Regional Quality Assurance Specialist

Cooke Aquaculture Inc.; Blacks Harbour; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

RRSP matching

Wellness programs

Career development

Employee discounts

Job summary

Cooke Aquaculture Inc. invites a highly motivated QA professional to join the team at Blacks Harbour, NB. The role focuses on regulatory requirements, GFSI standards, labeling accuracy, and documentation across materials, packaging, and finished products.

You will collaborate with QA, Operations, Production, Sanitation, and suppliers to ensure food safety and traceability. A strong background in seafood or food manufacturing, plus HACCP/GMP knowledge, is essential for success in this busy,

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in Food Science, Food Safety, Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, Biology, Nutrition, Fisheries, Aquaculture, or related discipline; equivalent considered.
• A regulatory affairs certificate or equivalent training in food regulatory affairs.
• Experience in food quality assurance, food safety, seafood processing, aquaculture, regulatory affairs, product specifications, labeling, or packaging approval.
• Knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, traceability, sanitation, corrective actions, complaint investigation, root-cause analysis, and GFSI standards such as BRCGS or SQF.
• Knowledge of Canadian and U.S. food regulations including CFIA/SFCR, FDA seafood HACCP, labeling, allergen declarations, nutrition labeling, and packaging requirements.
• Strong organizational, analytical, technical-writing, communication, and project-management skills.
• Proficiency with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and electronic document-control or ERP systems.

Responsibilities

• Maintain raw material, packaging-material, finished-product, and customer-specific specifications and technical documentation.
• Review and approve packaging artwork, labels, cartons, and packaging before printing or market release.
• Verify identity, declarations, nutrition facts, bilingual labeling, storage instructions, date coding, lot coding, barcodes, and traceability.
• Maintain records of specifications, label approvals, supplier declarations, and controls.
• Investigate customer complaints, product defects, packaging and labeling issues, and food-safety deviations.
• Lead or support root-cause analysis using 5 Why, Fishbone, Pareto, and trend reviews.
• Prepare KPI scorecards, trend analyses, risk assessments, complaint summaries, corrective actions, and technical reports.
• Provide training to QA and operations teams on specs, packaging, labeling, food safety, and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Food safety knowledge

Regulatory affairs

Quality assurance

Root-cause analysis

Documentation

Project management

Communication

Travel readiness

Education

Post-secondary in Food Science/related

Regulatory Affairs Certificate

Tools

ERP systems

MS Office

Job description

True North Salmon , a division of Cooke Aquaculture Inc., a dynamic and growing east coast family company, with Platinum Member status in the Canada’s Best Managed Companies Program has an opportunity for a highly motivated individual to join the Company’s Quality Assurance Team based out of our facility located in Blacks Harbour, NB.

Cooke is a global seafood company with operations in North America, Europe, South America and Australia. Our company’s success is driven by our dynamic, highly-skilled and innovative management team, supported by dedicated employees who live in coastal communities and contribute to the local area’s economy and sense of community.

The Role

The successful candidate will be a practical quality professional with strong knowledge of seafood or food manufacturing, Canadian and U.S. regulatory requirements, and GFSI-based food-safety systems. This position works closely with QA, Operations, Production, Sanitation, Procurement, Sales, Marketing, Product Development, Logistics, suppliers, customers, and third-party auditors. This position is based out of Blacks Harbour, NB.

Specific responsibilities for this position will include but are not limited to:

• Maintain raw material, packaging-material, finished-product, and customer-specific product specifications and technical documentation.
• Review and approve packaging artwork, labels, cartons, retail and food-service packaging, product claims, and customer-specific packaging before printing, purchasing, production, or market release.
• Verify product identity, species declarations, ingredient statements, allergen declarations, Nutrition Facts information, net contents, bilingual Canadian labeling, U.S. labeling, storage instructions, date coding, lot coding, barcodes, and traceability information.
• Maintain controlled records of specifications, label and packaging approvals, supplier declarations, food-contact documentation, customer documents, and obsolete-material controls.
• Investigate customer complaints, product defects, packaging and labeling issues, food-safety deviations, and non-conformation documentation.
• Lead or support root-cause analysis using 5 Why Analysis, Fishbone Diagrams, Pareto analysis, trend reviews, and other structured problem-solving tools.
• Prepare KPI scorecards, trend analyses, risk assessments, complaint summaries, corrective-action reports, and technical reports for QA and operational leadership.
• Provide technical support and training to QA and operational teams on specifications, packaging, labeling, food safety, regulatory requirements, inspection standards, and documentation practices.

A successful candidate will possess the following qualifications:

• Post-secondary education in Food Science, Food Safety, Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, Biology, Nutrition, Fisheries, Aquaculture, or a related discipline; an equivalent combination of education, experience, and training will be considered.
• A recognized Regulatory Affairs Certificate, food-labeling certificate, or equivalent formal training in food regulatory affairs.
• Experience in food quality assurance, food safety, seafood processing, aquaculture, regulatory affairs, product specifications, labeling, or packaging approval.
• Working knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, traceability, sanitation, corrective actions, complaint investigation, root-cause analysis, food-safety audits, and GFSI-recognized standards such as BRCGS or SQF.
• Knowledge of Canadian and U.S. food regulations, including CFIA/SFCR requirements, FDA seafood HACCP, food labeling, allergen declarations, nutrition labeling, and packaging requirements.
• Strong organizational, analytical, technical-writing, communication, and project-management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and electronic document-control, quality-management, specification-management, or ERP systems.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel approximately 20%.

*Cooke offers full-time year round employment, competitive rates and a competitive benefits package which includes health and dental as well as a company matched pension.

Benefits Package

• Health Benefits: Includes coverage for dental, vision, and extended medical care.
• Insurance: Life and disability insurance provided for financial security.
• Support Services: Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Financial Planning: Opportunity for RRSP matching to support your retirement savings.
• Wellness: Wellness programs.
• Career Development: Professional growth opportunities and avenues for advancement.
• Perks: Employee discounts on company products or services.

The Opportunity

The role description is just one part of the story. This is an opportunity to grow, to stretch, to work within the parameters of the role but stretch to your fullest potential. We are a team that counts performance, we reward contribution, and we recognize talent. It is about being at the center of the fastest growing company in Atlantic Canada and knowing you are part of that growth. The ability to bring your passion for learning, desire for growth, and energy for moving your career forward is what we offer.

The Why

Why Cooke? Simple - because we are a company that rewards initiative, resourcefulness, and work ethic. We will champion your growth and provide you with the platform to create your path, your career, and your future.