Quality Specialist Jobs in Minnesota
Quality Specialist jobs in Minnesota concentrate in medical device manufacturing, food and beverage production, and healthcare systems, with steady demand from entry-level inspector roles through senior quality engineers. The Twin Cities metro anchors most of the hiring, with Rochester and St. Cloud also generating consistent openings. Major employers with a lasting Minnesota presence include Medtronic, General Mills, and Mayo Clinic, all of which maintain active quality functions. The most in-demand specialties are regulatory compliance, supplier quality, and quality management systems auditing. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Quality Specialist JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 40+ Quality Specialist jobs
Tasks
- Complete initial approval and ongoing monitoring of food vendor facilities, including food safety program reviews through desk audits, GFSI audits and other necessary activities
- Review and approve product specification attributes related to food safety and quality for assigned products or categories
- Collaborate with senior FSQ risk managers/colleagues, cross-functional teams and vendors to resolve guest complaints or other product issues
- Develop relationships and communicate FSQR guidance to cross-functional teams as needed
- Integrate FSQR engagement into existing project milestones before key supplier, formulation, claims, or commercialization decisions are finalized
- Create risk-based guidance, decision tools, and pre-established parameters that enable CFT partners to make informed choices earlier and reduce downstream rework
- Demonstrate how early risk identification can accelerate decision-making by resolving potential barriers before they impact commercialization timelines
- Focus on appropriate risk-based solutions to balance Food Safety and business related (e.g.) risks and to support a shared food safety culture
- Build Shared Accountability: Reinforce that food safety and quality are enterprise responsibilities, with FSQR providing expertise and governance while business partners share ownership for execution
- Ensure the accuracy and completeness of food safety and quality documentation in appropriate systems
- Provide project management throughout the project lifecycle process
- Communicate project progress, risks and issues in a timely manner to drive positive change when needed
- Perform any corrective actions and escalate with recommendations
- Ensure that any assigned projects maintain FSQR requirements and are completed in time
- Leverage food science and quality expertise and experience to support the implementation of food and beverage regulatory compliance initiatives, working with international cross-functional teams to develop and improve usability, relevance, and accuracy of compliance-related data and processes
- Manage, analyze, and resolve product data from internal sources and external vendors to identify impacted items and support compliance-related decisions
Required skills and experience
- 6+ years of experience in food safety, food quality assurance, supplier quality, or food supplier risk management.
- Experience conducting supplier qualification and ongoing monitoring, including reviewing GFSI-recognized certification audits, food safety programs, audit findings, and corrective action plans.
- Working knowledge of HACCP, preventive controls, GMPs, allergen management, and applicable food safety regulatory requirements.
- Experience reviewing food product specifications and evaluating food safety and quality risks associated with ingredients, finished products, or supplier processes.
- Ability to perform documented, risk-based assessments and recommend appropriate mitigation or escalation actions.
- Experience supporting cross-functional product development, supplier onboarding, formulation changes, or commercialization initiatives.
- Experience managing food safety or quality projects, tracking milestones, resolving issues, and coordinating corrective actions.
- Proficiency with Excel, Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and project management or document management tools.
Preferred skills and experience
- Experience with bakery products, ingredients, or bakery manufacturing environments.
- Experience using Bamboo Rose or comparable product lifecycle or supplier management systems.
- Experience supporting food labeling, product claims, or multi-market regulatory compliance initiatives.
- Experience creating risk-based decision tools, supplier scorecards, or standardized FSQR processes.
- Experience using approved AI tools for document analysis, reporting, or workflow optimization.
Tasks
- Complete initial approval and ongoing monitoring of food vendor facilities, including food safety program reviews through desk audits, GFSI audits and other necessary activities
- Review and approve product specification attributes related to food safety and quality for assigned products or categories
- Collaborate with senior FSQ risk managers/colleagues, cross-functional teams and vendors to resolve guest complaints or other product issues
- Develop relationships and communicate FSQR guidance to cross-functional teams as needed
- Integrate FSQR engagement into existing project milestones before key supplier, formulation, claims, or commercialization decisions are finalized
- Create risk-based guidance, decision tools, and pre-established parameters that enable CFT partners to make informed choices earlier and reduce downstream rework
- Demonstrate how early risk identification can accelerate decision-making by resolving potential barriers before they impact commercialization timelines
- Focus on appropriate risk-based solutions to balance Food Safety and business related (e.g.) risks and to support a shared food safety culture
- Build Shared Accountability: Reinforce that food safety and quality are enterprise responsibilities, with FSQR providing expertise and governance while business partners share ownership for execution
- Ensure the accuracy and completeness of food safety and quality documentation in appropriate systems
- Provide project management throughout the project lifecycle process
- Communicate project progress, risks and issues in a timely manner to drive positive change when needed
- Perform any corrective actions and escalate with recommendations
- Ensure that any assigned projects maintain FSQR requirements and are completed in time
- Leverage food science and quality expertise and experience to support the implementation of food and beverage regulatory compliance initiatives, working with international cross-functional teams to develop and improve usability, relevance, and accuracy of compliance-related data and processes
- Manage, analyze, and resolve product data from internal sources and external vendors to identify impacted items and support compliance-related decisions
Required skills and experience
- 6+ years of experience in food safety, food quality assurance, supplier quality, or food supplier risk management.
