Bachelor's degree in chemistry, Food Science, Biology, or a related field, or equivalent experience
Minimum 5 years in quality control or analytical laboratory within food, flavor, beverage, or pharmaceutical industries
At least 2 years of laboratory leadership or supervisory experience
Strong knowledge of FDA, USDA, HACCP, SQF, cGMP, GLP regulations
Experience with sensory evaluation and organoleptic testing in flavor manufacturing
Strong skills in people management, coaching, communication, organization, and problem-solving
Ability to manage competing priorities and drive continuous improvement in a fast-paced setting
Responsibilities
Lead and manage Quality Control operations, including analytical, microbiological, and organoleptic testing programs
Ensure timely release of raw materials and finished products per specifications
Develop, monitor, and report key performance indicators for QC effectiveness
Train, coach, and develop QC laboratory personnel
Maintain laboratory compliance with cGMP, GLP, HACCP, and other standards
Support internal audits and regulatory inspections
Lead investigations into non-conforming materials and customer complaints
Oversee laboratory documentation and method validations
Partner with cross-functional teams to resolve quality issues
Promote a positive safety culture in laboratories
Benefits
Full-time benefits package
Opportunity to lead a critical quality function in a collaborative environment
Role in supporting product quality and customer satisfaction
Opportunities for professional growth and development
Supportive team atmosphere
Commitment to diversity and inclusion
Full Job Description
Bell Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. is seeking a Quality Control Manager to lead our Quality Control operations at our Northbrook, IL location. This role is responsible for ensuring raw materials and finished products meet established safety, quality, regulatory, and customer requirements while leading a team of QC professionals in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Your Key Responsibilities
Lead and manage Quality Control operations, including analytical, microbiological, and organoleptic testing programs.
Ensure the timely release of raw materials and finished products in accordance with established specifications.
Develop, monitor, and report key performance indicators related to QC effectiveness, workload, and turnaround times.
Train, coach, and develop QC laboratory personnel while supporting skill development, cross-training, and performance management.
Maintain laboratory compliance with cGMP, GLP, HACCP, SQF, FDA, USDA, OSHA, customer, and internal requirements.
Support internal audits, customer audits, and regulatory inspections.
Lead investigations related to non-conforming materials, out-of-specification results, customer complaints, root cause analysis, CAPAs, and corrective actions.
Oversee laboratory documentation, SOPs, method validations, change controls, deviations, equipment calibration, qualification, and service contracts.
Partner cross-functionally with Production, R&D, QA, Procurement, and leadership to resolve quality issues and drive continuous improvement.
Promote a strong safety culture and ensure safe laboratories and manufacturing practices.
Your Key Responsibilities:
Bachelor's degree in chemistry, Food Science, Biology, or a related scientific field, or equivalent experience.
Minimum of 5 years of quality control or analytical laboratory experience in food, flavor, beverage, pharmaceutical, or related manufacturing environment.
At least 2 years of laboratory leadership or supervisory experience.
Strong knowledge of FDA, USDA, HACCP, SQF, cGMP, GLP, and food safety/quality regulations.
Experience with sensory evaluation, organoleptic testing, and analytical techniques relevant to flavor manufacturing.
Strong people management, coaching, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to manage competing priorities, analyze trends, and drive continuous improvement in a fast-paced environment.
USDA processing experience, advanced scientific degrees, and SQF Practitioner experience are preferred.
Why Join Bell?
Competitive salary range of $70,000 - $120,000
Full-time benefits package
An opportunity to lead a critical quality function within a collaborative, team-oriented
Play an important role in supporting product quality, customer satisfaction, and operational excellence across Bell's manufacturing operations.
Opportunities for professional growth and development
