Quality Assurance - Director of Quality Assurance

Quality Assurance - Director of Quality Assurance

Toronto, ON, Canada

Who we are

Since starting with a single family-owned artesian spring in Canada, Flow has grown rapidly. And our commitment to providing naturally alkaline, naturally delicious spring water without the plastic bottle has grown as well. As a Certified B Corporation, Flow meets the highest social and environmental standards. From our 100% recyclable, 68-75% renewable packaging to our minimal use of natural resources, Flow works to provide sustainable hydration and to protect our planet for generations to come.

Director of Quality Assurance

Job Title: Director of Quality and Operational Excellence

Department: Quality Assurance

Line Manager: Senior Vice President, Operations

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

Shift: Day Shift (Monday – Friday). Other days (including weekend) and times as may be required

Salary : CAD $130k to $150k

Job Summary:

The Director of Quality Assurance and Operational Excellence is responsible for providing strategic leadership and operational oversight of Flow’s Quality, Food Safety Management Systems, and Continuous Improvement programs, ensuring compliance with BRC, customer requirements, and all regulatory standards.

The role collaborates closely with Operations, Supply Chain, R&D, Engineering, Procurement, and external partners to ensure consistent quality and seamless execution across the entire production ecosystem including but not limited to maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements, driving Operational Excellence, ensuring aseptic processing integrity, and overseeing Co-Pack/Co-Manufacturing relationships to protect Flow and co-pack brand standards and product safety.

• Quality & Food Safety Leadership
• Lead development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Flow’s Quality Management System (QMS) in alignment with BRCGS, CFIA, FDA, HACCP, SQF, and industry-standard aseptic practices.
• Develop and follow through on strategic KPIs for business quality assessment.
• Promote a culture of Quality through effective training, coaching, and recruitment of the right talents.
• Report and present organizational quality performance to top management for continuous improvement
• Oversee Quality operations and manage functional budget and overhead
• Serve as the primary authority for escalated food safety and quality decisions.

• Oversee plant-wide QA operations and personnel including Quality Managers, Supervisors, Coordinators, and Technicians.
• Ownership of incoming material inspections, COA verification, batch and process information and record review, product disposition decisions, laboratory operations, quality control testing, and finished product release.
• Provide timely resolution to consumer & customer complaints, quality deviations/non-conformances and implement robust Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA).
• Develop and manage internal and external audits plans, always ensuring business’ audit-readiness.
• Drive effective root cause investigations using structured tools (5-Why, Fishbone, DMAIC).
• Maintain all quality documentation including SOPs, policies, validation protocols, and technical standards.

• Provide technical oversight on aseptic filling, sterilization, SIP/CIP, and environmental control programs.
• Validate aseptic equipment, critical control parameters, and sterility assurance systems.
• Support Engineering in equipment commissioning, EPEs, and qualification activities.
• Collaborate with R&D to commercialize new formulations while guaranteeing compliance with aseptic handling requirements.

• Lead supplier qualification and ongoing performance management.
• Conduct supplier audits and risk assessments for raw & packaging materials, and sanitation chemical vendors.
• Manage supplier deviations, corrective actions, and risk mitigation plans.
• Ensure all supplier documentation meets Flow’s quality and food safety standards.

• Serve as the primary quality lead for all Co-Pack and Co-Manufacturing (Co-Man) partners.
• Develop,…