Director, Food Safety

Loblaw Companies Limited•Brampton, ON

1d•$128,000 - $176,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Loblaw Companies Limited is committed to maintaining the highest standards of food safety and quality across its extensive supply chain network. This critical leadership role will be responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing robust food safety programs, ensuring strict regulatory compliance, and driving continuous improvement throughout its supply chain operations. The Director, Food Safety, Supply Chain will be instrumental in safeguarding product integrity, mitigating risks, and upholding the trust customers place in the company. This role reports to the National Senior Director Food Safety & White Label.

Requirements

5+ years of progressive leadership experience in food safety, quality assurance, or related areas, specifically within a complex supply chain, distribution, or manufacturing environment.
Post-secondary degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Public Health Inspection, or a related discipline.
Demonstrated in-depth knowledge and practical application of Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) regulations and guidelines.
Proven expertise in HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) system design, implementation, and management, including GMPs for multi-site operations.
Proven background in implementing and managing GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) systems.
Strong understanding of Canadian federal and provincial regulatory requirements concerning food production, labelling, storage, and distribution.
Strong leadership skills with the ability to effectively drive improvements, build capability, mentor teams, and ensure alignment with strategic priorities across multiple sites.
Excellent analytical abilities, capable of designing advanced data frameworks and making clear, logical, and data-driven recommendations.
Experience with statistical analysis and continuous improvement methodologies.
Exceptional interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to liaise effectively with internal stakeholders, senior leadership, and regulatory bodies (e.g., CFIA).
A self-starter with the ability to work independently, demonstrate strong ownership, integrity, and reliability.
Willingness to work flexible hours and travel frequently within Canada, as required, to support Distribution Centers and other supply chain operations.

Nice To Haves

Achievement of acceptable food safety audit results across all Distribution Centers.
Minimization of adverse food safety events or issues reported within the supply chain.
Successful implementation and adherence to food safety protocols and policies across the Distribution Center network.
Development and delivery of clear and effective food safety training for Distribution Center and supply chain teams.
Demonstrated improvements in food safety metrics through continuous improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement long-term strategies to ensure compliance with federal, provincial, and local food safety regulations specifically within the supply chain.
Establish company-wide strategic priorities related to food safety performance metrics for Distribution Centers and the broader supply chain network.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives in alignment with organizational objectives, optimizing food safety processes and controls.
Ensure proactive identification of emerging risks by staying ahead of changes in regulations or industry standards affecting food supply chain operations.
Support the development and implementation of integrated food safety strategies across the supply chain network, ensuring product integrity, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to embed food safety requirements into supply chain design, processes, and operations (warehousing, transportation, etc.).
Provide expert guidance on Canadian regulatory compliance strategies and oversight across the supply chain, with a strong emphasis on CFIA regulations.
Design and develop comprehensive, enterprise-wide regulatory compliance programs and strategies for complex food operations within the supply chain, including multi-category portfolios and novel food handling.
Evaluate the impact of proposed regulatory changes on business operations and formulate proactive responses for the supply chain.
Provide expert interpretation of ambiguous regulatory text, justify strategic decisions regarding regulatory risks, and advise on responses to complex regulatory challenges or major enforcement events.
Act as a key liaison with government inspectors, particularly the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), to address food safety issues and ensure compliance at the Distribution Center level.
Oversee the design and development of robust HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) systems for complex or multi-site Distribution Center operations over a diverse range of products.
Evaluate the effectiveness of existing third-party food safety audit programs for Distribution Centers and the supply chain against current standards, evolving regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.
Make program enhancements for continuous improvements and formulate innovative strategies for leveraging audit data for continuous improvement, predictive analytics, and risk prioritization across the supply chain network.
Contribute to the evaluation and adoption of emerging technologies (e.g., traceability systems, automation) and industry best practices to strengthen food safety controls in warehousing and transportation.
Provide appropriate advice to assist with risk assessment, control measures, and any actions to take to manage risks to human and/or animal health, including product withdrawal and recall.
Analyze complex recall scenarios, including those involving multiple products, distribution channels, or international jurisdictions, to differentiate critical paths and potential challenges.
Design and coordinate comprehensive recall execution plans, evaluate the effectiveness of the recall process, and solve complex logistical or communication issues that arise during an actual or mock recall.
Support initiatives that reduce contamination risks and ensure timely response to food safety incidents within the supply chain.
Evaluate the effectiveness of pest control programs across Distribution Center locations by reviewing monitoring trends, facility conditions, and program implementation.
Identify systemic gaps or recurring risks and recommend improvements.
Demonstrate expert understanding of facility and equipment sanitation systems and monitoring programs.
Evaluate the effectiveness of sanitation controls and verification activities, understanding validation approaches for different sanitation systems (e.g., CIP, COP, allergen cleaning).
Design and develop advanced data analysis frameworks; evaluate the effectiveness of existing data collection, analysis, and reporting systems for food safety trends within the supply chain.
Formulate strategies for integrating insights (e.g., strategize possible platforms to support documentation of the HACCP program with required document tracking).
Provide strategic oversight of learning and development initiatives across food safety and supply chain teams.
Evaluate the impact and ROI of training programs on organizational performance and compliance.
Develop innovative approaches to training delivery and mentor others in designing and implementing effective learning strategies for food safety within the Distribution Centers.