Quality Control Technician (Onsite, Columbus, OH)

Reports to: Director of Quality Management

Department: Quality & Food Safety

Location: Columbus, Ohio

FLSA Classification: Hourly, Non-Exempt

Compensation: $25-$30/hour

About the Company

Paleovalley and Wild Pastures were born from a simple but radical idea: real food can heal — people, animals, and the planet. When Paleovalley co-founders Autumn and Chas Smith saw how industrialized food was affecting human health and the health of the land, they refused to play along. Autumn’s own journey of healing through nutrient-dense foods lit a fire that became Paleovalley. From there, the mission grew roots, sprouted wings, and eventually expanded into Wild Pastures to bring regeneratively raised meats directly to families nationwide.

Today, Paleovalley crafts deeply nourishing snacks and supplements made with organic ingredients and honorable sourcing. Wild Pastures connects small American farmers practicing regenerative agriculture with customers who believe better food is worth fighting for. Every product, every partnership, and every decision is guided by a commitment to real ingredients, regenerative practices, and the belief that health is built from the soil up.

We’re a team of grounded doers, curious thinkers, bold builders, and warm humans who like to laugh while doing meaningful work. We're growing quickly, fueled by purpose and a shared desire to repair the food system one thoughtful choice at a time. If you feel energized by impact, drawn to mission, and ready to join a company rewriting the future of food, we’d love to meet you!

About the Opportunity

The Quality Control Technician serves as the primary onsite Quality & Food Safety representative at their assigned Paleovalley and Wild Pastures warehouse. This hands-on technical role helps ensure products are received, stored, handled, and shipped in accordance with company quality standards, product specifications, food safety requirements, and applicable FDA and USDA requirements.

Working independently onsite and in close partnership with the broader Quality & Food Safety team, the Quality Control Technician performs and evaluates Quality inspections and verification activities, addresses routine Quality issues within established procedures and authority, initiates Quality holds when needed, maintains accurate Quality records, and escalates elevated-risk or complex FSQA concerns to their supervisor. The role also identifies trends, recurring issues, and opportunities to strengthen onsite Quality processes and controls.

What You’ll Do

• Serve as the primary onsite Quality & Food Safety resource for the assigned warehouse, independently applying established standards and technical knowledge to identify, address, document, and escalate Quality and compliance concerns.

• Perform routine Quality and Food Safety inspections of incoming, stored, returned, and outbound Paleovalley and Wild Pastures products and shipments, including transportation conditions, packaging, labels and lot information, shelf life, temperatures, and other established criteria.

• Collect product samples as needed in accordance with established procedures and coordinate shipment to approved laboratories for testing.

• Control nonconforming or potentially compromised product by initiating Quality & Food Safety holds or quarantine, maintaining required documentation and product controls, and coordinating with the supervisor on disposition and release decisions.

• Conduct warehouse Quality & Food Safety verification activities, monitoring GMPs, sanitation, pest control, storage and segregation, temperature controls, product rotation, allergen/cross-contact controls, and other conditions that may affect product safety, quality, or compliance; maintain applicable pest-control accounts and records.

• Maintain accurate Quality and Food Safety records and data in Acumatica and other approved systems, including inspections, holds, nonconformances, temperatures, product conditions, and supporting documentation; identify trends or recurring concerns requiring follow-up.

• Document product-quality concerns and support supervisor-led investigations, including customer returns, damaged or compromised product, freight damage, and other nonconformances by gathering relevant records, observations, photographs, and supporting information.

• Support traceability, mock recalls, recalls, corrective actions, and audit preparation by locating and verifying affected product and records and gathering required documentation under the direction of the supervisor.

• Observe adherence to established Quality & Food Safety requirements throughout warehouse operations and promptly escalate identified gaps or concerns for appropriate follow-up, guidance, or training.

• Identify trends and recommend improvements to onsite Quality and Food Safety processes, controls, procedures, and documentation; support implementation of approved changes with the Quality & Food Safety team.

