Alternative Quality Assurance Person (AQAP)

Full-time, Onsite (Relocation offered)

Fredericton, New Brunswick Canada

Our client is a globally respected licensed producer dedicated to producing premium craft flower, with cannabis cultivation facilities across multiple Canadian provinces. 

They are seeking an experienced Alternate Quality Assurance Person (AQAP) to join their team onsite at their Fredericton, NB facility.

Reporting directly to the Quality Assurance Person (QAP) and senior leadership, the AQAP will support the execution and maintenance of the site’s Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring full compliance with the Cannabis Act, GPP/GMP standards, and Health Canada guidelines. 

This role is essential in upholding best practices for documentation, inspections, internal audits, and regulatory reporting. The AQAP will serve as the designated backup to the QAP and will be expected to provide leadership across quality, compliance, and documentation functions.

MUST have previous experience in an AQAP position, an active Health Canada Security Clearance if strongly preferred.

MUST be willing/able to relocate to Fredericton, NB and be onsite, full-time at the facility.

Relocation support will be offered to the right candidate.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Quality Assurance Management (85%)

• Ensures that all cultivation and processing activities are carried out as per Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), at all times.
• Comprehensive understanding of the Cannabis Act and its Regulations, along with provincial regulations related to cannabis. Must understand the regulatory frameworks and will work with other departments to ensure compliance.
• Collaborate with other relevant departments such as operations, sales and marketing to ensure compliance with Health Canada regulations and guidelines.
• Must ensure that all technical documents at site in use are current. All the master documents such as site policy documents and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) must be controlled and secured in accordance with Good Documentation Practices.
• Maintain SOPs and training documentation.
• Review quality agreements with 3rd party customers/external vendors to ensure compliance.
• Responsible for annual audit of SOPs, including where required with Third-Party Partners, such as testing and formulation partners.
• Complete Audit of Suppliers, where applicable
• Responsible for compliance reporting in CTLS and B300s
• Responsible for high-level review of records completed by staff and managers in Elevated Signals.
• Responsible for training of staff and managers for compliance related SOPs.
• Responsible for managing and coordinating quality assurance staff, creating department efficiencies and providing leadership support.
• Responsible for coordinating with maintenance, and sanitation staff to ensure record keeping in order.
• Communicate effectively to all levels of management.
• Managing quality standards, methods and procedures for inspecting, testing and evaluating the precision, accuracy and reliability of company products.
• Responsible for managing compliance of manufacturing and production processes with internal and external safety, quality and regulatory standards/requirements for worldwide distributions.
• Assures compliance to in-house and/or external specifications and standards, such as GMP, GGP, GPP, GDP, etc.
• Designs methods and procedures for inspecting testing and evaluating the precision and accuracy of production processes, production equipment and finished products.
• Performs internal audits, and vendor evaluation audits on a regular basis to determine quality qualifications. Actively participates in external audits such as Health Canada Inspections.
• Responsible for coordinating annual mock recall
• Performs analysis of reports and production data to identify trends and recommend updates or changes to quality standards and procedures when necessary.
• Assists product support areas in gathering and analyzing data.
• Participates in the reviewing of engineering designs to contribute quality requirements and considerations.
• Oversee sample selection and analytical testing for both internal and external CoA purposes.
• Oversee preparation of documents for cannabis transfers along with Assistant QAP and sales team.
• Review and approval of incoming cannabis and non-cannabis products (e.g., nutrients)
• Manage the ATP testing program as conducted by Quality/Production/Sanitation Technicians.
• Work with staff to ensure labelling of sanitation supplies occurs.
• Work with staff to ensure that sanitized rooms/equipment are properly identified.
• Other duties as assigned.

Shipping & Receiving Oversight (15%)

• Release batches that leave the facility
• Ensure shipping/receiving staff have prepared paperwork required to release shipments
• Ensure shipping/receiving staff are intaking and releasing working materials into the facility properly, including but not limited to: quarantine requirements, sanitation requirements, documenting of batch codes, ensuring product is both approved and correct.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Engineering, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in Quality Assurance within the cannabis or pharmaceutical industry.
• In-depth knowledge of GPP, GMP, GDP standards and Health Canada regulations.
• Demonstrated experience supporting or acting in a QAP/AQAP capacity.
• Strong understanding of Quality Management Systems (QMS) and Seed-to-Sale Software (Elevated Signals), SOP development, and internal audit procedures.
• Proficient in regulatory reporting platforms (CTLS, B300) and documentation systems (e.g., Elevated Signals).
• Proven ability to lead and train quality teams in a highly regulated manufacturing or production environment.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
• Must be eligible to obtain or currently hold a valid Health Canada Security Clearance.

🌍 Please Note: At Emerald Lane Recruitment, we truly appreciate every application we receive. Due to the high volume of interest in our roles, our team will carefully review all submissions and contact candidates whose skills and experience align with the requirements of the position. We are committed to ensuring a fair, inclusive, and respectful recruitment process that adheres to global HR best practices. If you don’t hear from us this time, please know that your application will be kept on file for future opportunities that may be a better fit. Thank you for considering a role with us!

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