- Experience conducting supplier qualification and ongoing monitoring, including reviewing GFSI-recognized certification audits, food safety programs, audit findings, and corrective action plans.
- Working knowledge of HACCP, preventive controls, GMPs, allergen management, and applicable food safety regulatory requirements.
- Experience reviewing food product specifications and evaluating food safety and quality risks associated with ingredients, finished products, or supplier processes.
- Ability to perform documented, risk-based assessments and recommend appropriate mitigation or escalation actions.
- Experience supporting cross-functional product development, supplier onboarding, formulation changes, or commercialization initiatives.
- Experience managing food safety or quality projects, tracking milestones, resolving issues, and coordinating corrective actions.
- Proficiency with Excel, Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and project management or document management tools.
Preferred skills and experience
- Experience with bakery products, ingredients, or bakery manufacturing environments.
- Experience using Bamboo Rose or comparable product lifecycle or supplier management systems.
- Experience supporting food labeling, product claims, or multi-market regulatory compliance initiatives.
- Experience creating risk-based decision tools, supplier scorecards, or standardized FSQR processes.
- Experience using approved AI tools for document analysis, reporting, or workflow optimization.
See All 40 Quality Specialist Jobs in Minnesota
Find roles in Minnesota that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Quality Specialist JobsQuality Specialist Jobs by City in Minnesota
Where Minnesota roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Quality Specialist Job Market in Minnesota
A snapshot from current Minnesota openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
What Minnesota Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in quality specialist jobs across Minnesota.
- ASQ Certified Quality Engineer or Certified Quality Auditor credential preferred or required
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, life sciences, or a related technical field
- Experience with quality management systems such as ISO 9001 or ISO 13485
- Proficiency in root cause analysis tools including 8D, CAPA, and fishbone methods
- Familiarity with FDA regulations and Good Manufacturing Practice requirements
- Strong documentation skills and experience with statistical process control methods
Quality Specialist Jobs in Minnesota: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a quality specialist in Minnesota?
Most quality specialist roles in Minnesota require a bachelor's degree in engineering, life sciences, manufacturing, or a related field. Minnesota does not require a state-issued license for quality specialists, but employers in medical device and food production strongly favor candidates who hold American Society for Quality credentials such as the Certified Quality Engineer or Certified Quality Auditor. Starting in inspection or technician roles at a Minnesota manufacturer is the most common path into the profession.
Which companies hire quality specialists in Minnesota?
Employers hiring quality specialists in Minnesota right now include RION, Hawkins, and 3M, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Minnesota's concentration of medical device manufacturers and large food companies means quality roles are spread across both regulated manufacturing and corporate quality assurance functions.
Which Minnesota cities have the most quality specialist jobs?
Minneapolis, Rochester, and Saint Paul have the most quality specialist openings in Minnesota. The Twin Cities drive the largest share of listings because of the dense cluster of medical device companies, food and beverage headquarters, and large healthcare systems based there, while Rochester's volume reflects Mayo Clinic and its network of suppliers and support organizations.
Are there remote quality specialist jobs in Minnesota?
Yes, but they're relatively limited. Quality specialist work is often tied to physical production lines, lab environments, or supplier facilities, which limits full remote arrangements. About 40% of quality specialist openings tied to Minnesota are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those tend to be in quality systems management, documentation, or supplier audit coordination rather than hands-on inspection roles.
How can I get hired as a quality specialist in Minnesota with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for quality inspector or quality technician roles at Minnesota manufacturers, where on-the-job exposure to ISO and FDA environments leads directly to specialist positions. Large employers like Medtronic and General Mills hire associates and rotational program participants without full specialist experience. Earning an ASQ Certified Quality Inspector credential before applying strengthens a resume noticeably. Community and technical colleges in Minnesota also offer quality and manufacturing programs that some regional employers actively recruit from.
Where can I find and apply to quality specialist jobs in Minnesota?
You can find and apply to quality specialist jobs in Minnesota on Migrate Mate, which lists current Minnesota openings across industries including medical devices, food production, and healthcare. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 40 Quality Specialist Jobs in Minnesota
Find roles in Minnesota that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Quality Specialist Jobs