Quality Assurance Manager

Quality Assurance Manager – Lucknow District Co-operative Inc. – Ripley, ON

Company: Lucknow District Co-operative Inc.

City: Ripley

State: ON

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Quality Assurance (QA) Manager – Dairy Manufacturing (Full-Time)

Location: Ripley, Ontario
Company: Pine River Cheese & Butter Co-operative, part of Lucknow District Co-Operative

About Us

Pine River Cheese is a proudly Ontario-based cheese manufacturer with over a century of experience crafting high-quality dairy products. We produce a range of cheeses including cheddar, mozzarella, paneer, and cottage cheese for retail and foodservice customers across Canada.

We are seeking a Quality Assurance (QA) Manager to lead our food safety and quality programs, ensuring our products meet the highest standards of safety, compliance, and excellence from farm to table.

Key Responsibilities

- Oversee and manage all aspects of food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance in the cheese manufacturing process.

- Monitor product quality from milk receiving, processing, packaging, and storage to final shipment.

- Ensure compliance with CFIA, SQF, Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO), and Canada Organic standards.

- Develop, implement, and maintain the HACCP plan, food safety programs, and SOPs.

- Conduct regular plant inspections, GMP audits, microbiological testing, and environmental monitoring.

- Investigate and resolve non‑conformances, customer complaints, and product deviations.

- Train and supervise production staff on quality standards, hygiene, and documentation practices.

- Maintain accurate records for audits and certification renewals (SQF, CFIA, Halal, Organic, etc.).

- Collaborate closely with production, maintenance, and sanitation teams to ensure product integrity.

- Lead and support continuous improvement initiatives to enhance quality and efficiency.

Qualifications & Experience

- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Dairy Technology, Microbiology, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

- Minimum 3–5 years of QA experience in dairy or food manufacturing, with a strong understanding of cheese production processes.

- In-depth knowledge of Canadian food safety regulations (CFIA, DFO, Health Canada, SQF).

- Proven experience managing HACCP, GMP, and SQF programs.

- Strong attention to detail, analytical thinking, and problem‑solving skills.

- Excellent communication and leadership skills to guide production and QA staff.

- Ability to work hands‑on in a plant environment and make data‑driven decisions.

Assets (Preferred but Not Required)

- Familiarity with laboratory testing and microbiological analysis for dairy products.

- Certification in HACCP, SQF Practitioner, or Internal Auditing.

What We Offer

- Competitive compensation package based on experience.

- Opportunity to work with a long‑standing Canadian dairy brand.

- Supportive and collaborative team culture focused on product excellence and innovation.

We are an equal opportunity/Disabled/Protected Veteran Employer. All individuals, regardless of demographic or other background, are encouraged to apply. Further, as a federal, state, and local contractor, we comply with government regulations and executive orders as applicable, including affirmative action responsibilities for qualified individuals with disability and protected veterans.

Employment is contingent on, among other things, receipt of an acceptable and job‑related background check, drug test, motor vehicle report, and/or reference check, as applicable and permissible by law.

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SECURING YOUR FUTURE, ONE BENEFIT AT A TIME.

Our benefits packages are designed to support every aspect of our employees’ well‑being—from health plans to life insurance, robust retirement plans, and more. We provide benefits that meet their needs today while also ensuring a secure future.

Offerings may include, but are not limited to:

CANADA:

- RRSP

- Life Insurance

- Disability

*Benefit eligibility may be dependent on employment type

Job Segment: QA, Quality Assurance, Food Safety, Microbiology, Quality, Technology, Customer Service, Science

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