Fall 2026

Quality Assurance Intern/Co-op

Irca Group

Irca Group

1,001-5,000 employees

Manufactures semi-finished pastry ingredients for professionals

Compensation Overview

$21 - $23/hr

Elk Grove Village, IL, USA

In Person

Bachelor's, Master's, PhD

Category
Manufacturing Quality & Test (1)
Required Skills
Microsoft Office
GMP
Quality Assurance (QA)
Data Analysis

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Requirements
  • Adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices, Good Laboratory Practices, and all site safety and food safety requirements.
  • Currently pursue a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
  • Have strong written and verbal communication, organizational, time-management, critical-thinking, problem-solving, and attention-to-detail skills.
  • Be able to follow written procedures, work independently and as part of a team, collect and analyze data, summarize findings, and make recommendations.
  • Be proficient in Microsoft Office applications.
  • Be comfortable working in a manufacturing environment with personal protective equipment and production-floor exposure.
  • Exercise good judgment, integrity, and respect for food safety culture.
  • Be willing to learn in a regulated environment and escalate concerns appropriately.
Responsibilities
  • Support daily Quality and Food Safety operations, including routine checks, data collection, and documentation.
  • Assist with laboratory testing and sample analysis, including microbiological, physical, and chemical testing, to verify compliance with product specifications.
  • Participate in traceability, sanitation, sensory, and foreign-material-control projects.
  • Conduct or assist with work-center audits covering Good Manufacturing Practices, 5S, and sanitation, and support rollout of digital audit tools such as Intelex.
  • Support root-cause analysis for non-conformances and aid implementation of corrective and preventive actions.
  • Update and organize Standard Operating Procedures, Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures, and training documents.
  • Maintain laboratory and quality records, including product-testing results, retain samples, and calibration logs.
  • Assist with equipment verification and calibration under QA supervision.
  • Participate in customer-audit preparation and internal-audit readiness activities.
  • Monitor and maintain laboratory inventory, including reagents, supplies, and personal protective equipment.
  • Collaborate with Production, Maintenance, and Sanitation teams to improve quality awareness and problem-solving.
  • Perform assigned project and support activities to enhance Food Safety and Quality System performance.

IRCA Group is a business-to-business supplier that manufactures and sells semi-finished pastry ingredients to professionals, including chocolates, creams, and jams used in artisanal pastries, cakes, and gelatos. Its products are semi-finished ingredients that workflows in professional kitchens rely on to create finished desserts. The company differentiates itself through a long heritage (founded in 1919), a broad portfolio of brands under one global umbrella, and a growth strategy fueled by strategic acquisitions (such as Dobla) and international expansion, supported by private equity ownership. IRCA’s goal is to scale its international presence, broaden its offerings, and unite renowned sweet-creation brands to serve customers in over 100 countries.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Gallarate, Italy

Founded

1919

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Revenue jumped from €370 million in 2021 to €1.5 billion today.
  • CVC expects Q4 2026 close and more U.S. and EMEA expansion.
  • The 2025 U.S. RENO X launch anchors domestic production and faster delivery.

What critics are saying

  • CVC's €1.2 billion high-yield bond load raises refinancing pressure after closing.
  • Needle-moving layoffs surfaced in Missouri and Kansas, signaling post-acquisition integration strain.
  • A 2025 U.S. injury lawsuit against IRCA Group USA adds legal distraction.

What makes Irca Group unique

  • IRCA spans 19 facilities, 7,000 products, and 100-plus countries.
  • Domori, Joygelato, Dobla, and RENO X create category breadth across channels.
  • Its B2B model serves artisanal pastry, foodservice, and industrial manufacturers.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Company Match

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Meal Benefits

Hybrid Work Options

Flexible Work Hours

Tuition Reimbursement

Professional Development Budget

Training Programs

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

44%

1 year growth

44%

2 year growth

56%
CVC Capital Partners
Jun 29th, 2026
CVC Capital Partners agrees to acquire Irca from Advent

CVC Capital Partners (“CVC”) and Advent today announced that CVC Capital Partners IX (“Fund IX”), has entered into an agreement to acquire Irca, a global B2B manufacturer of ingredient solutions for the food manufacturing, foodservice and artisanal channels, from Advent.

IRCA Group
Oct 12th, 2023
IRCA Group acquires ASHANTI

IRCA group acquires ASHANTI.

IRCA Group
Mar 22nd, 2023
IRCA | Pistachios for pastry and gelato

A fine raw material IRCA Group love working with, that leads IRCA Group to develop new products and to create new recipes that can enhance all its organoleptic properties to make its Clients enjoy its authentic taste.

IRCA Group
Jan 11th, 2023
IRCA | Kerry to sell its Sweet Ingredients Portfolio to Advent International’s portfolio company, IRCA

Massimo Garavaglia, CEO of IRCA, added: “IRCA Group is delighted to partner with Kerry on this transaction and look forward to its successful conclusion.

CVC Capital Partners
Oct 31st, 2022
CVC Credit supports the acquisition of IRCA by Advent International

CVC Credit is pleased to announce that it has committed senior and acquisition facilities to support Advent International’s acquisition of IRCA, a leading Italian producer of specialty ingredients for artisanal pastries, cakes and gelato.