Refrigeration Technician

Amir Specialty Poultry; Arthur; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Comprehensive benefits

Paid vacation and sick leave

Opportunity to commission a new plant

Job summary

Amir Specialty Poultry is hiring a Refrigeration Technician for its Arthur, Ontario, new facility. The role reports to the Maintenance Manager and focuses on commissioning, operating, and maintaining industrial ammonia and CO2 refrigeration systems to support a federally licensed poultry plant.

You will work on a ground-up build-out, establish procedures, and serve as the on-site refrigeration subject matter expert, ensuring food safety and regulatory compliance throughout start-up and ongoing

Qualifications

• 3+ years operating industrial refrigeration systems in food/manufacturing
• Licence required: Class A or Class B Refrigeration Operating Engineer (Ontario)
• Experience with ammonia (NH3) refrigeration systems is essential
• Knowledge of CFIA, GMP, HACCP requirements is a strong asset
• Ability to read P&IDs and equipment manuals

Responsibilities

• Support commissioning and start-up of all refrigeration systems in the new facility
• Review design docs, P&IDs, and equipment specs during build-out
• Coordinate with suppliers/contractors to meet safety and regulatory standards
• Develop operating procedures and emergency response protocols for refrigeration

Skills

Refrigeration systems

Maintenance experience

Regulatory compliance

Troubleshooting skills

Documentation logs

Education

Licence: Class A/B Refrigeration

Tools

NH3 refrigeration systems

CO2 secondary systems

P&IDs interpretation

Job description

Amir Specialty Poultry | Federally Licensed Facility Build-Out

Position

Division

Amir Specialty Poultry (ASP)

Reports To

Maintenance Manager

Location

Arthur, ON — New Facility

Employment Type

Full-Time Permanent

Licence Requirement

Class A or Class B Refrigeration Operating Engineer — Ontario (TSSA approved licence standards) or 313A

Who We Are — Amir Group of Companies

At Amir Group, we are not just in the business of food — we are shaping the future of halal protein in Canada. As one of the nation’s largest and most trusted independent halal meat processors and distributors, we are a Canadian-Muslim-owned company driven by purpose, integrity, and quality.

With a dynamic team of 400+ employees, we serve over 300 clients across nine provinces, processing more than 27 million kilograms of chicken every year — and we’re just getting started. Zabiha halal certified and proudly endorsed by Dr. Imam Hamid Slimi of the Syeda Khadija Centre and Manna Halal Monitoring and Certification Agency, we only produce high-quality halal food that we’d proudly bring home to our own families.

About Amir Specialty Poultry & This Opportunity

Amir Specialty Poultry (ASP) is the Amir Group’s most significant investment in the future of Canadian halal poultry processing. The Arthur, ON facility is a purpose-built, federally licensed plant — targeted for full CFIA federal licensure by 2027 — and represents a permanent, evergreen commitment to our customers and our people.

Refrigeration is the backbone of a poultry processing facility. From the chill rooms and blast freezers to the ammonia systems running throughout the plant, keeping temperatures precise and systems operating reliably is not just an operational priority — it is a food safety and regulatory imperative. As our Refrigeration Technician, you will be a critical member of the ASP maintenance team, reporting directly to the Maintenance Manager and playing an essential role in both the facility build-out and ongoing operations.

This is a hands-on, technically demanding role for a licensed professional who takes pride in their craft. You will be involved from the ground up — commissioning refrigeration systems, establishing operating procedures, and serving as the facility’s on-site subject matter expert for all things refrigeration. If you want a role where your licence and your expertise genuinely matter every day, this is it.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the commissioning and start-up of all refrigeration systems within the ASP facility, including industrial ammonia (NH₃) refrigeration, CO₂ secondary systems, blast freezers, chill rooms, and cold storage areas.
• Review and validate refrigeration system design documentation, P&IDs, and equipment specifications during the build-out phase, identifying and flagging any gaps or concerns prior to commissioning.
• Coordinate with equipment suppliers, contractors, and the Maintenance Manager to ensure all refrigeration installations meet operational, food safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Assist in the development of refrigeration-specific operating procedures, emergency response protocols, and daily log requirements ahead of production start-up.

Operations & Preventive Maintenance

• Operate, monitor, and maintain all refrigeration plant equipment in accordance with Ontario Regulation 219/01 (Operating Engineers) and all applicable provincial codes and standards.
• Execute a preventive maintenance program for all refrigeration assets, including compressors, condensers, evaporators, cooling towers, pressure vessels, and associated controls and instrumentation.
• Monitor system performance data and temperatures continuously, taking prompt corrective action when parameters fall outside of established operating ranges.
• Maintain accurate and complete operating logs, maintenance records, and inspection documentation as required under Ontario regulation and CFIA food safety standards.

