Quality Control Team Lead

Position Snapshot
Business area: NestléCanada
Job Title: QA Team Lead (18 months contract)
Location: 72 Sterling Road, Toronto, ON M6R 2B6
Onsite

A little bit about us

While Nestlé is known for KitKat®, Gerber®, Nescafe®, and Maggi®, our recipe for success comes down to one thing: our people.

We strive to lead a people-focused culture that empowers employees to bring their authentic selves to work each day. There are 3,400+ members of Nestlé Canada celebrated for taking action using agility, courage, and trust to find solutions that benefit the business or greater good. We’re a team of changemakers, who are curious and challenge the status quo, that take risks that will help drive us forward.

Our focus is not only on nourishing our customers, but also about enriching you. We know that empowerment leads to strong employee engagement, a great work culture, and motivated employees.

What to Expect:

We are looking for a Quality Assurance Team Lead based at our Sterling Road factory, 72 Sterling Road, Toronto, ON M6R 2B6, reporting directly to the Quality Assurance Manager. Serving as the right-hand support to the Quality Assurance Manager, this role partners closely with the Manager on the day-to-day leadership of the QA function and acts as a key point of contact in the Manager’s absence. The Quality Assurance Team Lead ensures that products are released on time and in compliance with internal and external requirements. Responsible for the correct functioning of the laboratory, including personnel safety, equipment capabilities, internal and external quality control. Ensuring compliance to quality programs and providing guidance to direct reports. Responsible for the proper implementation and regular update of the laboratory quality requirements. Perform training of operators and other technicians in performing simple analysis and tests related to their working area (as needed). This position is an existing vacancy.

A day in the life:

• Lead and oversee the daily operations of the Quality Assurance Laboratory, including sensory, microbiological, allergen, and analytical testing activities, while ensuring compliance with quality, food safety, regulatory, and workplace safety requirements.
• Supervise, coach, and develop laboratory team members by providing training, technical guidance, performance feedback, and support to ensure testing methods, laboratory procedures, equipment maintenance, and safety standards are consistently followed.
• Manage allergen control and food safety programs, including policy administration, risk assessments, investigations, training activities, vendor and material evaluations, and the implementation of corrective and preventive actions to protect product integrity and consumer safety.
• Lead traceability and recall readiness activities by coordinating mock recalls, verifying material and product traceability, maintaining supporting documentation, and ensuring compliance with internal and external requirements.
• Maintain and continuously improve quality management systems by managing training records, reviewing procedures and standards, monitoring quality metrics, supporting investigations, and ensuring all quality documentation remains accurate and up to date.
• Plan, coordinate, and support internal and external audits while ensuring compliance with applicable quality, food safety, environmental, and occupational health and safety standards.
• Serve as a key quality resource for the factory by collaborating with cross-functional teams, supporting change management activities, conducting shop floor quality observations, and driving a culture of quality, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Provide backup support for critical Quality Assurance activities, including product release, laboratory testing, food safety programs, quality investigations, and other operational quality functions as required.

Role Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Quality Assurance, or a related scientific discipline.
• 3+ years of experience in Quality Assurance, Food Safety, Quality Control, or Laboratory Operations within a manufacturing environment.
• Previous supervisory or people leadership experience, including coaching, training, and performance management of technical teams is required.
• Strong knowledge