Role:
Provide daily leadership for Quality Control and Laboratory operations at the assigned site. Responsible for ensuring products meet food safety, quality, customer, regulatory, and certification requirements through effective execution of quality systems, laboratory programs, product release activities, and team development. Serve as the primary site quality representative and escalation point for quality and food safety concerns.
Key Relationships:
Internally: Operations, Production, Warehouse, Planning, Procurement, Maintenance, Innovation, Finance
External: Customers, Suppliers, Regulatory Bodies
Qualifications:
Education
Degree or diploma in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Quality Assurance, or related field
Experience
- 3–5 years of Quality Control experience in food or beverage manufacturing.
- 1–3 years of supervisory or leadership experience.
- Experience working within laboratory and manufacturing environments.
- Beverage, brewery, RTD, or liquid processing experience preferred.
Technical Skills
· HACCP, PCP, SFCR, CFIA, and FSSC 22000 requirements.
· Root cause analysis and CAPA methodologies.
· Microbiological and analytical testing programs.
· Product hold and release controls.
· Environmental monitoring and sanitation verification programs.
· Microsoft Office and ERP systems experience.
Core Responsibilities:
Quality & Laboratory Leadership
· Lead daily QC and laboratory operations across all shifts.
· Supervise, coach, train, and develop QC Technicians and Lab Technicians.
· Develop staffing schedules and ensure adequate departmental coverage.
· Promote a culture of food safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.
· Act as the primary escalation point for quality, food safety, and compliance issues.
Product Quality & Release
· Review and approve production records, analytical results, sensory evaluations, deviations, COAs, and product release documentation.
· Manage product hold and release activities, including disposition decisions.
· Lead investigations into non-conformances, customer complaints, and quality incidents.
· Drive root cause analysis and corrective and preventive action (CAPA) implementation.
· Monitor quality KPIs and identify opportunities for improvement.
Laboratory & Sensory Management
· Oversee microbiological, analytical, environmental monitoring, and sensory testing programs.
· Manage laboratory equipment calibration, verification, maintenance, and troubleshooting activities.
· Maintain laboratory inventory, supplies, standards, and reference materials.
· Ensure testing methods, records, and reporting are accurate, timely, and compliant.
· Lead the site sensory program, including panel training and sensory evaluations.
Food Safety, Regulatory & Compliance
· Ensure compliance with HACCP, PCP, SFCR, CFIA, FSSC 22000, customer requirements, and company policies.
· Verify sanitation effectiveness, allergen controls, environmental monitoring, traceability, and cleaning validations.
· Support artwork approvals, label reviews, ingredient declarations, allergen statements, and packaging change controls.
· Conduct GMP inspections, internal audits, and food safety verification activities.
· Participate in customer audits, certification audits, regulatory inspections, mock recalls, and recall activities.
Customer & Operational Support
· Support customer onboarding, validation activities, product launches, and innovation trials.
· Coordinate sample submissions and testing with customers and third-party laboratories.
· Respond to customer quality requests, investigations, specifications, and technical inquiries.
· Partner with Operations, Brewing, Blending, Packaging, and Maintenance teams to improve product quality and reduce waste.
Support change management activities related to products, processes, equipment, and packaging.
Pay: $60,000.00-$70,000.00 per year
Ability to commute/relocate:
- East York, ON M4B 3M2: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience:
- Quality Control: 3 years (required)
- Beverage, brewery, RTD, or liquid processing: 3 years (preferred)
- supervisory or leadership: 1 year (required)
Work Location: In person
