About the role
Vice President, Quality Assurance
Location: North York, ON
Reports to: Senior VP, H&S/QA/Sanitation
About the Company
Join a privately-owned bakery leader with over 40 years of excellence, deeply rooted in a people-first culture that values teamwork, respect and craftsmanship. Our state-of-the-art facilities combine tradition and innovation to produce artisan breads, croissants, bagels, puff pastry and more for domestic and global markets.
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About the Company
The Vice President, Quality Assurance is responsible for setting and executing the enterprise-wide food quality and safety strategy across multiple manufacturing sites. This is a high-impact leadership role within a large-scale commercial bakery environment, requiring strong operational oversight, executive-level influence, and the ability to drive a culture of continuous improvement.
This role will oversee a large, multi-site QA function, leading a team of 35+ professionals, including direct leadership of Director-level reports. The VP will act as the senior authority on all food safety and quality matters, both internally and externally.
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Key Responsibilities
• Develop and execute a comprehensive Quality Assurance and Food Safety strategy aligned with corporate objectives
• Lead, mentor, and scale a high-performing QA organization (35+ team members, including Directors)
• Drive a strong culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement across all operations
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory and certification requirements (CFIA, FDA, HACCP, SQF/BRC/FSSC 22000, GMP, etc.)
• Act as the primary point of contact for all external audits (regulatory, third-party, and customer)
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives within QA using Lean, Six Sigma, and other methodologies
• Oversee QA systems including audits, CAPA, traceability, and crisis management protocols
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, R&D, Engineering, Procurement, and Sales to embed quality standards
• Provide executive-level reporting on quality metrics, risks, and improvement initiatives
• Serve as the technical expert and spokesperson on all food safety and quality matters
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Leadership & Scope
• Lead a team of 35+ QA professionals across multiple sites
• Direct oversight of Director-level leaders
• Significant influence at the executive level, reporting into the SVP
• Ownership of enterprise-wide QA strategy and execution
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Required Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Food Engineering, or related field (advanced degree preferred)
• 20+ years of experience in food manufacturing QA/food safety
• Minimum 10+ years in senior leadership within a large commercial bakery environment (non-negotiable)
• Proven experience managing large, multi-site teams and developing senior leaders
• Strong expertise in laminated dough products and high-volume automated bakery operations
• Deep knowledge of regulatory frameworks (CFIA, FDA, FSMA, HACCP, SQF/BRC/FSSC 22000)
• Demonstrated success driving continuous improvement within QA functions
• Experience leading and passing complex external audits
• Certifications: HACCP, PCQI required (additional certifications are an asset)
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Compliance & Equity Statement
This posting reflects a current employment opportunity. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourage applications from all qualified individuals. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, family status, or any other protected ground under applicable provincial and federal human rights legislation.
In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, accommodations are available upon request for candidates participating in all stages of the recruitment and selection process. Applicants requiring accommodation are encouraged to notify the recruiter so appropriate arrangements can be made.
The salary range listed in this posting represents the expected compensation for this position based on market conditions and internal considerations. Final compensation will be determined based on the selected candidate’s experience, qualifications, and alignment with the role requirements.
The recruitment process may include interviews, reference checks, and verification of relevant qualifications or experience. All personal information collected during the recruitment process will be handled in accordance with applicable privacy and employment legislation.
Any tools used in the recruitment process are applied in a fair and non-discriminatory manner.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in Canada.