Food Science Intern

WA Imports is hiring!

A Forever Cheese company | Specialty sauces | Hebron, IL

We’re Looking For a Reliable, Detail-oriented Individual To Join Us At WA Imports. Consider Joining Us, If You Want To

• Work in a dynamic environment with a chance to make an impact
• Develop lasting relationships with great people
• Have the opportunity to build a satisfying career

About WA Imports:

WA Imports is a specialty sauce company based in Hebron, Illinois, and a subsidiary of Forever Cheese, LLC. This role supports our sauce operation: the suppliers, ingredients, and product documentation you will work with are for our specialty sauce lines, not cheese.

About our parent company, Forever Cheese:

Forever Cheese, LLC. is a privately held specialty food company headquartered in New York City with warehouse locations in Secaucus, New Jersey and Hebron, Illinois. Founded in 1998, Forever Cheese is the leading importer of fine artisan cheese, cured meats, nuts and accompaniments from the Mediterranean. Our relationships with both suppliers and customers are of utmost importance. For over 20 years, the company has sourced authentic specialty foods from Italy, Spain, Portugal and Croatia. Some of our company-owned brands include Mitica®, Drunken Goat® and Fulvi® Pecorino Romano.

This position is with WA Imports in Hebron, IL. Day to day, you will be working with WA Imports’ specialty sauce suppliers and products.

About Our Benefits

• Weekly pay with flexible, part-time scheduling
• Paid leave in accordance with the Illinois Paid Leave for All Workers Act
• Hands-on food safety and quality experience in a working import and production facility
• Temp-to-perm pathway: eligible for the full benefits package upon conversion to permanent status, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan with company match, company-paid life insurance, and paid holidays

Job Title: Document Control Specialist / Food Science Intern

Location: Hebron, IL (Fully On-Site)

Employment Type: Temp-to-Perm, Part-Time, Flexible Hours

Reports To: [Manager Title]

Pay Range: $20 per hour | Weekly Pay

Exemption Status: Non-exempt (Hourly)

About The Role:

The Document Control Specialist is responsible for collecting, organizing, maintaining, and tracking supplier documentation for WA Imports’ specialty sauce products, supporting food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance requirements. Operating out of our Hebron, IL location, this role ensures supplier records are current, complete, and readily accessible for internal reviews, customer requests, and audit activities. This is a part-time, temp-to-perm position with flexible scheduling, based in an office within a food production environment.

Successful candidates...

• Are highly organized and detail-oriented, with exceptional accuracy in document management and record-keeping.
• Are proactive communicators who follow up with suppliers and internal stakeholders until documentation is complete.
• Manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing business needs in a fast-paced environment.
• Work independently with minimal supervision while collaborating effectively with Quality Assurance, Procurement, and Production.

Key Responsibilities

• Collect and organize documentation from WA Imports’ sauce ingredient and packaging suppliers, such as food safety audits, allergen declarations, and product specifications.
• Monitor document expiration dates and proactively follow up with suppliers to ensure timely receipt of updated compliance and food safety documentation.
• Maintain supplier records so they are current, complete, and readily accessible for internal reviews, customer requests, and audit activities.
• Collaborate with Quality Assurance (QA) to update raw material and finished product data.
• Enter and maintain data in food safety and regulatory platforms.
• Identify, communicate, and resolve documentation gaps in a timely manner.
• Carry out any additional duties that may be assigned or requested.

Qualifications & Requirements

• High school diploma required; Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree (or current enrollment/internship) in Food Science, Quality Assurance, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
• 0 to 1 years of experience in document control, food safety, quality assurance, supplier management, or administrative support.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Experience with, or willingness to learn, data entry into food safety and regulatory platforms.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with suppliers and internal stakeholders.

Physical Requirements

• Primarily office-based within a food production environment.
• Ability to sit and work at a computer for extended periods.
• Occasional movement through production and warehouse areas.

Safety Commitment

Safety is our top priority. All employees are expected to follow all safety policies, report unsafe conditions immediately, and actively participate in safety training as required.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Forever Cheese, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status.

This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties, responsibilities and requirements, but constitutes a general definition of the position’s scope and function within our company. Forever Cheese, LLC reserves the right to amend and change duties, responsibilities, and requirements to meet changing industry or business needs as necessary.