Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist

Department: Quality Assurance Reports To: QA Manager / Director of Quality Assurance Location: Mercuri Cuisine Inc. – Montréal, QC Employment Type: Full-Time Position Summary Mercuri Cuisine is a leading SQF-certified food manufacturer specializing in fresh, prepared meals, airline catering, retail, and foodservice solutions across Canada. We are seeking a highly motivated Quality Assurance Specialist to ensure our products consistently meet the highest standards of food safety, quality, regulatory compliance, and customer expectations. The QA Specialist plays a critical role in maintaining our SQF Food Safety & Quality Management System, supporting CFIA compliance, monitoring production activities, driving continuous improvement initiatives, and fostering a strong food safety culture throughout the organization. The role typically combines production-floor oversight with maintenance of SQF, HACCP, GMP, and regulatory systems.

Key Responsibilities

Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance Ensure compliance with: SQF Code HACCP GMPs SFCR (Safe Food for Canadians Regulations) CFIA requirements Customer food safety standards Maintain and improve the Food Safety & Quality Management System. Support the company's Preventive Control Plan (PCP). Verify production records for completeness and accuracy. Participate in internal, customer, and regulatory audits. Assist in preparation for SQF Certification audits.

Conduct verification activities including CCPs, preventive controls, allergen controls, sanitation, and traceability.

Production Floor Quality Oversight

Perform routine inspections throughout production. Verify employee compliance with GMPs and hygiene requirements. Monitor product quality from receiving through shipping. Conduct pre-operational inspections. Review sanitation effectiveness. Monitor critical control points. Ensure production follows approved specifications and recipes. Place non-conforming products on hold when required.

Incoming & Finished Product Quality

Inspect incoming raw materials. Verify supplier documentation. Approve or reject materials based on specifications. Perform finished product evaluations. Conduct sensory inspections. Collect retention samples. Support shelf-life verification.

Documentation & Record Control

Maintain: SOPs Work Instructions HACCP documentation Quality forms Inspection records Calibration records , Training documentation Review production paperwork daily. Ensure documentation meets SQF and CFIA requirements. Assist with document revisions.

Non-Conformance & Corrective Actions

Investigate quality incidents. Perform root cause analysis. Develop CAPAs. Track corrective actions to completion. Monitor recurring issues and recommend preventive measures.

Customer Complaints

Investigate customer complaints. Coordinate product evaluations. Prepare investigation reports. Recommend corrective actions. Monitor complaint trends.

Traceability & Recall Program

Participate in mock recalls. Verify traceability records. Support recall readiness activities. Maintain recall documentation.

Continuous Improvement

Identify opportunities to improve: Product quality Food safety Manufacturing efficiency Participate in Lean Manufacturing initiatives. Recommend process improvements. Support KPI tracking.

Training & Coaching

Train employees on: GMPs Food Safety Hygiene Allergen Control Documentation Quality Standards Reinforce food safety culture throughout the facility.

Qualifications

Education Bachelor's Degree or College Diploma in: Food Science Food Safety Microbiology Biology Quality Assurance Related discipline

Experience

Minimum 2–5 years in food manufacturing.

Experience with

SQF HACCP CFIA GMP Ready-to-eat foods Airline catering (preferred) Fresh food manufacturing Regulatory audits Customer audits

Required Skills

Excellent organizational skills Strong attention to detail Critical thinking Root Cause Analysis Problem solving Decision making Time management Excellent written and verbal communication Strong computer skills (Microsoft Office) ERP experience (asset) Ability to work independently Ability to manage multiple priorities

Certifications (Preferred)

HACCP Certification SQF Practitioner Training Internal Auditor Certification PCQI (asset) Food Safety Certification

Physical Requirements

Standing and walking for extended periods Comfortable working in refrigerated production environments Ability to wear required PPE

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Audit scores (SQF, CFIA, Customer) GMP compliance rate Customer complaint reduction CAPA completion rate Non-conformance reduction Product hold reduction Traceability accuracy Recall readiness performance Internal audit completion Training completion rate Food Safety Culture score

Why Join Mercuri Cuisine? Mercuri Cuisine is one of Canada's fastest-growing food manufacturers, producing high-quality fresh meals for airlines, retail, foodservice, and institutional customers. We are committed to innovation, continuous improvement, and maintaining the highest standards of food safety and operational excellence.

We offer

Competitive salary Comprehensive health and dental benefits Paid training and professional development Career advancement opportunities Employee recognition programs Collaborative, team-oriented work environment Modern SQF-certified production facility Opportunity to contribute to a growing Canadian food manufacturing leader Mercuri Cuisine is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive workplace where food safety, quality, and continuous improvement are at the heart of everything we do.