Specialist, Quality - Grain Careers at The Andersons in Monroe, Wisconsin

Join The Andersons in Monroe, Wisconsin, where agriculture meets innovation in the heart of America's dairyland. As a Specialist, Quality - Grain, you'll play a pivotal role in ensuring the highest standards of food safety and quality for our grain operations. The Andersons, a leading North American agriculture company, is seeking dedicated professionals to safeguard our products and exceed customer expectations. This entry-level specialist position offers a perfect launchpad for careers in agribusiness quality assurance.

Role Overview

The Specialist, Quality - Grain position at The Andersons' Monroe, Wisconsin facility is your gateway to impactful work in food safety within the grain industry. This role focuses on maintaining rigorous quality standards across our grain processing operations. You'll ensure compliance with SQF certification requirements while supporting plant leadership in achieving food safety excellence.

Daily responsibilities include managing the site's Quality Management System, overseeing sanitation protocols, conducting environmental monitoring, and leading investigations into quality concerns. This position demands precision, attention to detail, and a passion for agricultural excellence. Working in both office and plant environments, you'll collaborate with production teams to validate testing, manage product holds in our ERP system, and execute mock recalls.

At this entry-level, you'll gain exposure to fundamental quality principles while developing competence through structured assignments. The Andersons invests in your growth, providing mentorship and training to build your expertise in grain quality assurance. This role is ideal for recent graduates with a Bachelor's degree in food science, agriculture, or related fields, or those with 1-3 years of relevant experience eager to advance in agribusiness.

Day in the Life

Imagine starting your day at 8:00 AM in the modern offices of The Andersons' Monroe, Wisconsin grain facility. Your morning begins with reviewing overnight quality test results and updating product status in the ERP system. By 9:00 AM, you're on the plant floor conducting sanitation inspections, ensuring every surface meets food safety standards.

Mid-morning involves environmental monitoring—collecting swabs for microbiological analysis and documenting integrated pest management activities. After lunch, you might lead a traceability exercise or prepare for an internal audit. Afternoons often include investigating customer complaints or implementing corrective actions from recent findings.

As the day progresses, you'll collaborate with the Plant Supervisor on quality objectives, validate incoming grain quality, and update the SQF Quality Management System documentation. Your day ends around 5:00 PM with comprehensive reporting and planning for the next day's priorities. While standard hours apply, occasional overtime supports peak seasons or audit preparations.

This dynamic role blends office analysis with hands-on plant work, offering variety and real impact on food safety outcomes. You'll wear PPE in production areas, navigate machinery safely, and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement that defines The Andersons.

Why Monroe, Wisconsin

Monroe, Wisconsin, the 'Swiss Cheese Capital of the USA,' offers an unbeatable quality of life for quality professionals. Nestled in Green County—known as America's Dairyland—this charming city combines small-town warmth with proximity to major urban centers. Just 45 minutes from Madison and 90 minutes from Milwaukee, Monroe provides easy access to cultural amenities while maintaining its agricultural heritage.

The city's strong Swiss heritage shines through annual festivals, authentic cheese factories, and the famous Monroe Street Clock Tower. Agriculture thrives here, making it the perfect location for The Andersons' grain operations. The community boasts excellent schools, low crime rates, and affordable housing—30% below national averages.

Outdoor enthusiasts love Monroe's 20+ parks, extensive trail systems, and proximity to the Sugar River State Trail. Families appreciate the strong community events calendar, from the Green County Fair to holiday celebrations. The region's robust dairy and crop farming creates abundant career networking opportunities in agribusiness.

With a cost of living that stretches your salary further and a supportive community that values agriculture professionals, Monroe, Wisconsin offers the ideal backdrop for building your quality assurance career at The Andersons.

Career Growth

The Andersons prioritizes internal development, making the Quality Specialist role a strong foundation for advancement. High performers progress to Quality Supervisor, Quality Manager, or Corporate Quality leadership within 2-5 years. Cross-training opportunities span grain trading, logistics, and renewable fuels divisions.

Tuition reimbursement supports advanced certifications like HACCP Manager, SQF Practitioner, or Six Sigma Green Belt. Leadership development programs prepare you for plant management roles. Many current directors began as entry-level specialists, demonstrating clear upward mobility paths.

Mentorship programs pair you with seasoned quality leaders, while rotational assignments expose you to different facilities. The Andersons' commitment to employee growth ensures your Specialist role becomes a launchpad for a rewarding agribusiness career trajectory.

Compensation & Benefits

The Andersons offers competitive compensation for Quality Specialists in Monroe, Wisconsin: $65,000 - $85,000 annually, based on experience. This range reflects market data for Green County agribusiness quality roles and includes performance incentives.

Comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision coverage with low premiums; 401(k) with 5% company match; generous PTO starting at 3 weeks; and paid holidays. Additional perks encompass tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 annually, employee assistance programs, life insurance, disability coverage, and wellness incentives.

Performance bonuses average 8-12% of base salary, tied to safety and quality metrics. Long-term incentives include profit sharing. The total compensation package positions The Andersons as a top employer in Wisconsin agribusiness.

Culture

The Andersons' culture embodies our Statement of Principles: extraordinary customer service, employee improvement, community support, and shareholder value. In Monroe, Wisconsin, this translates to collaborative teams that celebrate successes and support growth.

Core competencies—Customer Focus, Collaboration, Values Differences, Optimizes Work Processes, Instills Trust, Ensures Accountability, Being Resilient—guide daily interactions. Diversity and inclusion initiatives create welcoming environments where all voices contribute to quality excellence.

Team-building events, recognition programs, and open-door leadership foster belonging. Safety-first mentality unites plant and office staff. This principled culture attracts top talent seeking meaningful agricultural careers.

How to Apply

Ready to advance your quality career with The Andersons in Monroe, Wisconsin? Applications require a resume highlighting relevant experience and education. For application guidance, download our External Applicant Guide.

Submit via our careers portal. Selected candidates complete interviews, reference checks, and pre-employment screening. The Andersons maintains a drug-free workplace with testing per position requirements. Contact talentacquisition@andersonsinc.com for questions.

We do not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Beware phishing scams—The Andersons only uses @andersonsinc.com email domains.

FAQ

Common questions from Quality Specialist applicants in Monroe, Wisconsin: