Quality Technician Lead

Ottumwa, IA Job ID 133578 Job Category Supply Chain Job Level Individual Contributor Position Type Full-Time

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Job Overview:

Location: 14955 Truman Street, Ottumwa, Iowa 52501

Shift & Schedule: This is a full-time position working Monday through Friday, 5:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Flexibility to work additional days, overtime, or adjusted hours as business needs require is expected.

The QC Lead Technician performs standardized qualitative and quantitative testing on work-in-process and finished products to ensure compliance with company Quality and Food Safety standards. This role also provides training and guidance to Lab Technicians and supports lab operations through technical expertise, process improvement, and documentation management.

Key Responsibilities:

Conduct organoleptic and analytical testing throughout production to verify compliance with Quality and Food Safety standards.
Maintain calibration and validation programs for lab instrumentation, including HPLC, GC/MS, DMA, refractometers, autotitrators, microscopes, balances, pH meters, microbiological luminescence systems, UV-Vis, and others.
Ensure all lab equipment performs within operational specifications and verify analytical outputs before product release.
Provide accurate, reliable data to support decision-making on syrup tank adjustments and finished product release.
Perform microbiological testing of water, sugar, and finished products using membrane filtration techniques and equipment surface swabbing.
Evaluate the quality and integrity of raw bulk ingredients, including sugar, CO₂, and liquid nitrogen.
Apply chemical principles and analytical methodologies in compliance with GLP, GMP, HACCP, chemical safety, and laboratory housekeeping standards.
Maintain QA documentation and records, including specifications, formulas, consumer complaints, and nonconforming materials/products.
Conduct statistical analysis of lab data and recommend process improvements.
Manage weekly inventory and ordering of lab supplies; evaluate alternative vendors to optimize cost and quality.
Oversee the finished product retain system and ensure proper sample storage and tracking.
Train new and current lab staff on procedures, instrumentation, and best practices.
Support instrument and method development, including validation of new processes or analytical techniques.
Assist the Quality Supervisor and Quality Manager with special projects as assigned.

Total Rewards:

Starting pay: $26.13 per hour.

Benefits (Effective Day One, Where Applicable):

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
Disability Coverage
Paid Time Off (including vacation and sick leave)
401(k) with company match
Tuition Reimbursement
Mileage Reimbursement

Benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Requirements:

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biology, Food Science, or a related scientific discipline preferred; relevant experience will also be considered.
Laboratory experience required, ideally in a food or beverage manufacturing environment.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Strong time management and organizational skills with effective multitasking ability.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word); SAP experience preferred.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with strong training capabilities.
Detail-oriented, dependable, proactive problem-solver with a team-oriented mindset.

Company Overview:

Keurig Dr Pepper (NASDAQ: KDP) is a leading beverage company in North America, with a portfolio of more than 125 owned, licensed and partners brands and powerful distribution capabilities to provide a beverage for every need, anytime, anywhere. We operate with a differentiated business model and world-class brand portfolio, powered by a talented and engaged team that is anchored in our values. We work with big, exciting beverage brands and the #1 single-serve coffee brewing system in North America at KDP, and we have fun doing it!

Together, we have built a leading beverage company in North America offering hot and cold beverages together at scale. Whatever your area of expertise, at KDP you can be a part of a team that’s proud of its brands, partnerships, innovation, and growth. Will you join us?

We strive to be an employer of choice, providing a culture and opportunities that empower our team of ~29,000 employees to grow and develop. We offer robust benefits to support your health and wellness as well as your personal and financial well-being. We also provide employee programs designed to enhance your professional growth and development, while ensuring you feel valued, inspired and appreciated at work.

Keurig Dr Pepper is an equal opportunity employer and recruits qualified applicants and advances in employment its employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age.

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