Job Description

Job description

Glad to meet you. We are Taste of Nature Foods Inc. (TONFI), working hard to bring healthy snacks to the masses. Proudly Canadian, our company has blossomed over the last 30 years developing healthy snacks for our primary brand, Taste of Nature, sold in over thirty countries around the globe, as well as our significant private label and contract manufacturing businesses. We are rapidly growing across all segments and were recently recognized by The Globe and Mail as one of Canada's Top Growing Companies 2024 and certified as a Great Place to Work

- this is an exciting time for our company!

We're looking to enhance our team by welcoming a new Quality Assurance Technician (Rotating Shift) to the Food Safety & Quality Assurance team, reporting to the Senior Manager, Food Safety & Quality Assurance. The QA Technician is responsible for enforcement of the Food Safety and Quality Programs by verifying the production process, production staff, equipment, ingredients and warehousing aligning with internal procedures. The QA Technician ensures activities are performed in accordance with BRC certification requirements, HACCP, GMP and all other significant certifications. The QA Technician proactively provides direction and support to the Quality and Operations Team on Food Safety and Quality Control imperatives. The QA Technician also Required to act with independence, sense of urgency and an overall perspective of continuous improvement and excellence in GMP and Food Safety. This role will be required to rotate between morning and afternoon shift on a defined schedule.

The role:

Maintains and verifies all current Quality programs: GMP, HACCP, Prerequisite programs, BRC Conducts daily GMP inspection of the facility, production and non-production equipment and personnel practices, identifies non-conformances and confidently addresses for change and corrective action. Conducts ATP and allergen swabbing to verify cleaning process. Where allergens or organic residue are found, production cannot be started until thorough equipment cleaning is completed. Conducts pathogen swabbing for Salmonella spp. and Listeria spp. on food contact surfaces as per schedule. Reports any FS/Quality issues to Manager, Food Safety to address any issues with Production, Maintenance, Warehousing or Purchasing management. Documents findings in a clear, concise and structured format. Performs regular CCP X ray checks and handles X ray rejects etc. Conducts GMP checks and remedial actions to correct non-conformances of production staff or any person entering the production area. It is fundamental to QA Technician responsibility to protect Food Safety & Product Quality All non-conformances are documented and reported for analysis, tracking and corrective actions. Conducts training, huddle meetings and/or retraining exercises for Food Safety and Quality non-conformance, new or updated procedures. Enforce GMP, HACCP, Food Security and Allergens among production staff. Develops One Point Lessons when reinforcement is required and ensures that the message is transmitted clearly to all areas of interest. Major or repeated Food Safety non-conformances are reported to the FSQA Sr. Manager and/or FSQA Director for remedial action and consultation with Production Management. Is capable of working cross-functionally to resolve the non-conformance reported. Is comfortable with initiating and assisting in Root Cause Analysis, CAPA and Risk Assessments for Food Safety Incidents. Possesses experience handling Food Safety and Quality incidents and can assess Risk and perform the initial investigation to gather crucial information for incident resolution. Monitors and maintains Glass policy, Supplier program, Calibration program, internal testing etc. Conducts periodic Line audits of ingredient scaling, mixing, packing etc. Verifies Lot #s, product information and completes daily QA/QC check sheets. Conducts Finished product weight checks by sampling throughout the production run. Assembles product samples for testing, monitors and reports on third party testing results. Coordinates for retain samples to be taken throughout each run and store them in the defined area. Conducts internal premises inspection (outside/inside) to identify structural (cracks, gaps, holes etc.), pest control issues. Places on Hold any non-compliant ingredients, finished products, packaging, WIP etc. Calibrates and verifies the x-ray machine and check-weigher functioning before and during production. Serves as a backup to the Sr. FSQA Manager in maintaining all certifications, including BRC, Vegan, Kosher, Non-GMO, Organic, Gluten-Free (GFCO).

Shift times may vary according to the needs of the business.

The Perfect Fit:

Medium-sized companies thrill you because you know your work makes a massive impact. You are an initiative-taker with independence and plenty of energy. You have an innovative and enterprising spirit. You love being part of a team and seeing it achieve greater heights because of your input and guidance. You thrive on reaching goals, through execution, organization, and time management. You are enthusiastic about the food we eat, and you desperately want to play a role in the next wave of products that will make our snacking better.

You offer:

Bachelor of Science or Diploma in Microbiology, food science, food technology, or related fields Good understanding of food manufacturing and statistical process controls 3-5 years' experience in a Quality Assurance role in a high-risk food production environment. Excellent and demonstrable understanding of HACCP and cGMP's. Experience in quality systems Demonstrates a relentless approach to monitoring and enforcing Food Safety & Quality principles throughout the organization. Excellent attention to detail. Very strong communication skills, both verbal and written Demonstrated ability to train and coach production staff on Food Safety and Quality Control BRC experience is an asset. Demonstrates accountability, persistence, and adaptability. Experienced in MS Excel, Word, and Outlook. Experience in a paperless data collection environment an asset.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Accessibility:

Accommodation & Accessibility

Taste of Nature Foods Inc. is committed to providing an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodation during any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know, and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our workforce. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals, including those who identify as women, Indigenous peoples, members of visible minorities, persons with disabilities, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. We are committed to creating an inclusive and respectful workplace for everyone.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

Casual dress Extended health care Life insurance On-site parking Paid time off
Ability to commute/relocate:

Markham, ON: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):

Do you have Bachelor of Science or Diploma in Microbiology, food science, food technology, or related fields? do you have BRC audit experience? Do you have hands-on experience with HACCP and GMPs? Do you have a good understanding of food manufacturing and statistical process controls?
Experience:

Quality Assurance Technician: 3 years (preferred)
Work Location: In person