Manager of Quality Assurance & Safety Operations Job Listing at Kelly Services in South Holland, IL (Job ID 10148129)

Description

Manager of Quality Assurance & Safety Operations
Location: South Holland, IL (On-site )
Employment Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Compensation: $90k – $125k + up to 18% Bonus
 
Overview of the Role
We are seeking an energetic, high-potential leader to take ownership of the quality and safety operations at our South Holland corporate facility. This role is designed for a proactive professional who is excited by growth, departmental restructuring, and the opportunity to drive continuous improvement. You will lead the quality team in a fast-paced environment processing custom proteins (Beef, Pork, and Chicken), focusing on re-establishing core processes and mentoring a mix of tenured and new staff. We are looking for a candidate who brings high energy to the floor and is motivated by the prospect of upward career mobility within an expanding organization.
 
Key Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Development: Provide daily direction and mentorship to the quality assurance team. You will be responsible for fostering a culture of accountability and developing technical skills across the department.
• Operational Quality Oversight: Manage day-to-day food safety and product integrity in a raw and cooked meat processing environment. This includes working in cold-room conditions and ensuring all PPE and safety protocols are strictly followed.
• Program Ownership & CI: Lead and refine critical programs including Environmental Monitoring, Customer Complaints, and Product Hold/Release. You will identify operational inefficiencies and implement long-term solutions to see projects through to completion.
• Regulatory & Audit Leadership: Serve as the primary point of contact for USDA and FDA inspections. Lead internal, customer, and third-party audits (SQF), ensuring all findings are resolved promptly.
• Lab & Analytical Testing: Oversee verification procedures for raw materials and finished goods, including micro-testing and analytical sampling to ensure safety and consistency.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with production shifts and corporate stakeholders to ensure a seamless flow of operations and resolve quality concerns in real-time.

 
Position Requirements

• Experience: Minimum 5–8 years of professional experience in quality/safety management within a food manufacturing environment. Experience with perishable or high-risk products (Proteins/Meat preferred) is essential.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Biology, Chemistry, or a related field.
• Certifications: HACCP and PCQI certifications are required. Being an SQF Practitioner is a significant plus.
• Technical Literacy: Familiarity with lab/micro testing and high proficiency in operational reporting software.
• Tenure & Drive: A proven track record of staying with an organization to see long-term projects through (ideally 2+ years in previous roles) and a desire for growth.
• Environmental Comfort: Must be comfortable working in a meat processing facility (raw and cooked) with cold working conditions.

 
Core Competencies

• High Energy & Enthusiasm: A leader who shows up with a positive attitude and is eager to take on new challenges.
• Assertive Problem-Solving: The ability to navigate a restructuring environment and re-establish standard work without needing constant direction.
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Work Schedule & Environment

• Hours: Typically Mon–Fri (flexible starts between 8am and 9am) to support multiple production shifts.
• On-Call: Rotating on-call support for Saturdays (No production on Sundays).
• Location: Based at our Corporate HQ .This is an on-site role with occasional hybrid flexibility as business needs allow

As part of our promise to talent, Kelly supports those who work with us through a variety of benefits, perks, and work-related resources. Kelly offers eligible employees voluntary benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, term life, whole life, accident insurance, critical illness, a legal plan, and short-term disability. As a Kelly employee, you will have access to a retirement savings plan, service bonus and holiday pay plans (earn up to eight paid holidays per benefit year), and a transit spending account. In addition, employees are entitled to earn paid sick leave under the applicable state or local plan. Click here for more information on benefits and perks that may be available to you as a member of the Kelly Talent Community.

Why Kelly® Science & Clinical?

Kelly Science & Clinical is your connection to premier scientific and clinical companies looking to hire industry experts just like you. Our team creates expert talent solutions to solve the world's most critical challenges. Every day, we match science professionals with dream jobs that fit their skills, interests, and career goals—it's the way we think job searching should be. Nearly 100 percent of our science recruiters have a professional background and education in science, so we know a thing or two about the science market and how to get your expertise noticed.

About Kelly

Work changes everything. And at Kelly, we're obsessed with where it can take you. To us, it's about more than simply accepting your next job opportunity. It's the fuel that powers every next step of your life. It's the ripple effect that changes and improves everything for your family, your community, and the world. Which is why, here at Kelly, we are dedicated to providing you with limitless opportunities to enrich your life—just ask the 300,000 people we employ each year.

Kelly is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and we take affirmative action to recruit, employ, and advance qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in the workforce. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to the Kelly Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California's state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment. Kelly participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

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