Quality Assurance Technician

Sargent Farms was founded in 1943 in Milton, Ontario. What began as a small‑scale family farming operation gradually grew into a full‑scale poultry processing business that remains 100% Canadian family‑owned and operated. We are a contributing brand to the larger Sunrise Farms national organization.

Working at Sargent Farms means you are part of a legacy. We produce and process fresh chicken, raised on Ontario family farms, and distributed throughout the province. Our success relies on every team member's commitment to workplace safety, quality of work, and team collaboration. You are part of a tradition of excellence. Every task we do contributes to our mission of delivering fresh, quality, trusted chicken to customers across Ontario.

We take pride in our process.

We are vertically integrated - meaning we own hatcheries to the farms to the processing facilities and final transportation. We offer fresh, delicious poultry products that cater to discerning consumer preferences while ensuring exceptional quality and safety.

We are a contributing brand to the larger Sunrise Farms national organization, with exciting plans for a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility being built in Woodstock, ON. As we build our team for future expansion, we are committed to fostering an environment where collaboration and teamwork thrive. Here, your ideas matter, and your voice is valued. We take pride in showing our care through meaningful actions and support, including leadership development training designed to help you grow and excel.

About the Role

This role is to fill an existing vacancy.

We are seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented QA Technician to join our QA team at our Milton facility. As a QA Technician, you will play a crucial role in ensuring that food safety is never compromised, and our Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are consistently met. Your primary responsibility will be to ensure ongoing compliance with the Food Safety Quality Act, O. Reg. 31/05 Meat Regulations, and other relevant quality and safety standards.

What We Offer:

• Training & Development, we focus on providing training to our team in order to invest in personal development and ensure continued success of the business.
• Steady Monday to Friday dayshift, stable employment
• Continuous Improvement - Part of our approach to continually improve - we look to our employees for ideas and opportunities for innovation and efficiency.
• Employee retail store product purchase discount.
• Celebratory Events & Recognition
• Shifts start from 4:00AM with daily varying daily shift finish times (flexibility is a must).
• 40+ hours per week.
• Overtime paid after 44 hours each week.
• Starting rate of $24.25 per hour plus eligibility for a $1.75/hour attendance bonus.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct routine inspections of the production line, equipment, and facilities to identify any deviations from food safety protocols and regulations.
• Perform regular checks on raw materials, finished products, and packaging materials to ensure compliance with quality standards.
• Execute Quality Assurance and Food Safety processes as one integrated process onto the production floor.
• Monitor and verify adherence to GMPs and SOPs promptly addressing any non-compliance issues.
• Participate in internal audits and external inspections by regulatory bodies, providing accurate documentation and reports.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to investigate and resolve any quality or food safety concerns.
• Assist in the development and implementation of corrective actions and preventative measures to enhance food safety practices.

Requirements:

• Post-secondary education in food science, microbiology, or a related field is preferred.
• Previous experience in a quality assurance role in the food processing industry is an asset. Experience in a meat processing facility is highly desirable.
• Strong knowledge of food safety regulations, including the Food Safety Act, O. Reg. 31/05 Meat regulations, SQF and HACCP principles.
• Familiarity with GMPs, SOPs, and other quality assurance procedures.
• Excellent attention to detail and analytical skills.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.
• Willingness to work in a fast-paced and physically demanding environment.
• Must be available for 4:00am shift start.

Are you highly motivated but lack experience or qualifications?

The QA Manager believes that work ethic, personality, motivation and experience is important as for the education as long as you have had some experience in the food industry and have knowledge of food safety, we are interested in you If you are able to grasp concepts quickly, are highly organized, detail-oriented, and possess strong written and verbal communication, we encourage you to apply. Comprehensive training and development opportunities are available for the right candidate who is ambitious and driven to succeed.

Total Rewards Package: Our Total Rewards package reflects the investment we make in our employees to help them, and their families achieve their well-being goals. Total Rewards at Sargent Farms include a competitive base salary, comprehensive health and wellness benefits, and bonus incentives. In addition, we offer career development opportunities as well as reward and recognition programs.

At Sargent Farms, we are dedicated to creating an inclusive, accessible, equal-opportunity environment that welcomes all individuals from all backgrounds because we know it will make our company a better place to work. Requests for accommodation due to a disability (visible or invisible, temporary or permanent) can be made at any stage of application and employment.

We want to thank all candidates in advance for their interest; only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Due to the volume of applications we receive, we cannot confirm the receipt of individual applications or resumes. Recruitment Agencies: Please refrain from contacting our company directly. We are currently using an internal recruitment team for this search.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: $24.25 per hour

Expected hours: No less than 44 per week

Benefits:

• Company events
• Dental care
• Employee assistance program
• Extended health care
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• Store discount
• Vision care

Work Location: In person