Quality Assurance Specialist – Fresh

Come make your difference in communities across Canada, where authenticity, trust and making connections is valued – as we shape the future of Canadian retail, together. Our unique position as one of the country's largest employers, coupled with our commitment to positively impact the lives of all Canadians, provides our colleagues a range of opportunities and experiences to help Canadians Live Life Well.

At Loblaw Companies Limited, we succeed through collaboration and commitment and set a high bar for ourselves and those around us. Whether you are just starting your career, re-entering the workforce, or looking for a new job, this is where you belong.

The Quality Assurance Specialist is accountable for ensuring that all inbound and outbound Fresh products (Produce, meat and seafood) meets LCL quality standards at the Distribution level. The Quality Specialist works with various areas (Meat & Seafood/Produce Business Unit, Supply Chain, Distribution and Operations) to aid in the integration and adherence of policies and processes with respect to Quality thereby ensuring compliance to all statutory and company requirements.

What You'll Do:

1. Verify that all inbound product consistently meets our specifications for quality (size, weight, trim, colour etc.) by measurement of key metrics and adherence to sampling and testing programs.
2. Ensure adherence and compliance with established Quality Assurance programs and policies thereby ensuring that all meat / seafood meets the highest standards of quality and food safety.
3. Complete daily/ongoing QA auditing of product (slot checks, inter branch and distribution checks).
4. Investigate and document all quality inspection findings with appropriate forms and systems (rejection reports, slot check, QA reports etc.) on a daily/ongoing basis.
5. Continuous communication with QA Manager/Quality Assurance Team/Category Management Team/Supply Chain/Distribution Operations.
6. Coordinate activities with CFIA with respect to quality issues when directed by Quality Assurance Leaders.
7. Contribute as a key member of the Quality team to strategic decisions and continuous improvement initiatives.
8. Achieve individual and contribute to team Key Performance Indicators & monitoring metrics.
9. Conduct any general duties, specific projects and any other responsibilities as assigned or required in a timely and professional manner.

What You'll Need (Role Requirements):

1. Post-secondary education
2. 2-4 years experience in a Quality Assurance/Operations function preferably within the meat, seafood & Produce industry (Procurement, Retail, Farm, Manufacturing or Distribution).
3. Thorough knowledge of fresh fruits, vegetables, meat & seafood in regard to grades, sizes, colour including knowledge of CFIA/USDA standards is an asset.
4. Computer skills in a Windows environment: Excel, Outlook, Office 365. Knowledge of SAP and Manhattan is an asset.
5. Ability to effectively communicate (verbally and written) inter-departmentally and at various levels throughout the organization.
6. Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast paced, 24/7 refrigerated warehouse environment; inspections are completed in warehouse environment.
7. Self motivated, detail oriented, analytical and organized.
8. Raise the bar regarding company quality assurance standards and exceptions and embrace a continuous improvement philosophy.
9. Requires ability to stand for long periods of time and lift 50lbs on a repetitive basis.
10. Must be able to work night shift, weekends, holidays etc. Shift is subject to change depending on business requirements.

Key Measures (Performance indicators):

1. Contribution to the long term goals of the National Quality Assurance team.
2. Consistent reporting and communication.
3. Improved produce image and customer satisfaction.
4. Cases verified, cases rejected, stale dates.

Our commitment to Sustainability and Social Impact is an essential part of the way we do business, and we focus our attention on areas where we can have the greatest impact. Our approach to sustainability and social impact is based on three pillars – Environment, Sourcing and Community – and we are constantly looking for ways to demonstrate leadership in these important areas. Our CORE Values – Care, Ownership, Respect and Excellence – guide all our decision-making and come to life through our Blue Culture. We offer our colleagues progressive careers, comprehensive training, flexibility, and other competitive benefits – these are some of the many reasons why we are one of Canada’s Top Employers, Canada’s Best Diversity Employers, Canada’s Greenest Employers & Canada’s Top Employers for Young People.

If you are unsure whether your experience matches every requirement above, we encourage you to apply anyway. We are looking for varied perspectives which include diverse experiences that we can add to our team.

We have a long-standing focus on diversity, equity and inclusion because we know it will make our company a better place to work and shop. We are committed to creating accessible environments for our colleagues, candidates and customers. Requests for accommodation due to a disability (which may be visible or invisible, temporary or permanent) can be made at any stage of application and employment. We encourage candidates to make their accommodation needs known so that we can provide equitable opportunities.

Please Note:
Candidates who are 18 years or older are required to complete a criminal background check. Details will be provided through the application process.