Quality Assurance Technician

Position Summary

The Quality Assurance Technician supports the effectiveness of Hela Spice Canada Inc.'s food safety and quality systems by completing inspections, sampling, testing, verification, documentation, and follow-up activities throughout receiving, production, packaging, warehousing, and laboratory operations. The role works closely with Operations, Sanitation, Maintenance, R&D, Logistics, and other departments to ensure ingredients and finished products consistently meet company, customer, regulatory, and certification requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Quality and Food Safety Monitoring

• Perform routine quality and food safety inspections in receiving, batching, production, packaging, warehousing, and other assigned areas.
• Verify compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), HACCP/food safety plans, allergen controls, sanitation requirements, foreign-material controls, glass and brittle-plastic programs, and company procedures.
• Monitor product and process controls, including weights, labels, lot codes, packaging integrity, metal detection and other critical or quality-control checks, as assigned.
• Identify, document, communicate, and escalate food safety, quality, regulatory, or customer-risk concerns promptly; support immediate containment and disposition activities.
• Place product or materials on hold when authorized or directed and maintain accurate hold/release identification and records.

Sampling, Testing and Laboratory Support

• Collect representative samples of raw materials, packaging, work-in-process, environmental sites, and finished products in accordance with approved plans and procedures.
• Conduct or coordinate routine physical, chemical, organoleptic, microbiological, environmental, or other testing within the scope of approved methods and training.
• Support the basic operation, cleaning, calibration verification, monitoring, and organization of microbiology and quality-control laboratory equipment.
• Prepare samples for internal or external laboratory analysis; maintain sample identification, chain of custody, retains, and related records.
• Review results for completeness and conformance to specifications and immediately report abnormal, out-of-specification, or potentially unsafe results.

Documentation and Quality Systems

• Complete quality records accurately, legibly, and in real time; review production and quality documentation for completeness, accuracy, traceability, and required approvals.
• Maintain controlled forms, logs, specifications, certificates of analysis, laboratory records, calibration records, and electronic quality data in accordance with document-control and retention requirements.
• Assist with investigations of deviations, non-conformances, customer complaints, foreign-material events, out-of-specification results, and corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Support traceability exercises, mock recalls, product withdrawals/recalls, mass-balance activities, and annual inventory activities when required.
• Assist with the collection and organization of records for internal, customer, certification, and regulatory audits; participate in audits and follow-up actions as assigned.
• Follow the Quality Control Handbook, approved work instructions, specifications, food safety plans, and all other applicable Hela policies and procedures.

Production, Sanitation and Cross-Functional Support

• Provide timely quality guidance to production employees and supervisors and communicate issues clearly at shift handovers and during daily operations.
• Perform pre-operational inspections, sanitation verification, line-clearance and changeover checks, allergen-cleaning verification, and related activities as assigned.
• Verify that corrective actions are implemented and effective before affected operations or products proceed, within the authority of the role.
• Support employee training and reinforcement of GMP, HACCP, allergen, hygiene, sampling, and documentation requirements.
• Work cooperatively with all departments to protect product integrity, support customer service, and promote continuous improvement.
• Perform other quality assurance, quality control, laboratory, inventory, and operational duties reasonably assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum five (5) years of hands-on quality assurance or quality control experience in food manufacturing, spice or seasoning production, ingredient processing, meat or prepared foods, beverage, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, or another closely related regulated manufacturing environment.
• Post-secondary diploma or degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Quality Assurance, or a related discipline; an equivalent combination of relevant education and progressively responsible experience may be considered.
• Strong statistical knowledge and analytical skills required.
• Practical knowledge of GMP, HACCP-based food safety systems, allergen control, sanitation, traceability, product holds, non-conformance management, and controlled documentation.
• Experience with routine laboratory practices, sampling plans, specifications, certificates of analysis, and interpretation of test results.
• Experience working under a recognized food safety certification standard such as BRCGS, SQF, FSSC 22000, or an equivalent standard is strongly preferred.
• HACCP certification and internal-auditor training are considered strong assets.
• Experience in dry-blending, spices, seasonings, allergens, microbiological sampling, environmental monitoring, or supplier/raw-material quality is an asset.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to learn ERP, laboratory, document-control, and quality-management systems.

Core Competencies

• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, organization, and follow-through.
• Sound judgment and the confidence to raise, document, and escalate quality or food safety concerns.
• Clear written and verbal communication and the ability to work respectfully with employees at all levels.
• Ability to prioritize changing demands, meet deadlines, and work independently while contributing to a collaborative team.
• Analytical problem-solving skills and a practical, continuous-improvement mindset.
• Integrity, professionalism, discretion, accountability, and commitment to Hela's best interests.

Physical and Working Conditions

• Work is performed in laboratory, office, production, warehouse.
• Regular standing and walking throughout the facility, with periods of sitting and computer work.
• Frequent use of hands for sampling, testing, documentation, and handling small instruments or containers.
• Ability to lift and carry samples, materials, or equipment up to 20 kg (44 lb), with assistance or mechanical aids where required.
• May be exposed to food ingredients, spices, dust, strong aromas, allergens, cleaning chemicals, noise, and moving equipment; required personal protective equipment must be worn.
• Must be able to work the scheduled shift and provide reasonable flexibility for production needs, investigations, audits, inventory, or coverage.

Health, Safety and Conduct Expectations

• Work in full compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations, company safety rules, and required safe-work procedures. Immediately report hazards, incidents, injuries, illnesses, and unsafe conditions.
• Follow all timekeeping, attendance, break, hygiene, security, confidentiality, and workplace conduct requirements.
• Treat others with respect, trust, transparency, and honesty; communicate openly, listen actively, share knowledge, and cooperate across departments.
• Protect confidential company, customer, supplier, formula, specification, test-result, and employee information.
• Act at all times in the best interests of Hela Spice Canada Inc. and its food safety and quality culture.