Quality Continuous Improvement Manager

Job summary

The Quality Continuous Improvement Manager leads quality and food safety initiatives while serving as the HACCP Team Leader to ensure regulatory compliance. This role collaborates with cross-functional departments to oversee daily operations, conduct audits, and mentor quality professionals.

Job details

Job Posting ABOUT WONDERBRANDS Wonderbrands is a leading Canadian bakery with over 140 years of expertise in crafting high-quality packaged breads. We proudly produce iconic brands such as Wonder Bread, Country Harvest, D’Italiano, Gadoua, Casa Mendosa, Farm House and Mie et Cie. Our network spans 14 state-of-the-art bakery manufacturing facilities across Canada. Now part of the FGF Brands Group of Companies, Wonderbrands is unlocking tremendous growth opportunities by driving production innovation, advancing leading-edge supply chain practices, and investing in the communities where we bake. We embrace an entrepreneurial spirit and foster a dynamic, collaborative start-up culture that thrives on cross-functional teamwork. ABOUT THE JOB The Quality Continuous Improvement Manager plays a pivotal role on the bakery leadership team, collaborating closely with all functional departments to lead quality initiatives and support daily operations in delivering products of the highest quality while maintaining the utmost adherence to food safety programs. As the Food Safety and Quality subject matter expert, this role ensures compliance with regulatory standards, and conducts regular training to empower employees to uphold exceptional food safety and quality practices. Additionally, the manager serves as the HACCP Team Leader, driving comprehensive hazard analyses, developing and maintaining HACCP plans, and overseeing verification and validation activities to ensure ongoing compliance and continuous improvement. This role reports directly to the VP, Business Transformation and dotted line the Bakery Manager, fostering strong collaboration with key stakeholders across various departments, including Business Transformation, R&D, Sanitation, Engineering, and Maintenance, to ensure seamless integration of quality and operational initiatives. WHAT WE OFFER Tuition reimbursement Bonus eligibility/entitlement Health and dental benefits GRRSP with company matching contribution Discount programs that cover almost everything under the sun (restaurants, gyms, shopping, entertainment etc.) ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES Leadership and Development: Leads and mentors on-shift Quality professionals, ensuring 24/7 support and oversight for bakery quality and food safety initiatives. Collaboration: Serves as a key member of the bakery leadership team, working closely with departments such as R&D, Sanitation, Engineering, and Maintenance to drive initiatives and ensure smooth daily operations. Subject Matter Expertise: Acts as the Food Safety and Quality expert, providing guidance and overseeing regular training programs for bakery employees to uphold high-quality standards. HACCP Leadership: Functions as the HACCP Team Leader, directing hazard analyses, developing and maintaining HACCP plans, and performing regular verification and validation activities to ensure compliance. Record Management: Reviews and verifies quality and food safety records, including Critical Control Points (CCPs), addressing any issues promptly and maintaining accurate documentation. Serves as the Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI). Inspection and Auditing: Plans and conducts daily inspections, monthly self-inspections, and internal audits. Enforces Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), facilitates root cause analysis, and drives corrective and preventive actions. Environmental Monitoring: Oversees the environmental program, including swabbing equipment, drains, and floors, submitting samples for lab analysis, and addressing out-of specification results with corrective actions. Process Verification: Performs online process checks and CCP verifications, ensuring prompt follow-up on any deviations. Product Quality Oversight: Organizes and conducts quality and food safety checks for finished products, providing immediate feedback to production teams and managing product disposition when specifications are not met. Traceability and Recall Management: Assesses the traceability program by verifying ingredient lot numbers and participates in mock recalls to ensure system readiness. Allergen Control: Ensures the effectiveness of the allergen control program to prevent cross-contamination risks. Complaint and Supplier Management: Supports investigations into consumer and customer complaints and assists in supplier management programs to maintain quality standards. Equipment Calibration: Verifies the accuracy of measuring devices such as thermometers and scales to ensure consistency in processes. Audit Preparedness: Assists in preparing for and conducting various assessments, inspections, and audits, including BRC, customer, and regulatory audits. Customer and R&D Collaboration: Works with customers and the R&D team to develop and finalize product specifications. Audit Leadership: Prepares documentation and leads organizational efforts during audits, ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations. Pest Control: Oversees third-party pest control programs to maintain a hygienic production environment. Prerequisite Programs: Manages hygiene practices, cleaning, and sanitation programs to ensure adherence to quality standards. Leadership Backup: Assists in covering Bakery Leadership positions during vacations to ensure continuity of operations. Resource Management: Manages supplies required for quality testing to support efficient and accurate assessments. WHAT YOU BRING Education: Postgraduate degree in a relevant field, such as Food Science. Experience: 5+ years of QA experience in a food manufacturing environment. Technical Expertise: Strong knowledge of GFSI standards (preferably BRC), HACCP, Preventive Controls, and Quality Systems; proficiency in Microsoft Office, with SAP preferred. Leadership & Collaboration: Proven interpersonal and leadership skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate across all levels of the organization, from production floor team members to management. Communication Skills: Excellent oral and written English skills, with the ability to clearly and accurately document findings and data. Work Environment Adaptability: Demonstrated ability to multitask, stay organized, and thrive in a fast-paced production environment. Analytical & Organizational Skills: Strong analytical and organizational capabilities. Flexibility: Willingness to work flexible hours and shifts, including afternoons, nights, and weekends. FGF GROUP COMPETENCIES Adaptive Intelligence - Team Members respond effectively to challenges by evolving their skills, mindset, and approach. Flexibility, Agility, Adaptability: Thrives in dynamic environments by embracing continuous change. Quickly adjusts to new priorities and actively seeks innovative solutions. Uses setbacks as opportunities for growth and applies a relentless focus on improving outcomes. Approaches challenges with a proactive, solutions-driven mindset and openness to feedback. Calculated Risk-Taking: Makes strategic decisions by evaluating options and creating contingency plans. Collaborative Intelligence - Collaborative intelligence empowers teams to unlock collective strengths and achieve results through synergy and mutual trust. Team First and Collaboration: Engages with Team Members and colleagues, builds relationships, and fosters an inclusive, innovative environment. Entrepreneurial Intelligence - Equips Team Members to identify opportunities, overcome setbacks, and move ideas to execution effectively. Continuous Improvement: Drives innovation and optimizes processes to enhance quality and productivity. Customer and Product Focus: Addresses need proactively with accountability and a solution-oriented mindset. Fierce Execution: Achieves results with a strategic and hands-on approach, learning from mistakes and building trust. Leadership Competencies Inspire & Energize Team Members Continually inspires and develops Team Members​ and promote cross-functional collaboration. Supports, shared knowledge and experience with your Team through authentic conversations and development planning Communicates clear expectations​ Uses insight and knowledge to influence others​ Understands and acknowledge differences and modifies style to support unleashing potential Demonstrates patience and empathy, while listening​ Create Winning Relationships​ Inspire enthusiasm & commitment by communicating a clear path to success​ Empowers others by delegating and providing support and opportunities for growth​ Identifies, raises and resolves conflict​ Builds trust and models the “Coach Approach”​ Entrepreneurial Leadership​ Encourages informed risk-taking and supports learning from outcomes. Creates an environment where your team enjoys working hard while having fun​ Provides feedback to reinforce results​ Disclaimer: The above describes the general responsibilities, required knowledge and skills. Please keep in mind that other duties may be added, or this description may be amended at any time. In compliance with Ontario’s Bill 190, we confirm that this posting represents a current existing vacancy within our organization. We affirm that our hiring process, including candidate screening, evaluation, and selection, does not involve the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) or automated decision-making tools. All assessments and decisions are conducted by qualified human professionals to ensure fairness, transparency, and compliance with Bill 149.

