Quality Assurance Team Lead

Quality Assurance Lead

Position Description

Oberland Agriscience Inc. is a sustainable black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) farm in Halifax, NS. We are dedicated to closing the food loop in our region and making a positive contribution to our planet. Oberland’s high performing team rears BSFL in our zero-waste facility, delivering exceptional productivity per hectare and yielding nutrient rich, low environmental impact products. Partnering with local food producers and distributors, Oberland upcycles organic by-products such as spent grains from your favourite craft brewery to grow BSFL on an industrial scale. Oberland actively plays a role in a more sustainable circular economy in Atlantic Canada. Oberland generates high quality sustainable protein products from larvae, marketed and sold under the Obie’s BSFL brand, and an insect derived fertilizer product for home gardens and agricultural lands.

We are in the process of building a new, 100,000 square-foot production facility here in Halifax, and are seeking a committed and engaged Director of Sales to create and deliver a B2B positioning and sales strategy for Oberland and Obie’s BSFL various products and create prosperous relationships with key revenue and research partners to drive Oberland's financial success.

The QA Lead supports the creation of and leads the delivery of Oberland’s Quality Management System (QMS) and processes to ensure an optimally safe environment and seamless production of our products.

This role is supported by the Director of Health, Safety and Quality

**The primary responsibilities of this role are**:
**Strategy - 10%**
- Support Director of Health, Safety and Quality in creating QA strategy
- Work with operations lead to determine schedules and best practices.

**Revenue 60%**
- **Oversee day-to-day QA functions in the organization**
- **Maintain QMS procedures and protocols for product production and packaging, support continuous improvement of the QMS**
- **Support PDCA cycle aligned to the Non-Conformance System**
- **Oversee and conduct regular inspections of processes**
- **Work with regulatory agency inspectors and third-party auditors as needed**
- **Oversee the testing of products to verify their quality and safety**
- **Support the maintenance of lab facility according to CFIA standards**
- **Coordinate and maintain detailed records of QA activities, including test results and completeness of operational KPIs.**
- **Collaborate with the procurement team to ensure the quality and safety of raw materials and ingredients used in production and product testing.**
- **Support supplier quality programs and audits**

**Human Dynamics 30%**
- Ensure QA team members are aligned and offer mentorship as needed.
- Participate in creating new positions for QA team as needed.
- Support the hiring of new QA team members.
- Embody and model Oberland’s Purpose, Visions and Cultural Commitments in all activities

To be a great person for this role you have:

- Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science or related field
- 5+ years experience in QA role(s)
- Experience leading QA teams
- Experience conducting internal audits and participating in third-party audits.
- Solid knowledge of HACCP plans and PCP
- Excellent attention to detail, problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities
- Innovative approach to addressing problems and iterating processes
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Deep understanding of SFC regulations, GMP and GLP.

This is a full time, permanent position based out of our facility in the Ragged Lake business park in Halifax, with flexibility for some work from home. We offer several benefits including competitive salary, employee stock options, comprehensive health plan, company sponsored experience day and an inclusive culture of innovation in which we create products that contribute to solving the world’s climate crisis.

**Salary**: From $50,000.00 per year

**Benefits**:

- Dental care
- Employee assistance program
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision care

Schedule:

- Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

- Halifax, NS B3S 1S4: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

**Education**:

- Bachelor's Degree (preferred)

**Experience**:

- quality assurance: 5 years (required)

Work Location: In person