Job Description

Quality Assurance (QA) Manager - Dairy Manufacturing (Full-Time)

Location:

Ripley, Ontario

Company:

Pine River Cheese & Butter Co-operative, part of Lucknow District Co-Operative

About Us

Pine River Cheese is a proudly Ontario-based cheese manufacturer with over a century of experience crafting high-quality dairy products. We produce a range of cheeses including cheddar, mozzarella, paneer, and cottage cheese for retail and foodservice customers across Canada.


We are seeking a

Quality Assurance (QA) Manager

to lead our food safety and quality programs, ensuring our products meet the highest standards of safety, compliance, and excellence from farm to table.

Key Responsibilities

Oversee and manage all aspects of

food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance

in the cheese manufacturing process. Monitor product quality from

milk receiving, processing, packaging, and storage

to final shipment. Ensure compliance with

CFIA, SQF, Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO)

, and

Canada Organic

standards. Develop, implement, and maintain the

HACCP plan

, food safety programs, and SOPs. Conduct regular

plant inspections

,

GMP audits

,

microbiological testing

, and

environmental monitoring

. Investigate and resolve

non-conformances, customer complaints

, and

product deviations

. Train and supervise production staff on

quality standards, hygiene, and documentation practices

. Maintain accurate records for audits and certification renewals (SQF, CFIA, Halal, Organic, etc.). Collaborate closely with

production, maintenance, and sanitation

teams to ensure product integrity. Lead and support

continuous improvement initiatives

to enhance quality and efficiency.

Qualifications & Experience

Bachelor's degree

in Food Science, Dairy Technology, Microbiology, or a related field (or equivalent experience). Minimum

3-5 years of QA experience

in dairy or food manufacturing, with a strong understanding of

cheese production processes

. In-depth knowledge of

Canadian food safety regulations (CFIA, DFO, Health Canada, SQF)

. Proven experience managing

HACCP, GMP, and SQF

programs. Strong attention to detail, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Excellent communication and leadership skills to guide production and QA staff. Ability to work hands-on in a plant environment and make data-driven decisions.

Assets (Preferred but Not Required)

Familiarity with

laboratory testing and microbiological analysis

for dairy products. Certification in

HACCP, SQF Practitioner, or Internal Auditing

.

What We Offer

Competitive compensation package based on experience. Opportunity to work with a long-standing Canadian dairy brand. Supportive and collaborative team culture focused on product excellence and innovation.
We are an equal opportunity/Disabled/Protected Veteran Employer. All individuals, regardless of demographic or other background, are encouraged to apply. Further, as a federal, state, and local contractor, we comply with government regulations and executive orders as applicable, including affirmative action responsibilities for qualified individuals with disability and protected veterans.


Employment is contingent on, among other things, receipt of an acceptable and job-related background check, drug test, motor vehicle report, and/or reference check, as applicable and permissible by law.


Work Location: In person