Food Safety Culture and Compliance Specialist Job Brampton area,Ontario Canada,Quality Assurance

Title: Food Safety Culture & Compliance Specialist

Onsite: Brampton

Direct Reports: No

Salary range
: $70,000 -$80,000 base plus benefits

The Food Safety Culture & Compliance Specialist is a key leader responsible for embedding, strengthening, and championing food safety culture across a food manufacturing facility. This role ensures all food safety, regulatory, and customer requirements are consistently met while driving behavioral engagement through a structured Food Safety Culture Mentorship Program.

The Specialist promotes proactive risk awareness, continuous improvement, and cross-functional accountability, ensuring that food safety is understood, valued, and practiced at all levels of the organization.

Core Responsibilities

Food Safety Culture Leadership

Serve as the Food Safety Culture Lead, championing behavioral expectations, positive reinforcement, and coaching.

Facilitate a Food Safety Culture Mentorship Program, supporting mentors and mentees while tracking progress and strengthening leadership behaviors.

Drive plant-wide engagement initiatives including culture campaigns, training, storytelling, and Gemba-style walks.

Analyze data (near misses, audit results, non-conformance trends, behavioral observations) to identify gaps and implement targeted improvements.

Provide monthly KPI reporting and audit readiness updates to leadership.

Promote a “See Something, Say Something” culture with strong accountability and responsiveness.

Facilitate cross-functional learning sessions across Operations, Sanitation, Warehouse, R&D, and Maintenance.

Food Safety Compliance

Ensure compliance with key regulatory and certification standards (e.g., BRCGS, HACCP-based programs, SFCR, FDA, Kosher, Halal, and customer requirements).

Act as the Lead Internal Auditor, managing and executing the internal audit program.

Lead root cause investigations using structured methodologies (e.g., 5-Why, cause & effect, barrier analysis).

Support audit readiness and participate in all external audits and inspections.

Coordinate third-party inspections and certifications as required.

Oversee verification programs, environmental monitoring, and data trending.

Conduct annual vulnerability and risk assessments for raw materials and packaging.

Manage food safety tools and equipment (e.g., metal-detectable items).

Lead monthly food safety meetings and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Training & Learning Program Leadership

Act as the lead administrator of the company’s internal learning platform, ensuring it is current, organized, and aligned with food safety and training priorities.

Maintain and update all Quality, Food Safety, and Regulatory training materials, ensuring accuracy, version control, and compliance.

Develop and deliver engaging training programs across multiple formats (in-person, digital modules, toolbox talks, micro-learning).

Incorporate real-world examples and behavior-based learning principles to strengthen engagement.

Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure training reflects operational realities.

Serve as a role model trainer, simplifying complex concepts for employees at all levels.

Coach leaders through mentorship programs to reinforce accountability and continuous improvement.

Continuously enhance training content and tools to support retention and capability building.

Service & Supplier Management

Verify compliance and performance of external service providers.

Review supplier reports and ensure follow-up on action items.

Lead investigations and corrective actions related to pest control and other service areas.

Manage visitor protocols and ensure food safety compliance for site access.

Additional Responsibilities

Inspect incoming returns or materials and communicate findings.

Support regulatory documentation, new product approvals, and customer requests.

Provide real-time support to Operations to identify and mitigate food safety risks.

Ensure all activities align with product safety, quality, legality, and authenticity standards.

Perform additional duties as required.

Qualifications

Post-secondary education in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

Minimum 5 years of experience in food safety, quality, or regulatory roles within a manufacturing environment.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

High attention to detail, sense of urgency, and professionalism.

Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines.

Flexibility to support business needs as required.

Key Strengths

Thoroughness

High attention to detail in documentation, audits, and reporting.

Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.

Consistent follow-through on deliverables and deadlines.

Execution

Adaptable in fast-paced, changing environments.

Strong problem-solving mindset with a focus on practical solutions.

Ability to make sound, risk-based decisions under pressure.

Collaboration

Works effectively across departments to build a strong food safety culture.

Shares knowledge and supports team…