Quality Assurance Specialist

Hilton Foods Group; Brantford; On-site; CAD 56,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Hilton Foods Canada is seeking a Quality Assurance Specialist to ensure food safety and quality across assigned areas, including receiving, formulation, packaging, and pallets. Knowledge of BRCGS/GFSI, HACCP, and strong communication are essential.

The role involves daily QA decision-making, line inspection verification, sanitation auditing, sample collection, and collaboration with production teams. On-site work with shift pattern noted supports continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Background in food manufacturing, with meat industry experience preferred.
• Food safety qualification and/or trade qualification (e.g. Trade Butcher).
• Strong understanding of sanitation, SOPs, prerequisite programs, HACCP, CCPs and GMPs.
• Experience with maintaining/validation of FSEP program is a plus.
• 2–3 years QA experience in food industry preferred.
• Proficient MS Office skills.
• Knowledge of FSQA systems is an asset.
• Excellent organization, attention to detail, self-directed and motivated; strong communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Perform daily quality and food safety decisions to ensure products meet standards.
• Review and verify line inspections for weight, batch, CCP, critical quality parameters.
• Conduct EMP/TPC swabs and pre-op inspections.
• Manage product holds, sampling (shelf life, daily cuts) and quarantine as required.
• Check conformance of raw meat to primal and trim specs.
• Prepare sensory samples and participate in sensory evaluations.
• Verify sanitation practices and chemical concentrations per SSOPs.
• Conduct microbiological and analytical sampling of product and environment.
• Participate in projects and meetings to improve food safety and quality.
• Monitor quality of incoming packaging and ingredients.
• Coach employees and management to improve QA practices.
• Support implementation of Global Standard for Food Safety and continual improvement.

Skills

Food manufacturing

Meat industry

Food safety

HACCP/GMP/SSOPs

FSEP program

MS Office

organization & planning

communication skills

Education

Food Safety qualification

Trade qualification / Butcher

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Job Title: Quality Assurance Specialist

Salary Range: CAD$55,566.00 - CAD$65,457.00

Working Type: On-Site

Working Pattern:
Days: 6 am - 2.30 pm
Afternoon: 2.30pm - 10.30 pm

PURPOSE OF ROLE

To ensure compliance to food safety and quality systems withintheir assigned area (e.g. Receiving /Formulation/Stuffing, Slicing/Packaging,Palletizing, etc). The successful applicantfor this opportunity has knowledge of BRCGS and/or other GFSI standards,knowledge of HACCP, is a strong communicator, is highly organized, and can workindependently or in a team environment. This role will also include any ad-hocactivities required.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Perform or assist in daily quality and food safety related decision making based on established processes to ensure products meet the quality standards and food safety requirements of Hilton Foods.
• Review and Verify acceptability of line inspections performed by operators (product weight, batch, gas, CCP, critical to quality, critical quality parameters, etc).
• Conduct EMP/TPC swabs and pre-op inspections.
• Product HOLDs, product sample collections (shelf life, daily product cuttings) and quarantine management requirements as required.
• Check conformance of raw meat to agreed primal and trim specifications.
• Prepare sensory samples and participates in sensory evaluations.
• Verify and audit sanitation practices and chemical concentrations as outlined in SSOP's.
• Perform microbiological and analytical sampling for product and environment.
• Participate in projects and meeting with the goal of improving food safety and food quality.
• Monitor quality of incoming packaging primal and ingredients.
• Provide support and coaching to employees and production management to maintain and improve their QA practices and procedures.
• Shall demonstrate full commitment to the implementation of the requirements of the Global Standard for Food Safety and to processes which facilitate continual improvement of food safety and quality management.
• Ability to enter data and complete trace exercises within ERP systems.
• Identification, entry and closure of non-conformance within your area.
• Support Risk Assessment development and customer complaint investigations.

KEY EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Proven background in FoodManufacturing (experience in Meat Industry highly regarded);
• Food SafetyQualification and/or trade qualification i.e. Trade Butcher;
• Strong understanding of Sanitation,SOPs, Pre-requisite Programs, HACCP, CCP's and GMP's.
• Previous experience with maintaining/validation of FSEP program.
• 2-3 years QA experience in the Foodindustry preferred.
• Strong MS Office skills.
• Knowledge of FSQA Systems is an asset.
• Excellent organization and planning skills, high attention to detail and a willingness to learn and teach others, be self-directed and motivated.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.

WOULD SUIT SOMEONE WHO IS....

Is currently in a similar positionand wants to expand their knowledge of the food industry or alternatelysomeone who is looking to take the next step in his/her career but hasalso covered various job functions within technical and has proven peoplemanagement

Passionate and engaged in delivering quality outcomes

Comfortable with communicating with both small and large teams

A successful negotiator and influencer

HiltonFoods Canada is committed to building a culture of diversity and inclusion andare committed to providing equal opportunities to all employees. At HiltonFoods Canada, we welcome and encourage applications from people withdisabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates takingpart in all aspects of the selection process. If you require an accommodationduring the recruitment process, please advise the HR representative. Allrequests for an accommodation and the accommodation measures will be handled ina confidential manner at all times.