Job Description
Type of Position:
Permanent | Full-time | Monday to Friday schedule, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., hybrid work model, with availability outside regular working hours to respond to emergencies.
Work Location:
South Shore of Montreal, in Saint-Patrice-de-Sherrington. Strategically located approximately 30 minutes from the Samuel-De Champlain Bridge, near the junction of Highways 15 South, 10, and 30.
And/or
South Shore of Montreal, at our Brossard campus, strategically located and accessible via the REM.
Position Description
Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Senior Director, Food Safety and Operational Quality provides leadership to Vegpro’s Centre of Excellence in Quality and Food Safety. In this role, the incumbent ensures alignment and evolution of practices, risk management, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement of quality and food safety systems across all operations in Canada and the United States.
As a corporate reference in quality and food safety, this individual plays a key role in shaping the evolution of our standards and practices. Through strong influence and strategic vision, they mobilize teams, support change management, and contribute to strengthening a culture of excellence that drives organizational performance, growth, and reputation.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Expertise
- Act as the corporate subject matter expert in quality, food safety, and microbiology.
- Lead the Centre of Excellence in Quality and Food Safety and promote best practices across the organization.
- Support teams in change management, training, and skills development.
- Provide support to operational quality teams and intervene in critical or emergency situations.
- Represent the organization on internal and external committees related to quality and food safety.
Compliance, Governance & Risk Management
- Ensure compliance with Canadian and U.S. regulatory requirements, particularly in labelling, and ensure alignment with industry standards.
- Conduct regulatory and industry monitoring to anticipate risks and changes impacting operations.
- Oversee management of non-routine events, out-of-specification results, product recalls, and risk analyses. Ensure strategic decision-making and coordination of required actions.
- Ensure maintenance of required licenses, certifications, calibration programs, and service agreements.
Continuous Improvement & Performance
- Develop, implement, and maintain corporate quality and food safety programs, including internal audits, traceability, validations, environmental programs, and recall exercises.
- Define, monitor, and communicate key performance indicators (KPIs) to support decision-making and continuous improvement.
- Identify process optimization opportunities and ensure deployment of best practices across sites.
Supplier & Partner Management
- Establish and maintain quality requirements for suppliers and partners.
- Conduct supplier audits and evaluations and ensure follow-up on action plans.
- Coordinate pilot projects and innovation initiatives with external partners.
Operational & Administrative Management
- Oversee customer complaint management processes and quality communications.
- Coordinate traceability exercises and system performance testing.
- Develop and manage the department’s annual budget.
Advantages and benefits offered
- Employee discount on the product
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Teleworking
- Competitive compensation
- On-site parking
- Life insurance
- Benefits (medical and dental)
- Telemedecine
Knowledge and skills sought
- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Technology, or any other relevant university education in microbiology, chemistry, food engineering, or a related field.
- Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in a leadership role in food safety and quality.
- Proven experience in the development, implementation, and management of HACCP systems, quality programs, and governance frameworks.
- Strong knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, and standards governing the food industry in Canada and the United States.
- Experience in budget management and leading multidisciplinary teams.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to manage risk and solve complex problems.
- Recognized ability to influence, engage teams, and lead change management initiatives.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment in both well-defined and ambiguous situations.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; knowledge of data management tools and dashboards is an asset.
- Bilingual in French and English, both spoken and written; Spanish is an asset.
- Knowledge of the agricultural sector or food production environment is a strong asset.
- Valid driver’s license and valid passport, with availability for occasional travel within Canada and the United States.
Apply now
Interested in this challenge?
Spontaneous application