Maple Leaf Foods Hiring for FSQA Team Leader at Hamilton, ON Full Time

Maple Leaf Foods is a leading meat and plant-based protein company, employing over 11,500 people and publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange. We are proud of our roots, which trace back well over 100 years, but our vision and purpose are decidedly forward looking. As we pursue our vision to become the most sustainable protein company on earth, we are committed to creating shared value – creative business value through addressing some of the world’s most critical social and environmental challenges. Our goal is to build a more sustainable food system, which provides nutritious affordable food, operates within planetary limits, cares for animals responsibly, and meaningfully engages with our communities to advance a more just society. We are advancing bold changes within Maple Leaf and more broadly within society to pursue our vision. We deeply believe this is the sustainable path to growth

Our job is to make great food

Maple Leaf Foods embraces a strong values-based culture, where our people are deeply engaged in work that is purposeful, fast-paced and challenging.We cultivate an open, non-bureaucratic and inclusive workplace that fosters safety and transparency, along with individual leadership and accountability. Each Maple Leaf team member has a voice and plays an active role in helping all of us achieve our goals with passion and discipline. We support one another to grow professionally, to learn new skills and to take on challenging experiences in the spirit of continuous improvement

Raise the Good in Food

We have united behind a shared purpose – to Raise the Good in Food. This spans a dramatic transformation of our flagship Maple Leaf brand, replacing anything artificial with simple, natural ingredients; investments and process changes to reduce our environmental footprint by 50% by 2025; building a diverse and inclusive culture where all talent thrives; becoming a leader in animal care; and advancing food security through our charitable foundation, the Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security.

Our Leadership Values

Eight core values guide us in everything that we do.

Do What’s Right

Shared Value

High Performance

Diverse and Inclusive Teams

Disciplined Decision Making

Our Accountability

Intense Curiosity

Transparency and Humility

The Opportunity

The FSQA Team Leader at the Heritage facility is responsible for ensuring the effective functioning of the food safety programs through task review, verification, and monitoring activities, as well as program review and auditing functions. The incumbent will lead & engage cross functional teams during audit completion and development of corrective action plans for regulatory and internal non-compliance findings.

A snapshot of some of the exciting things you will lead and do:

Supervise a staff of QA Process Leaders, ensuring that tasks are conducted consistently, efficiently and meet the needs of the business.

Administering Quality and Food Safety programs and protocols

Planning QA staffing requirements according to staffing levels and production demands, including approving of hours on a weekly basis and vacation scheduling.

Work with the Employee Services Department to hire direct reports and onboard effectively

Administer training (one on one, or group training). Training includes but is not limited to equipment training, food safety training, WHMIS, SDS packages, basic micro and chemistry.

Participate in cross functional SOP development, updating and implementation.

Provide HACCP and MLF Food Safety and Quality program updates, maintenance, verification’s and function as a cross functional liaison to ensure the plant is meeting regulatory and compliance requirements for all stakeholders

Preparing for third party audits (CVS, HACCP, BRC, FSQMS or customer) and prepare/coach cross functional managers before and during these audits.

Assist in follow up, investigations and issue any corrective actions, if necessary, based on deviations found in plant process or resulting from customer complaints.

Assist with environmental monitoring program for all relevant parts of equipment and areas of the facility (RTE – TPC, Listeria, ATP, RAW – ATP, TPC). Ensure results are populated/updates in Environmental Monitoring System (EMS).

Assist with analysis of sanitation/environmental data to determine root cause of deficiencies and provide sanitation and operations team feedback on performance and necessary improvements.

Audit and report non-compliance and take corrective actions to assure compliance to all quality assurance food safety requirements on a regular and daily basis.

Maintaining an attitude of continuous process improvement and training of employees at hourly and salary levels

Provides technical expertise to the Manufacturing Operations regarding product quality, food safety, and good manufacturing practices.

Plan, actively engage, communicate and provide direction with respect to Quality Assurance/Food Safety and related activities in all programs such as Sanitation, BRC, Employee Relations, Health and Safety Programs etc.

Developing a constructive work environment through excellent interpersonal, team building skills, open communications, encouraging input and constructive performance management.

Support and execute the Company’s Food Safety programs at the facility in conjunction with Operations, Maintenance, Sanitation and all other plant functional areas.

Support and promote the company’s health and safety program, maintain a safe working environment and ensure continued compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and JHSC recommendations

Required to move between shifts/departments for vacation support

What we have to offer you:
Be part of a company with an inspiring and unique vision, with a deep commitment to sustainability and expanding its leadership in sustainable protein across North America

Professional and career development opportunities, supported by our commitment to talent development through our partnership with the Ivey School of Business.

Competitive Health and Wellness benefits that start on your first day of employment

Defined Contribution Pension Plan

Commitment to Learning – courses, resources and tools provided to all employees

Employee Assistance Program

What you will bring:
Post secondary education, B.Sc. in Chemistry or Microbiology would be an asset.

Supervisory experience 3+ years in FSQA within a food manufacturing environment, preferably in a unionized setting.

Experience in basic food chemistry, basic microbiology, allergen controls, auditing, GFSI/BRC, sanitary design and HACCP principles.

Ability to manage and build a team independently.

Demonstrated ability to forge partnerships with multiple cross-functional areas, (i.e. Operations, Maintenance, Sanitation) to enhance efficiency and productivity.

Knowledge of industry related quality systems and inspection programs.

Proven leadership abilities.

Detail and results oriented.

Very strong interpersonal skills.

Strong ability to communicate (i.e. read, speak and write) in English.

Proficient in MS Office tools (Excel and Word).

Maple Leaf Foods is committed to ensuring the health and safety of all our employees. As part of this commitment, we have adopted a number of COVID-19 safety measures, including a requirement for all employees to be fully vaccinated by March 31, 2022 and to show proof of vaccination. In keeping with this policy, successful candidates will need to provide proof of vaccination by March 31, 2022 (or prior to their first day of work if the start date is after March 31, 2022). We will of course consider accommodations for anyone unable to be vaccinated following human rights and other applicable laws

We thank all applicants for their interest in exploring employment opportunities with Maple Leaf Foods; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Applicants may be subject to a background check and must meet the security criteria designated for the position.

Championing diversity and inclusion is a critical component to advancing our collective purpose and vision, living the Maple Leaf Leadership Values, and delivering winning results. Accommodation is available upon request for applicants with disabilities in the recruitment and assessment process and when hired; please contact our Talent Attraction Team at [email protected].