Troubleshooting & Corrective Maintenance

• Diagnose and repair mechanical, electrical, and controls-related faults across all refrigeration systems, minimizing downtime and restoring operation as quickly and safely as possible.
• Perform leak detection, refrigerant handling, and system charging in strict compliance with applicable environmental regulations and safe work procedures.
• Escalate complex or high-risk issues to the Maintenance Manager promptly, providing clear technical context and recommended corrective actions.
• Participate in after-hours and on-call coverage as required to support continuous plant operations.

Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure all refrigeration operations maintain product temperatures within CFIA and HACCP-mandated requirements, working closely with the FSQA team to support food safety objectives.
• Adhere to all facility GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) and sanitation standards when working in production and processing areas, including appropriate PPE, hygiene protocols, and tool control procedures.
• Support internal and external audits by maintaining organized, up-to-date refrigeration operating records and making documentation readily available upon request.
• Identify and report any refrigeration-related conditions that could pose a risk to product safety, employee safety, or regulatory compliance.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work alongside the Maintenance Manager, Licensed Millwright, and Licensed Electrician as an integrated maintenance team, supporting cross-trade collaboration on complex repairs and commissioning activities.
• Liaise with the Production Manager and FSQA team to communicate planned and unplanned refrigeration outages, providing estimated restoration timelines and interim risk controls.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of the facility’s maintenance and reliability program by identifying recurring issues and recommending system or procedural enhancements.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Maintenance Manager.

Core Qualifications

• Valid Class A or Class B Refrigeration Operating Engineer licence issued under Ontario Regulation 219/01 is required. Candidates holding a Class A licence will be given greater consideration (TSSA approved licence)
• 3+ years of hands-on experience operating and maintaining industrial refrigeration systems, preferably in a food, beverage, cold storage, or related manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience with industrial ammonia (NH₃) refrigeration systems; experience with CO₂ or other secondary refrigerants is a significant asset.
• Working knowledge of refrigeration system components including reciprocating, screw, and centrifugal compressors; evaporative condensers; pressure vessels; and associated instrumentation and controls.
• Familiarity with Ontario Regulation 219/01 (Operating Engineers), Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) requirements, and applicable pressure vessel and refrigerant handling regulations.
• Experience in a federally inspected (CFIA) food or poultry processing facility is a strong asset.
• Working knowledge of GMP, HACCP, and food safety requirements as they relate to refrigeration and temperature control in a production environment.
• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, wiring diagrams, equipment manuals, and technical drawings.
• Strong commitment to safe work practices, with experience working under Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) and confined space entry procedures.
• Excellent attention to detail, with the discipline to maintain thorough and accurate operating logs and maintenance records.

The Fit — What Sets You Apart

• Technically Exceptional: Your licence is not just a credential — it reflects genuine mastery of industrial refrigeration systems. You know these systems deeply and can troubleshoot them under pressure.
• Food Safety Aware: You understand that in a federally licensed poultry plant, temperature control is not just a mechanical issue — it is a food safety and regulatory matter. You operate with that awareness every shift.
• Ground-Floor Ready: You are excited by the opportunity to commission systems from scratch, establish operating norms, and be part of something being built for the first time.
• Safety Driven: You do not cut corners around ammonia systems, pressure vessels, or confined spaces. You lead by example on safe work practices and hold that standard for everyone around you.
• Reliable & Self-Directed: Refrigeration does not keep business hours. You are dependable, take ownership of your equipment, and bring a proactive mindset to every shift.
• Team Player: You work well within a multi-trade maintenance team and communicate clearly with production, food safety, and management when systems need attention.
• Detail Oriented: Your logs are complete, your records are accurate, and your documentation would pass an audit on any given day.

What We Offer

• Competitive base salary commensurate with licence class, experience, and the scope of this role.
• Comprehensive benefits package including extended health, dental, vision, and life insurance.
• Paid vacation and sick leave.
• The opportunity to commission and operate a brand-new refrigeration plant within a purpose-built federally licensed facility — a rare experience for any refrigeration professional.

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals, including those with disabilities and members of visible minorities. Accommodations are available upon request throughout the recruitment process.

We do not use AI during the interview process. Only those candidates whose skills align to the role will be contacted.

Role is open to Ontario, Canada residents only.