What you’ll do

The Quality Continuous Improvement Manager leads quality and food safety initiatives while serving as the HACCP Team Leader to ensure regulatory compliance. This role collaborates with cross-functional departments to oversee daily operations, conduct audits, and mentor quality professionals.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a postgraduate degree in a relevant field such as Food Science and possess at least 5 years of QA experience in food manufacturing. Strong technical expertise in GFSI standards, HACCP, and Preventive Controls is required, along with excellent leadership and communication skills.

Benefits

• Tuition reimbursement
• Bonus eligibility
• Health benefits
• Dental benefits
• GRRSP with company matching contribution
• Discount programs

Listed skills

• SAP · Preferred
• Quality assurance · Preferred
• Regulatory Compliance · Preferred
• Leadership · Preferred
• Food safety · Preferred
• Root Cause Analysis · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Food safety
• HACCP
• Quality assurance
• Leadership
• Regulatory compliance
• Root cause analysis
• Auditing
• Environmental monitoring
• Process verification
• Traceability
• Allergen control
• Supplier management
• Equipment calibration
• BRC standards
• PCQI
• SAP
• Supplier Management
• Equipment Calibration
• Empathy
• Influencing Skills
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Risk Mindset
• Patience
• Strategic Decision Making
• Food Science
• Building Trust
• Industry Standards
• Supply Chain
• Accountability
• Cross-Functional Coordination
• Organizational Skills
• Solution-Oriented
• Food Manufacturing
• Master Planning
• Adaptability
• Automation
• Breads
• Management
• Business Transformation
• Good Manufacturing Practices
• Corrective And Preventive Action (CAPA)
• Communication
• Contingency Planning
• Continuous Improvement Process
• Decision Making Software
• Development Environment
• Environmental Monitoring
• Food Safety And Sanitation
• Hazard Analysis And Critical Control Points (HACCP)
• Hazard Analysis

Job areas

• Manufacturing
• Food & Beverage
• Management & Leadership
• Science & Research
• Engineering
• Quality and Continuous Improvement Manager
• Process Manager
• Manufacturing Managers
• Operations Research Analysts

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