Position Summary:

The Quality Assurance Team Lead primarily supports the management and maintenance of the assigned distribution center(s) food safety and quality systems and other compliance programs. This role involves, from a QA perspective, overseeing supply chain activities from inbound freight receipt to inventory management and restaurant delivery, ensuring stringent adherence to quality standards and business processes. The Team Lead will collaborate closely with local management to drive quality assurance initiatives and continuous improvement, support environmental compliance as needed, and manage a Safety & Compliance Coordinator who is responsible for safety, compliance, and environmental activities at another facility.

Position Responsibilities may include, but not limited to:

• Ensure that operations at multiple locations comply with and keep up to date on governmental regulations, including the Safe Foods for Canadians Act, HACCP programs, GFSI requirements, and maintain high standards of food and people safety and quality
• Lead their team (the Safety & Compliance Coordinator) to complete similar tasks as well as their Health & Safety tasks at the coordinators local facility. Balancing demand as required
• Track and manage complaints from local restaurants and distribution centers – addressing food safety and quality issues in collaboration with suppliers and the McDonald's quality system
• Support non-conforming product management, including documentation and resolution processes
• Execute stock recovery efforts, coordinating necessary resources and reconciling affected product quantities
• Facilitate internal and external audits for distribution centers, ensuring findings are documented and addressed promptly by local leadership
• Complete third-party distributor audits when required.
• Complete corrective actions following quality audits, ensuring adherence to certified SFCR and GFSI quality systems
• Develop, implement, and deliver training programs on Food Safety and Quality Management Systems for employees.
• Train new Quality Team members, participate in QA program SOP/Policy development (for the QA Team), provide support and assistance where multidisciplinary QA Team members require.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to support revisions to business processes and workflows that enhance quality performance metrics
• Utilize data and analytics to identify quality issues and provide recommendations for improvements
• Main point of contact for ISO 14001. Developing the program and leading training on environmental awareness, ensuring staff are informed and engaged in sustainability efforts
• Promote the Quality Culture with a presence in the Warehouse, Food Safety and Quality Week (in October), etc.
• Chair Leadership and Team meetings where required (e.g., semi-annual HACCP Team, etc.)
• Participate in meetings by providing updates and information (e.g., green room, biweekly HS meetings, biweekly QA meetings, etc.).
• Identify and execute continuous improvement and areas of opportunity initiatives
• Provide guidance and support during crisis situations. Make decisions regarding food safety and quality.
• Ensure document control and record review
• Work with Suppliers on non-conformances. Provide Supplier feedback to ensure compliance.
• Support all Canadian DC Quality programs as required: hot loads, seal issues, micro holds, etc.
• Ensure the operations follow all Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR), Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and Good Warehouse Practices (GWP)/Good Drivers Practices (GDP) for transport rules and regulations.
• Other projects or duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree with 4+ years of Quality Assurance, and/or Health & Safety program experience
• Experience with Coruson or Notify would be an asset
• Experience leading and developing individual contributors
• Ability to convey messages and training to all levels of an organization
• Take national programs and apply locally (adjusting to the location or maintaining national messaging)
• Strong presentation skills to large groups
• This role is required to work in a warehouse environment
• This role will be required to travel 10% of the year
• This position must pass a post-offer background

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Experience in a logistics environment serving a QSR
• Experience with Safe Foods regulations and best practices
• Familiarity with safety regulations in the province they operate from