• Independently manage routine onsite Quality activities and issues using technical judgment within defined authority, escalating elevated-risk, complex, novel, or regulatory-sensitive FSQA matters to the supervisor.

What You’ll Need to Succeed

• High school diploma or GED required; associate degree, technical training, or coursework in Food Science, Food Safety, Quality Assurance, Manufacturing, or a related field preferred.

• 3+ years of progressively responsible experience in food quality control, quality assurance, food safety, food manufacturing, distribution Quality, or a related regulated environment; equivalent combinations of relevant education, training, and experience will be considered.

• Strong working knowledge of food safety, quality, sanitation, GMPs, and applicable Quality requirements within a regulated food manufacturing, warehousing, or distribution environment.

• Demonstrated ability to independently apply specifications, SOPs, work instructions, and Quality standards to evaluate routine Quality conditions, take appropriate action within established authority, and recognize when escalation is required.

• Strong inspection, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with experience identifying and documenting product defects, temperature deviations, nonconformances, product holds, traceability activities, and other Quality concerns.

• Ability to recognize trends or recurring issues and recommend practical improvements to Quality processes, controls, procedures, or documentation.

• Sound technical judgment, attention to detail, and strong communication and organizational skills, with the ability to work independently as the primary onsite Quality representative, manage changing priorities, and collaborate effectively with Warehouse Operations and the broader Quality & Food Safety team.

Bonus Points

• Previous Quality Control, Quality Assurance, or Food Safety experience within a food, beverage, dietary supplement, meat, or other regulated consumer-products environment.

• Experience working with FDA- and/or USDA-regulated products or performing receiving, shipping, warehouse, or finished-product Quality inspections.

• HACCP, GMP, SQF, PCQI, ServSafe, or other relevant food safety or Quality training/certification.

• Experience with product holds, nonconformance documentation, traceability/recall activities, continuous improvement, or Quality systems such as Acumatica.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• This position works onsite in a warehouse and distribution environment and requires regular movement throughout receiving, storage, and shipping areas.

• Regularly required to stand and walk for extended periods and frequently bend, reach, crouch, handle products, and operate handheld devices or computers.

• Must be able to safely lift, carry, push, or move products weighing up to 40 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Regular exposure to varying warehouse temperatures, including the potential for extended periods in refrigerated and freezer environments, and work around forklifts, pallet jacks, loading docks, trucks, and other warehouse equipment.

• Required to follow applicable warehouse safety, food safety, sanitation, PPE, and personal-hygiene requirements.

• This position is currently scheduled during standard daytime warehouse operations, with occasional flexibility to start earlier or work later based on receiving, shipping, Quality, or other business needs.

Our Commitment to You

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage with 100% employer-paid dental/vision and a small monthly medical premium for employees; dependents may be added at employee cost

• Generous Paid time off to support balance and rest

• Paid sick time for when you need it

• Six (6) paid holidays each year

• Paid parental leave for growing families

• 100% company-paid Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, and Life Insurance

• 401(k) with up to a 4% company match after one year of service

• Monthly product stipend or access to perfectly imperfect damaged product so you can enjoy the nutrient-dense foods you help bring to others

Compliance & Employment Practices

Paleovalley and Wild Pastures are proud to be equal opportunity employers. We make employment decisions based on qualifications, merit, and business needs, and we do not discriminate based on any status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We’re also committed to providing reasonable accommodations throughout the hiring process. If you need assistance or an accommodation at any point, please reach out to HRteam@paleovalley.com.

All applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. At this time, Paleovalley and Wild Pastures are unable to sponsor or assume sponsorship of employment visas, including but not limited to H-1B, TN, or OPT. Any offer of employment is contingent upon completion of Form I-9 and verification of work authorization. We participate in E-Verify to confirm eligibility to work in the U.S.

To support an efficient and consistent application review process, we may use technology-assisted tools to help organize and review applications; however, these tools do not make hiring decisions. All final hiring decisions are made by our team.

This role is open until filled.