Food Safety Compliance Specialist

About Great Lakes Greenhouses:

Family owned and operated for 40 years. We are a family owned and operated 118-acre conventional cucumber, mini cucumber, Organic TOV, Organic Pepper, Organic beef, Organic Cherry, and Organic Mini Eggplant farm.

Based in Leamington, Ontario, Great Lakes Greenhouses ) was founded in 1983 at which time it consisted of 2.5 acres of greenhouses, under glass. We specialize in long English seedless cucumbers, not only making us the largest single-site cucumber grower and packer in North America, but globally as well.

Our mandate is to produce the healthiest safest food. At Great Lakes Greenhouses we pride ourselves on maintaining quality and excellence in everything we do.

Food Safety Compliance Specialist – Greenhouse Vegetable Production

Primary Function

The Food Safety Compliance Specialist supports our greenhouse operations team by ensuring full compliance with our Safe Quality Food (SQF) Program and all applicable food safety regulations. This position is responsible for maintaining and improving the Food Safety and Quality System (FSS) across greenhouse growing, harvesting, and packing operations. The specialist provides guidance, training, and oversight of food safety practices, ensuring adherence to company policies, regulatory requirements, and third-party certification standards. This role also leads all external food safety and regulatory audits and acts as the primary contact for food safety matters on site.

Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee, maintain, and continuously improve the Safe Quality Food (SQF) Program and overall Food Safety & Quality System (FSS).
• Serve as the designated SQF Practitioner and Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) for the greenhouse facility.
• Monitor and verify compliance with Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), and Organic Certification requirements throughout greenhouse and packing operations.
• Conduct routine internal audits of the food safety system, facility sanitation, pest control, and employee hygiene practices.
• Track and analyze food safety and quality data to identify trends and opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Lead and coordinate corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) for non-conformances or food safety incidents; ensure timely resolution and documentation.
• Maintain accurate records, forms, and databases for all food safety programs, including sanitation logs, traceability records, and training documentation.
• Act as the lead contact during all third-party, customer, and government audits, always ensuring readiness and compliance.
• Support and train greenhouse and harvest staff on proper food safety procedures, personal hygiene, and contamination prevention.
• Ensure compliance with all CFIA, USDA, FDA, and GFSI standards, as well as other applicable local and federal food safety regulations.
• Stay current with changing food safety and occupational health regulations, updating internal programs and training materials as required.
• Support ethical and sustainability audit preparation and participation per customer and certification standards.
• Serve as the emergency contact for the facility regarding food safety issues and ensure that any concerns are addressed promptly and effectively.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Education and Background Requirements

• Post-secondary degree or diploma in Food Science, Biological Sciences, Agriculture, Environmental Health, or a related field (preferred).
• Minimum 3 years of experience in Food Safety, Quality Assurance, or Compliance within a produce, greenhouse, or food processing environment.
• Proven experience with SQF systems, HACCP, and FSMA implementation.
• Spanish language skills are an asset but not required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• In-depth understanding of produce handling, greenhouse production, and post-harvest food safety risks.
• Current certifications in HACCP, PCQI, and Implementing SQF Systems (required).
• Experience conducting traceability exercises and mock recalls.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills across all levels of the organization and with external auditors, customers, and regulatory bodies.
• Proficiency in data management systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong focus on continuous improvement, quality assurance, and customer satisfaction.
• Ability to lead teams, train staff, and ensure accountability to food safety standards.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel as needed for audits or training.

Working Conditions

• Exposure to variable temperatures and humidity levels typical of greenhouse and refrigerated environments (45–80°F).
• Regularly requires standing, walking, bending, and may require lifting up to 10 lbs.
• Occasional work in office settings for documentation, training, and reporting.
• Must have manual dexterity to perform computer-based tasks and complete recordkeeping accurately.

Thank you to all candidates for applying. Please note that only qualifying applicants will be contacted.

Great Lakes Greenhouses welcomes and encourages applications with disabilities to apply. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. If you require a specific accommodation due to a disability or documented medical need, please contact the Human Resource Department so that arrangements can be made for the appropriate accommodation. Great Lakes Greenhouses is achieving a culture and work environment that is supportive of employees with disabilities and promotes dignity, independence, integration, and equal opportunity.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $45,000.00 per year

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Leamington, ON: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Education:

• DCS / DEC (preferred)

Experience:

• Food safety: 3 years (preferred)

Work Location: In person