Automation Team Lead

Join Riverside Natural Foods Ltd., a Canadian-based, family-owned, and globally operating business, committed to leaving the world better than we found it. As a B-Corp certified, Triple-Bottom Line company, we proudly manufacture nutritious, 'better-for-you' snacks such as Made Good and GOOD TO GO. We value teamwork, humility, respect, ownership, adaptability, grit, and fun.

We’re on an ambitious mission to double our business by 2030, and we need talented individuals like you to help us reach new heights. At Riverside, you’ll have the opportunity to chart your own path to success while contributing to ours. We believe anything worth doing is worth doing right, and our values will guide us through the rugged terrain – and yes, it will get rough.

But that’s what makes the journey worthwhile.

So, lace up your boots and let’s tackle the climb together.

You can learn more about us at

The automation team lead will be responsible for strategic planning, decision-making, and supervising the maintenance and troubleshooting of automated systems to ensure their proper operation and availability. This role involves leading and supervising a team of automation technicians and contractors, assigning tasks, overseeing their work, and providing guidance. The Automation Team Lead will participate in process improvements, support the integration of new machines with existing systems, and lead the automation aspects of CI projects.

• Demonstrate and uphold Riverside Natural Food’s Core Values.
• Understand and lead compliance with both Health and Safety and Food Safety practices.
• Unplanned Maintenance
  • Supervise and manage breakdown call for all Riverside Natural Foods facilities, elevate to outside resources if necessary.
  • Ensure team members or contractors work in accordance with established maintenance processes and practices including but not limited to recording work done, recording data for analysis, logging spare parts consumed, cleaning up work area, etc.
• Planned Maintenance
  • Develop and manage instrumentation calibration programme including scale, temperature probe, flow meter calibration, etc. Maintain documentation as per BRC standard
  • Develop and manage preventive maintenance programme for all electrical panels including thermal scanning, programme back up, inspection, etc.
  • Negotiate and update contracts with different service providers ensuring high standard of service at optimum cost.
  • Conduct meeting with site leader to discuss open issues, progress and align on priority and timeline for planned work.
• Project Management
  • Lead and manage automation related projects, ensuring all modifications and updates on all automation-related programs, parameters, drawing and devices are documented properly and that projects are completed on time and within budget.
  • Participate in Root Cause Analysis (RCA) on complicated and/or recurring automation failure modes. This will include reaching out to a 3rd party, performing risk analysis, evaluating potential causes, and assessing data.
  • Assign resources to support CAPEX or CI project as needed including the implementation of the different SCADA initiatives, integration of the new machines to existing control networks and integration with upstream/downstream equipment, support IO testing and commissioning of new machines with focus on the Automation components.
• Leadership
  • Conduct performance review, set team goals and ensure compliance with company policies and procedures.
  • Develop skill matrix and training plan for automation technicians.
  • Provide regular feedback, coaching and mentorship.
  • Lead and manage change initiatives, ensuring buy in from team members and motivation.
  • Foster a positive and collaborative work environment.
• Other…