Quality Improvement Lead

html Job Description

Join Riverside Natural Foods Ltd., a Canadian-based, family-owned, and globally operating business, committed to leaving the world better than we found it. As a B-Corp certified, Triple-Bottom Line company, we proudly manufacture nutritious, 'better-for-you' snacks such as MadeGood and GOOD TO GO. We value teamwork, humility, respect, ownership, adaptability, grit, and fun. We're on an ambitious mission to double our business by 2030, and we need talented individuals like you to help us reach new heights.

At Riverside, you'll have the opportunity to chart your own path to success while contributing to ours. We believe anything worth doing is worth doing right, and our values will guide us through the rugged terrain – and yes, it will get rough. But that's what makes the journey worthwhile. So, lace up your boots and let's tackle the climb together. You can learn more about us at www.riversidenaturalfoods.com.

Position Summary/Objective

The position ensures successful continuous improvement of Riverside's Food Safety and Quality Assurance System by providing leadership through strong knowledge and experience of managing food safety and quality incidents, conducting root cause analysis, risk assessment, CAPA program, and meeting the food safety and quality targets. You will be responsible for initiatives to enhance the food safety and quality performance of products and processes within Riverside Natural Food Ltd. They are passionate about Riverside's values and purpose, solving problems, food safety, quality (delighting our consumers), and always lead with a continuous improvement mindset.

Primary Responsibilities

• Demonstrate and uphold Riverside Natural Food's core values.
• Manage food safety and quality incidents including consumer and customer complaints, product holds, and internal non-conformances to ensure product safety and quality.
• Lead investigations, root cause analysis (RCA), and collect or identify necessary data affecting food safety and quality.
• Place necessary products on hold in SAP systems.
• Review and analyze data from food safety records and quality verification checks to identify trends and areas for improvement, and implement corrective actions.
• Lead cross-functional teams in identifying opportunities for food safety and quality improvement by addressing root causes, writing incident reports, and ensuring comprehensive action plans are implemented and completed.
• Work closely with Production, Sanitation, Maintenance, Engineering, Facility, R&D, and other relevant departments to implement and sustain food safety and quality improvement initiatives.
• Ensure consistent execution of current Food Safety and Quality Management Programs, internal procedures, and compliance with BRC requirements.
• Establish, develop, implement, and monitor food safety and quality improvement strategies, plans, and KPIs aligned with organizational goals.
• Use statistical methods, data analysis, and sampling plans to track and monitor product and process performances affecting safety and quality, reducing defects and minimizing inconsistencies.
• Develop, update, and implement improvement policies and procedures and food safety and quality plans.
• Identify training opportunities, train the trainer, and ensure employees are trained in food safety and quality improvement methodologies and tools.
• Promote a culture of excellence and improvement awareness across the organization.
• Develop innovative solutions to food safety and quality-related issues and provide improvement reports on the status of improvement projects to senior leadership.
• Keep the work atmosphere fun by keeping it light and welcoming.
• Other duties as assigned to support the execution of FSQA programs.

Reporting Relationship

Reports directly to the plant FSQA Leader. Plant FSQA leaders report to corporate. There are no direct reports.

Education & Qualifications

• Diploma in Engineering, Food Science and Technology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Pharmaceutical, or other related disciplines.
• A minimum of 3 years of FSQA experience in food manufacturing and relevant food safety and quality programs in similar roles.
• Experience with highly automated food manufacturing lines for continuous and batch processes.
• Strong understanding of hazard analysis, HACCP, GMPs, FM prevention, microbiology, pest control, and other food safety-related programs.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification and experience in quality improvement-focused environments.
• Strong understanding of statistics, product sampling standards/programs, and SPC technologies such as Minitab.
• Experience in investigation processes, root cause analysis methodologies, and corrective action plans (CAPA).

Skills & Abilities

• Ability to be persuasive and assertive while also being collaborative with diverse teams.
• Exceptional time management, organizational, and implementation skills.
• Self-starter with a high level of initiative and adaptability.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with follow-through.
• Analytical, with problem-identification and problem-solving capabilities.
• Passionate and curious individuals with a positive attitude and desire to learn.
• Aptitude to exhibit respect and protect Riverside's core values in a rapidly changing environment.

Job Scorecard

FSQA Improvement Leader

Purpose of the role: The position ensures successful continuous improvement of Riverside's Food Safety and Quality Assurance System by providing leadership through strong knowledge and experience of managing food safety and quality incidents, investigation, conducting root cause analysis, risk assessment, CAPA program, and meeting the food safety and quality targets. Lead initiatives to enhance the food safety and quality performance of products and processes and solve problems always with a continuous improvement mindset to meet and exceed consumer expectations and food safety requirements.

Key Accountabilities

• Drive Continuous Improvement:
  • % reduction in customer complaints.
  • CAPA effectiveness rate: by measuring CAPA closure and recurrence rate.
  • % Reduction in NCRs (Cases or Kg on hold).
  • Develop process mapping for one line per year and map out CTP centerlines and CTQs.
• BRC audit compliance:
  • No BRC audit non-conformances in the areas of non-conformances and CAPA programs.
  • Meet BRC AA unannounced requirements.
• Training and best practice sharing:
  • Design and deliver annual RCA training.
  • Share a minimum of 6 learnings/best practices from problem-solving and RCA.

Competencies for Success in the Role

Key Riverside Leadership Competencies:

1. Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
2. Drives Engagement: Creating a climate where people are motivated to do their best to help the organization achieve its objectives.
3. Ensures Accountability: Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
4. Resilience: Rebounding from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations.
5. Drives Results: Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
6. Balances Stakeholders: Anticipating and balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders.
7. Directs Work: Providing direction, delegating, and removing obstacles to get work done.

Key Riverside Functional Competencies:

• Food Safety and Quality Compliance: Demonstrated knowledge and hands-on experience in food safety and quality, specifically in continuous improvement and process improvement.
• Process and Program Knowledge: Food manufacturing knowledge with highly automated food manufacturing lines for continuous and batch processes.
• Data Driven: Strong understanding of statistics, product sampling standards/programs, and hands-on experience in SPC technologies such as Minitab.
• Training Delivery: Identify training opportunities, train the trainer, and ensure employees are trained in food safety and quality improvement methodologies and tools.

Salary Range

$70,000—$85,000 CAD

At Riverside, we are committed to transparency and fairness in our compensation and job posting practices. The range above reflects the target compensation for the position at the time of posting. Exact compensation will be determined based on experience, skill set, education, and training, as well as other organizational needs, while balancing internal equity.

What We Expect

• Values-led: You'll be a member of a thoughtful and compassionate team that prioritizes respect, teamwork, and resourcefulness along with a good dash of fun.
• Unparalleled Experiences and Opportunities: Help us shape what this organization will look like and what we'll offer the world into the future.
• Access to Everyone: We're a flat organization with few silos, which means you'll have full access to everyone from our founders to our production staff.
• Personal Development: We'll support and empower you to chart your own path and reach any heights you set for yourself.