FSQA Plant Manager (20 Month - Contract)

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 .

Purpose:

The position ensures successful operation of Riverside’s Food Safety and Quality Management System, is a talented leader with strong 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.

Primary Responsibilities:

Demonstrate and uphold Riverside’s Core Values and purpose.

Take OWNERSHIP of Riverside’s Food Safety and Quality Management System of the plant that they are assigned to.

Establish and maintain food safety and quality standards for processes and products.

Establish and maintain records to measure and track quality performance.

Contribute to the plant team to obtain the maximum (best) rating for all the external audits, like unannounced BRC, customer’s audits, etc.

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 delight our consumers.

Apply for and maintain regulatory and relevant industry certifications.

Ensure that all regulatory, certification, and internal audits are successfully completed on a timely basis (CFIA, FDA, BRC, Gluten Free (GFCO), Kosher, Organic, Vegan, RSPO, etc.)

Ensure all Private Label (PL) company requirements and audits are always met while continuously building a positive relationship with PL customers.

Complete a formal risk assessment on food safety, quality, food fraud and vulnerability for all new raw material and innovation items prior to launch approval

Support the R&D Team with the development, validation, training, monitoring and accuracy of all critical parameters (CTP, CTQ, CTC). Support the definition of sampling plan for CTQs- Critical to Quality parameters.

Demonstrate leadership in quality and continuous improvement

Oversee the plant food safety and quality assurance TEAM to ensure all required internal documentation and regulatory records are kept up to date

Coordinate with Marketing, Sales and Customer Service to respond to consumer and customer complaints and enquiries.

Facilitate root cause analysis and support the plant leadership in implementing corrective and preventative actions in a RESPECTFUL manner for all quality and food safety complaints.

Perform vital managerial functions:

Monitor, train, cross train, coach, and mentor staff. Manage hiring, performance evaluation, discipline and termination of staff.

Demonstrating HUMILITY by displaying good leadership by helping the TEAM succeed

Coordinate training and coaching of plant staff in processes and procedures related to quality during the manufacturing process

Manage quality related communication across all departments in the plant

Ensure continuous improvement

Keeps the work atmosphere FUN by keeping it light and welcoming

Other duties as assigned

Education and Qualifications:

Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science and Technology or other related fields

7+ years comprehensive food safety and quality experience with an extensive background in manufacturing food industry

Strong knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), HACCP principles, BRC standards, quality improvement tools and root cause analysis

Good understanding of food regulations for Canada, the U.S.

Good understanding of process variability, process capability and SPC.

GFSI, PCQI, HACCP, and internal audit certification and previous experience leading the audits preferably BRC standard.

Resourceful and ADAPTABLE

Skills and Abilities:

Demonstrated management ability, capable of working on and leading a diverse 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.

Functional & Leadership Competencies:

Leadership Competencies

Definition

Collaborates

Build strong partnerships and work collaboratively across teams to achieve shared goals and drive food safety excellence

Works cooperatively with others across the organization to achieve shared objectives.

Represents own interests while being fair to others and their areas.

Partners with others to get work done.

Credits others for their contributions and accomplishments.

Gains trust and support of others.

Builds Network

Effectively building formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the organization.

Builds strong formal and informal networks

Maintains relationships across a variety of functions and locations

Draws upon multiple relationships to exchange ideas, resources, and know-how

Drives Results

Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.

Has a strong bottom-line orientation.

Persists in accomplishing objectives despite obstacles and setbacks.

Has a track record of exceeding goals successfully.

Pushes self and helps others achieve results.

Ensures Accountability

Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.

Follows through on commitments and makes sure others do the same.

Acts with a clear sense of ownership.

Takes personal responsibility for decisions, actions, and failures.

Establishes clear responsibilities and processes for monitoring work and measuring results.

Designs feedback loops into work.

Plans & Aligns

Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.

Focuses on highest priorities and sets aside less critical tasks.

Lays out a thorough schedule and steps for achieving objectives.

Makes implementation plans that allocate resources precisely.

Looks for obstacles and develops excellent contingency plans.

Uses milestones to diligently track and manage the progress of the work.

Optimizes Work Processes

Knowing the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement.

Figures out the processes necessary to get things done.

Separates and combines tasks into efficient and simple workflow.

Thinks about the whole system.

Focuses efforts on continuous improvement; has a knack for identifying and seizing opportunities for synergy and integration.

Key Accountabilities

Responsibility

KPI/Metric

Target

Lead and Maintain the Food Safety & Quality Management System for the assigned site

Achieve and maintain top-tier ratings in external audits (BRC AA rating), 100% on-time completion of regulatory audits

100% compliance with regulatory and certification requirements; Zero critical findings in audits annually

Lead the FSQA Team and Drive Continuous Improvement

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