Quality Assurance Specialist

Nature's Way Canada; Dartmouth; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay & paid time off

Excellent health & dental benefits

RRSP matching program

Wellness initiatives

Job summary

Nature’s Way Canada is seeking a Quality Assurance Specialist to join our Dartmouth team. You will drive QA programs, support GMP compliance, and lead investigations, CAPAs, deviations, and change controls across manufacturing and contract products in Canada.

The role requires a strong scientific background, 5+ years in GMP QA, and cross-functional collaboration to improve quality systems and regulatory readiness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in a related scientific discipline is required.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive Quality Assurance experience in a GMP-regulated industry.
• Strong experience conducting investigations involving deviations, CAPA, complaints, non-conforming products and OOS.
• Knowledge of Canadian Natural Health Products Regulations (NHP) and U.S. GMP requirements would be an asset.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, organizational and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead investigations related to deviations, non-conforming products, and quality incidents.
• Review and approve CAPA plans and investigation reports.
• Lead CAPA effectiveness assessments and verify corrective actions.
• Coordinate change control actions and assess impact on GMP and regulations.
• Review validation protocols, reports, and related documentation.
• Support internal, customer, certification, and regulatory audits.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve quality issues and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Problem solving

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Quality systems knowledge

Investigations leadership

Education

Bachelor of Science in Food Science / Microbiology / Chemistry / Biochemistry / Biology / Pharmaceutical Sciences

Lean Six Sigma training/certification

Tools

ERP systems

eQMS

Document management systems

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

At Nature’s Way, our purpose is simple yet powerful: it’s in our nature to help people live healthier. We are guided by values that shape everything we do, being trustworthy through honesty, transparency, and respect; being resourceful by thinking outside the box and finding creative solutions; and being responsible by caring for each other, our community, and the environment. Our purpose and values guide how we deliver high‑quality natural health products that support healthier lives for people in Canada and around the world.

Nature’s Way Canada has been recognized as one of Atlantic Canada’s and Nova Scotia’s Top Employers for 2026, making it a great place to work. As a certified B Corp, we balance profit with purpose by meeting high standards for social and environmental impact, transparency, and accountability. We are committed to creating positive outcomes for our people, communities, and the planet.

Join us and be part of a team that truly makes a difference.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Quality Assurance Specialist is a key member of the Nature’s Way Canada Quality team, responsible for maintaining quality assurance programs and supporting compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), internal standards, and applicable regulatory requirements for products manufactured at the Dartmouth facility and contract-manufactured products distributed in Canada.

Under the direction of the Quality Manager, the Quality Assurance Specialist leads quality investigations, deviations, CAPAs, change controls, non-conforming products, and customer and supplier complaint assessments. The role also supports continuous improvement initiatives and provides quality guidance to Quality Assurance Technicians and cross-functional teams.

The position requires strong technical knowledge, critical thinking, sound judgement, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, GMP-regulated environment.

This is a full-time, on-site position based in Dartmouth.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Deviations, CAPA and Non-Conforming Product Management

• Lead investigations related to deviations, non-conforming products, and quality incidents to identify root causes and determine appropriate corrective and preventive actions.
• Review and approve immediate corrective actions, investigation reports, and CAPA plans to ensure timely and effective resolution of quality issues.
• Conduct CAPA effectiveness assessments and verify implementation of corrective and preventive actions.
• Evaluate quality trends and recurring issues to identify opportunities for continuous improvement and risk reduction.
• Support escalation and risk assessment activities associated with critical quality events.

Customer and Supplier Complaint Management

• Review and approve customer complaint investigations and associated documentation.
• Review and approve supplier complaint reports and ensure appropriate follow-up actions are completed.
• Collaborate with suppliers and internal stakeholders to investigate complaint trends and implement corrective actions where required.

Out-of-Specification (OOS) Investigations

• Lead and document investigations involving out-of-specification laboratory results, ensuring compliance with applicable procedures and regulatory expectations.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Technical Quality, R&D and other departments to determine root cause and assess product impact.

Change Control

• Lead the change control process for quality-related changes.
• Assess the impact of proposed changes on product quality, GMP compliance, validation status, and regulatory commitments.
• Coordinate and assign change control actions and track activities through completion.

Validation Activities

• Review and approve validation protocols, reports, and associated documentation related to manufacturing processes, cleaning, equipment, systems, and quality programs.
• Support validation activities by ensuring compliance with internal procedures and regulatory requirements.

Inspection and Compliance Activities

• Review and approve Monthly GMP Inspection reports and ensure identified corrective actions are appropriately assigned and completed.
• Participate in facility inspections, quality assessments, and compliance monitoring activities as required.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen GMP compliance and quality system effectiveness.
• Participate in and lead continuous improvement initiatives related to quality systems, manufacturing processes, compliance performance, and operational excellence.
• Analyze quality metrics and trends to identify opportunities for process improvements and risk mitigation.
• Support implementation of quality improvement projects and effectiveness monitoring.

Audit and Regulatory Support

• Support internal, customer, certification, and regulatory audits by providing quality system documentation, investigation records, and evidence of compliance.
• Assist with the development and implementation of corrective actions resulting from audits and inspections.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Provide guidance and technical support to Quality Assurance Technicians regarding investigations, GMP requirements, and quality systems activities.
• Collaborate with Production, Supply Chain, Technical Quality, R&D, Regulatory Affairs, and external partners to resolve quality issues and maintain compliance.
• Promote a culture of quality, continuous improvement, and regulatory compliance throughout the organization.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related scientific discipline is required.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive Quality Assurance experience within a GMP-regulated industry, preferably in Natural Health Products, Dietary Supplements, Food, Pharmaceutical, or Consumer Health Product manufacturing.
• Strong experience conducting and leading investigations involving deviations, CAPAs, customer complaints, supplier complaints, non-conforming products, and out-of-specification results.
• Demonstrated experience performing root cause analysis and implementing effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Working knowledge of Part 3 - Good Manufacturing Practices of the Canadian Natural Health Products Regulations.
• Working knowledge of U.S. Dietary Supplement GMP requirements (21 CFR Part 111) and/or Food GMP requirements would be considered an asset.
• Strong understanding of quality systems including deviations, CAPA, change control, complaint management, validation, risk assessment, and document control.
• Experience supporting regulatory, certification, customer, and internal audits.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills with demonstrated ability to independently assess risk and make informed quality decisions.
• Strong technical writing skills with the ability to prepare clear, concise, and accurate investigation reports and quality documentation.
• Excellent organizational, time management, and prioritization skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply scientific, technical, and regulatory documentation.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Lean Six Sigma, Root Cause Analysis, HACCP, or Quality Auditor training/certification would be considered an asset.
• Experience working with ERP systems, electronic quality management systems (eQMS), or document management systems would be considered an asset.

What We Offer:

It is Nature’s Way Canada’s philosophy to inspire and promote a physically and emotionally healthy workforce. To enhance the health of every employee and their families, we've created an environment to foster our philosophy. All eligible employees receive:

• Competitive pay and paid time off
• Excellent health and dental benefits
• Company RRSP matching program
• Comprehensive Wellness initiatives to promote a healthy lifestyle
• You Belong perk for those planting roots in Canada
• Employee Discount Program on all Nature’s Way Canada products
• Formal Educational Assistance
• Employee Recognition Programs

This posting will close on September 14, 2026.

At Nature’s Way Canada, we are committed to helping people live healthy lives. This commitment starts from within - with our vision to create a happy and healthy workforce that is diverse and where every employee feels inspired,