About the Company

Our client is a legal, publicly traded, licensed producer of cannabis, recognized for its portfolio of top-selling cannabis brands and its growing international presence.

Position Overview

The Quality Assurance Manager – International will lead in managing international communications related to quality systems and procedures, utilizing Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP), Good Production Practices (GPP), and having superior knowledge of compliance requirements set by Health Canada. The Quality Assurance Manager will ensure quality, efficacy, and safety of product and systems. They will always follow and advise on company Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and requirements set forth by Health Canada and other relevant regulatory bodies. Working under the direction of the Senior Director, Quality & Compliance, the Quality Assurance Manager will perform all assigned tasks, provide a conduit between international customers and the Quality team, and work as a cooperative member of the facility and cross-departmental leadership team.

Position Details

·      Full-time, permanent position

·      Predominantly onsite, with some flexibility for a hybrid schedule

·      Competitive salary, commensurate with experience

·      New vacancy

Key Responsibilities

·      Participate in the development, approval, implementation, and review of standard operating procedures, work instructions, references, and records

·      Ensure that all production processes, quality assurance, and quality control activities are carried out as per approved standard operating procedures to provide top-quality cannabis products, including evaluation of associated records

·      Reject or release products and provide certification that each production batch satisfies the requirements of the Cannabis Regulations, GPP, GACP, and GMP

·      Mentor and ensure that on-site Quality Assurance team members are able to perform the QA Manager – International role in case of absence

·      Oversee quality events, ensuring corrective and preventative actions, deviations, and complaints are captured in the QMS, investigated, implemented, and documented appropriately

·      Ensure immediate investigation and review of any concerns regarding contamination of product, and report and issue corrective actions

·      Ensure investigation and review of any international client concerns (adverse effects/events, retrievals, or recalls), determination of root cause, defining and implementing the corrective action, and capturing reporting requirements

·      Work with the QA team to provide annual, quarterly, monthly, and as-requested reports from document control and inventory systems as required by regulations

·      Utilize approved quality programs and systems, including GMP, GACP, GPP, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), and FMEA Risk Assessments

·      Approve international specifications, compliance documents, dossiers, and other quality procedures

·      Support regular collaboration with operations personnel to ensure timely provision of release documents

·      Perform quality compliance audits as required for regulatory bodies and clients, with a focus on international clients, and advise on system improvements and CAPA planning, including audits of cannabis plants, processed cannabis, waste inventory, packaging and labelling, records management, qualifications and validations, stability program, and supplier management

·      Oversee the supplier management program, ensuring critical suppliers are reviewed, approved, and monitored

·      Approve Quality Agreements with critical suppliers, focused on cannabis suppliers

·      Manage Annual Product Quality Reviews and ensure timely communication and escalation of quality issues to appropriate levels of management

·      Maintain oversight and authority over the stability program, including review and approval of stability protocols and reports

·      Collaborate with the GxP Auditor on supplier onboarding needs and process flows

Other Duties

·      Employ professional and clear communication practices to maintain a positive and progressive team atmosphere across all departments

·      Document and track information using advanced computer software systems

·      Attend and share in employee meetings; participate in performance reviews

·      Work with little supervision and maintain a high level of performance

·      Comply with all HR policies, including confidentiality and non-disclosure

·      Carry out other duties as assigned by the Senior Director, Quality & Compliance

Requirements

·      Always adhere to company Standard Operating Procedures to achieve quality, efficacy, and safety in all quality assurance protocols and operations

·      Ensure all applicable international, federal, provincial, and municipal regulations for compliance are implemented and followed during all operations, from delivery of goods through to shipment of finished product to clients

·      Know and follow the Cannabis Act and its regulations, and advise and train QA team members on updates when necessary

·      Personal Protective Equipment must be worn; gowning and area procedures must be followed as per applicable SOPs for Personal Protective Equipment and for Employee Health, Hygiene, and Dress Code

Qualifications

·      Post-secondary education in Chemistry, Biology, Pharmacy, or a related field

·      5+ years of experience in a senior Quality Assurance role or relevant field

·      GMP and/or pharmaceutical manufacturing experience and training

·      Strong knowledge of international regulatory frameworks

·      Previous work experience with a Licensed Producer (LP) considered an asset

·      Strong IT knowledge and skills, including extensive use of Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Excel, Word)

·      Experience in validation and qualification reporting

·      Demonstrated proficiency in the English language

Physical Demands

These physical demands are characteristic of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully and safely perform the duties of the job. While performing the responsibilities of the role, the employee is required to:

·      On occasion, lift weight up to 25 kg and push and pull carts

·      Use hands and fingers; manual dexterity is required

·      Stand for long periods of time, balance, walk, reach with arms and hands, bend or twist, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or squat as needed

·      Meet the vision requirements of the role, including acute vision

Working Conditions

While carrying out the responsibilities of the role, the following work environment characteristics are typical of the setting the employee will encounter:

·      The noise level in the work environment is generally moderate to loud, increasing when equipment is engaged

·      Personal Protective Equipment must be worn as required

·      The role involves intense lighting, strong odours, and humid temperatures

·      The role includes potential exposure to pollen, mould, mildew, insects, plant debris, and chemicals

·      Regular hours apply; however, evening and weekend work may be required, sometimes at short notice, particularly during periods of high operational need

Core Competencies

·      Displays creativity and sound judgement in a changing environment; adjusts to competing demands and shifting priorities; focused and adaptable; able to prioritize and balance multiple projects simultaneously

·      Understands how to interpret and effectively use the company's internal plant tracking and inventory management systems, including logging harvest yield weights, waste destruction, and rootball counts, and monitoring product processing

·      Strong knowledge of Quality Assurance programs, with the ability to communicate effectively with diverse teams across the organization's facilities to ensure Good Production Practices and SOP adherence

This job description is intended to express the information essential to understanding the scope of the position and is not intended to be a complete list of the skills, abilities, duties, responsibilities, or working conditions associated with the role. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job described.

Our client will provide mandatory and/or specific training to personnel holding positions that require such training or certification in order to be compliant and successful in their roles (e.g., GMP, JHSC, WHMIS, HACCP, First Aid, Pesticide/Insecticide).

White Ash Group and the companies it represents are Equal Employment Opportunity employers that value the strength of diversity within the workplace. All qualified applicants, regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, nationality, age, disability or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law, are strongly encouraged to apply.

This search is being conducted by White Ash Group. Please direct all inquiries to your White Ash contact.