Why this role mattersQuality and food safety are essential to the trust Canadians place in Loblaw Control Brands. The Senior Manager, Quality Assurance - Strategic Initiatives turns complex, business-critical change into sustainable quality outcomes across the enterprise. From supplier and manufacturing transitions to evolving regulatory expectations, strategic transformation and recurring product issues, this leader anticipates risk, establishes clear QA direction and helps the business move forward with confidence.
Leading a team of three Senior QA Specialists, this role owns the QA workstream for a portfolio of cross-functional initiatives. It connects technical rigour with pragmatic execution-protecting product integrity, consumer experience, regulatory compliance and continuity of supply while enabling innovation and business priorities.
Where you will make an impact- Lead enterprise initiatives and complex change
- Own and prioritize the QA portfolio for enterprise-wide initiatives, translating business objectives into clear scope, risk-based plans, decision points, milestones and measurable outcomes.
- Lead QA assessment of supplier transitions, ingredient or formulation changes, manufacturing/process changes, supply challenges, regulatory updates and product performance issues; define the evidence and approvals needed before implementation.
- Partner with Product Management, Product Development, Sourcing, Regulatory Affairs, Operations and vendors to balance food safety, quality, customer experience, timing, cost and supply continuity-escalating material trade-offs with clear recommendations.
- Drive readiness through implementation, including technical reviews, commercial-scale validation where appropriate, specification and control updates, documented decisions and post-change performance monitoring.
- Strengthen food safety, quality and governance
- Set a consistent, risk-based approach to evaluating product, process and supplier changes, including HACCP considerations, allergen controls, shelf life, product testing, sensory performance and various other processes impactful to the product.
- Oversee critical-to-quality requirements, manufacturing and finished-product specifications, acceptance criteria and verification plans so changes do not undermine safety, quality or product consistency.
- Embed applicable Canadian food regulations, internal standards, quality management system requirements and GFSI-recognized food safety principles into initiative planning and execution.
- Lead the response to significant quality risks, recurring non-conformances and emerging customer complaint trends; challenge root-cause analysis, corrective/preventive actions and evidence of sustained effectiveness.
- Build a high-performing team and influence across functions
- Lead, coach and develop three Senior QA Specialists; set accountabilities, manage capacity, establish objectives and build technical judgment, collaboration and succession capability.
- Create alignment among senior stakeholders and suppliers through direct, evidence-led communication; constructively challenge proposed solutions when risk is not adequately controlled.
- Provide concise executive updates, KPIs and decision-ready insights on initiative progress, risk exposure, validation status, non-conformance trends and delivery against commitments.
- Identify systemic issues and simplify or standardize processes, tools and controls to improve consistency, speed, accountability and continuous improvement across QA.
What you bring- Degree in Food Science, Food Engineering or a related scientific or technical discipline.
- 7+ years of progressive experience in food quality assurance, food manufacturing, CPG or related technical leadership, including leading cross-functional projects and people.
- Strong application of HACCP, GFSI-benchmarked standards, quality management systems, Canadian food regulations and risk-based decision making.
- Demonstrated ability to assess complex product and manufacturing changes, evaluate specifications and validation evidence, manage supplier issues and support commercial implementation.
- Proven people leadership with the ability to coach experienced specialists, allocate priorities and drive performance in a fast-moving environment.
- Excellent analytical judgment, root-cause problem solving, program/project management, stakeholder influence and executive communication skills.
- Comfort navigating ambiguity and making sound decisions across multiple competing enterprise priorities; ability to travel to vendor or operating sites as needed.
How success is measuredStrategic initiatives land on time with documented, risk-based QA decisions and effective controls; product quality and consumer experience remain protected through change; high-risk issues are identified and resolved early; stakeholders have clear visibility to priorities and escalations; and the three-person specialist team is engaged, capable and delivering measurable improvements.
Hiring Range / Échelle salariale à l'embauche :
$100,000.00 - $132,000.00 / 100.000,00$ - 132.000,00$ (per year / par an)
A candidate's experience and knowledge as well as the geographical region in which the position is located may be factored into the pay a candidate receives for this position. This posting is for an existing vacancy. The Company uses artificial intelligence for the purpose of screening, assessing and/or selecting applicants for this position. / L'expérience et les connaissances d'un candidat ainsi que la région géographique dans laquelle le poste est situé peuvent être prises en compte dans la rémunération qu'un candidat reçoit pour ce poste. Cette offre d'emploi concerne un poste vacant existant. L'entreprise utilise l'intelligence artificielle dans le but de filtrer, d'évaluer et/ou de sélectionner les candidats à ce poste.
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