Reports to: VP of Quality

Team Size: 6 Direct Reports

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly competent and business-minded Director of Quality to lead their Quality Department through its next phase of growth. The incoming Director will assume full ownership of day-to-day quality operations, ensuring the QA team is supported, effective, and aligned with the business.

This role requires a leader who thrives in strict, highly regulated environments—ideally pharmaceutical and or cannabis—and who understands how to maintain full compliance and does not create operational bottlenecks. You will be the key decision-maker for the department and the go-to person for resolving non-routine issues.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of six quality professionals.
• Serve as the department’s primary point of contact for support, coaching, and escalation needs.
• Build capability within the team, particularly in handling non-standard or atypical situations.

Quality Operations Management

• Oversee all day-to-day operations within the Quality Department.
• Support quality technicians, QA manager, and cross-functional stakeholders on activity approvals, room sign-offs, and lab support.
• Ensure quality operations run efficiently, accurately, and in line with business needs.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with the Head of Manufacturing and operations teams to maintain compliance while supporting business output.
• Work with the team who will serve as the liaison for customer and supplier quality questions.
• Contribute to cross-department discussions involving process optimization, workflow, and quality decisions.

Compliance, SOPs & Continuous Improvement

• Make informed decisions on compliance requirements and identify when flexibility is needed.
• Develop new SOPs and processes as required; adapt existing ones when non-typical situations arise.
• Balance regulatory demands with operational efficiency, ensuring compliance is met without unnecessary cost.

On-Site Leadership

• Be physically present in the Montreal facility at least three days per week to guide the team and support operations.
• Provide hands-on oversight and rapid response to urgent issues.
• Demonstrate commitment by staying overtime when critical matters arise.

Qualifications & Experience

Required

• Experience leading quality teams ideally at the managerial or director level.
• Background in strict, highly regulated industries (pharmaceutical strongly preferred).
• Strong business acumen with the ability to apply compliance in a practical, cost-effective manner.
• Demonstrated ability to independently resolve issues outside established SOPs.
• Ability to manage day-to-day operations while supporting long-term quality strategy.

Preferred

• Experience as a Quality Assurance Manager ready to step up into a Director role.
• Cannabis experience is not required, provided the candidate has worked in rigorous, compliance-heavy environments.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Business-Oriented: Understands compliance boundaries and avoids over-regulation that could impact profitability.
• Flexible Problem-Solver: Confident dealing with atypical or complex situations without relying solely on existing SOPs.
• Strong Leader: Capable of guiding a team, developing individuals, and becoming their go-to resource.
• Hands-On & Committed: Willing to put in extra effort, especially when urgent matters arise.
• Decisive: Able to make sound judgment calls across compliance, operations, and quality systems.
• Team Builder: Can elevate an already experienced team and address gaps around proactivity and adaptability.

White Ash Group and the companies it represents are Equal Employment Opportunity employers that values 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.