This role functions as a flexible, plant-based Quality & Food Safety resource, deployed to areas of highest risk or need to verify compliance with regulatory requirements, internal standards, and ADM Quality & Food Safety expectations. A primary focus of this position is to serve as a Food Safety Culture Champion, maintaining a strong presence on the production floor and working directly with operators and frontline leaders to reinforce food safety behaviors, identify gaps between written programs and execution, and promote accountability for safe and quality production. The QFS Specialist works under the direction of campus Quality leadership and supports the quality team by ensuring consistent execution of verification activities, timely investigation of issues, and effective follow-through on corrective actions. This position reports to the Campus Quality Manager. Essential Job Functions: Execute on-site Quality and Food Safety verification activities, including GMP and prerequisite program verification, internal and layered audits, and routine inspections across production, sanitation, and warehouse operations. Conduct product, ingredient, and environmental sampling activities, ensuring sampling plans are executed as designed and results are reviewed, trended, and escalated as appropriate. Perform complaint investigations and root cause analysis, including identification of contributing factors, documentation of findings, and support of corrective and preventive action development. Verify the implementation and effectiveness of corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) related to food safety, quality, or product integrity issues. Serve as a Food Safety Culture Champion by spending significant time in operational areas engaging with operators and supervisors to: Reinforce food safety and quality expectations. Provide real-time coaching and feedback. Identify behavioral, procedural, or system gaps impacting product safety or quality. Promote ownership and accountability for Quality & Food Safety within Operations. Provide operational Quality coverage as needed, including performing Quality Technician duties when coverage gaps exist and supporting Quality Manager verification or release activities during absences. Support food safety and quality training efforts by reinforcing training content on the floor and verifying understanding and application by operations personnel. Assist Quality leadership with data collection, trending, and continuous improvement activities related to Quality & Food Safety performance. Identify and escalate food safety, quality, or product integrity risks to Quality leadership in a timely manner. Ensure adherence to company policies, divisional procedures, and established governance related to Quality & Food Safety. Perform other duties as assigned. Job Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Animal Science, Agriculture, Business, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience considered. 3-5 years of experience in supplier quality, food safety, quality systems, or regulatory roles within food, feed, or pet nutrition industries. Experience with Oracle or other ERP systems strongly desired. Certifications desired (must be willing to obtain if not already held): HACCP, PCQI Working Conditions: Employees in this position may be exposed to various potential chemical and food allergens due to the nature of our business and the requirements of the job. If there is any reason such exposure would interfere with your ability to perform this role or work at the location, please notify the hiring manager. Physical Requirements: Ability to stand, walk, and lift up to fifty (50) pounds. Lifting or carrying of weights over fifty (50) pounds is rare; employees are encouraged to request assistance in lifting or carrying objects that weigh more than fifty (50) pounds. Excited about this role but don’t think you meet every requirement listed? We encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings. ADM requires the successful completion of a background check. REF:113723BR