Corporate Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager

at  Riverside Natural Foods Ltd

Are you hungry to innovate? To do things differently? To work with a company that’s real, thoughtful and very forward-thinking?
Meet Riverside. We are an organic, “better for you” snack company, manufacturing award-winning, nutritious, allergen-free snacks. Your kids know us as MadeGood, tasty school-safe snacks. Your buddies on the go grab our GOOD TO GO delicious and nutritious snacks.
At Riverside, we make delicious snacks that are good in every way. From our ingredients to our manufacturing practices, we’ve raised every bar on every aspect. We’re friendly and focused on creating foods that are good for you and good to the planet as well. Riverside Natural Foods is B-Corp certified, Triple-Bottom Line, Zero Waste, and Canadian owned and operated.
Come work with a Canadian leader! We value teamwork, humility, respect, ownership, adaptability, grit and fun.
You can learn more about us at www.riversidenaturalfoods.com
We continue to grow and today are looking for a committed, talented, star to join our team as our Corporate Food Safety & QA Manager.

POSITION SUMMARY/OBJECTIVE:

The position ensures successful management of Riverside’s Food Safety and Quality Assurance System, by providing leadership though strong knowledge and experience of FSQA systems and best practices, coaching, people, and decision-making skills. They are PASSIONATE about Riverside’s values and purpose, food safety, quality (delighting our consumers) and always lead with a continuous improvement mindset.

EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science and Technology or other related disciplines and particular experience in food manufacturing FSQA.
• 10+ years comprehensive food safety and quality management experience with an extensive background in multi-site leadership experience in food industry
• Experience in QI (quality improvement) focused environments
• Experience with food safety and quality digitalization programs.
• Strong knowledge of BRC standards, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), HACCP principles, quality improvement tools, root cause analysis, statistical programs, food safety training and internal audit
• Good understanding of food regulations for Canada, the U.S.
• GFSI, PCQI, HACCP, and internal audit certification and previous experience leading the audits preferably BRC standard.
• Resourceful and ADAPTABLE

SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Demonstrated management ability without direct reporting line, capable of working on and leading a diverse crossfunctional TEAM
• Strong multitasking, analytical and decision-making skills with the ability to identify root cause and solve problems
• Self-starter with a high level of initiative and ADAPTABILITY
• Strong planning, organizing and time management skills, detail oriented.
• Strong communication skills (verbal and written), including the ability to make presentations and conduct training; and to write policies and procedures.
• Passionate individual that has the ability to develop relationships and the business.

• Demonstrate and uphold Riverside’s Core Values and purpose.
• Take OWNERSHIPof Riverside’s Food Safety and Quality Assurance System.
• Continuously improve Riverside corporate food safety and quality standards by developing, implementing, and enforcing food safety, quality assurance programs and policies company-wide while ensuring strict compliance with Regulatory requirements.
• Work in collaboration with cross-functional teams at the plant and corporate level to establish annual corporate FSQA program review, update and continuously improvement.
• Set and develop performance expectations for microbiological performance, pest control, foreign material prevention, regulatory compliance, risk management and HACCP programs.
• Continuously develop and monitor Riverside FSQA KPIs and ensure achievement by supporting plant FSQA teams. Communicate KPI and action plan through monthly reporting.
• Manage and perform internal audit program with internal audit team, participate audits and ensure that internal audits are successfully completed on a timely basis and effective CAPA plan implemented.
• Review and develop company-wide annual FSQA training program by incorporating Alchemy developed and internal training courses by partnering with Learning and Development team and oversee its performance.
• Overseeing and facilitating plant preparations for the recertification of BRC audits to obtain the highest rating, coordinates with plant FSQA teams’ preparation for the Gluten Free, Organic and customer’s audits, for audit readiness.
• Responsible for the effective implementation and adherence to the Recall and Traceability Program.
• Lead the voice of our consumers. Always looking for ways to facilitate and/or implement quality systems to provide the best consistent quality product that delights our consumers.
• Manage Private Label (PL) customer portals and ensure PL customers’ requirements are always met while continuously building a positive relationship with PL customers and Riverside PL team
• Analyze Riverside customer complaints, finished products hold trends, out of spec testing parameters and work with plant FSQA teams for the improvement of Riverside KPI. Share best practices with the Riverside plant network.
• Approve Riverside raw material specifications.
• Coordinate with Supplier Development team and R&D actions to confirm that the Riverside raw material specs are up-to-date and with the required acknowledgement from the supplier.
• Periodically review FSQA budget with plant FSQA Manager/Supervisors and approve FSQA related expenses
• Keeps the work atmosphere FUN by keeping it light and welcoming
• Other duties as assigned