Pea Protein Quality Analyst; Temporary

QA and Food Safety leadership team with LDC’s new Pea Protein Isolate Facility in Yorkton, and is responsible for ensuring the quality, safety, and regulatory compliance of products through microbi...

The Quality Analyst (on a temporary 16 month assignment, with potential for extension) will be part of the QA and Food Safety leadership team with LDC’s new Pea Protein Isolate Facility in Yorkton, and is responsible for ensuring the quality, safety, and regulatory compliance of products through microbiological, physical, analytical, and sensory testing. This role includes environmental monitoring, method validation, equipment calibration, and collaboration with R&D to define product specifications.

The Quality Analyst plays a critical role in maintaining food safety standards and ensuring product consistency.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead microbiological testing of finished products, potable water, air samples, and environmental monitoring swabs for indicators/pathogenic organisms including Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and spore-forming bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens) using conventional, rapid, and PCR-based assays.
• Evaluate Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP) results to identify trends and proactively address contamination risks.
• Conduct sensory analysis of ready-to-eat products using reference standards and train staff on sensory evaluation techniques. Collaborate with Plant Operations and R&D teams to troubleshoot root causes of sensory deviations. Monitor, trend, and report data fluctuations that may impact product sensory quality as part of the batch release process.
• Lead batch release decisions using integrated results from analytical, microbiological, and sensory testing.
• Execute positive release protocols and initiate product hold procedures when out-of-spec results or quality concerns arise, triggering inspection and cross-functional review.
• Assist with commissioning process of new facility, which includes but is not limited to policy implementation and management, etc.
• Collaborate with the R&D team to manage shelf-life programs, performing longitudinal analysis to validate product stability over time.
• Manage inventory of product samples, laboratory equipment and chemicals using LIMS and/or SAP.
• Lead the metrology program for site labs, including control rooms and grading stations.
• Develop and optimize test methods for the QC laboratory, ensuring methods are validated for accuracy, repeatability, specificity, and robustness.
• Oversee autoclave maintenance and ensure sterilization using biological and chemical indicators.
• Conduct comprehensive risk assessments for foreign material across multiple control measures. Applied HACCP principles to identify optimal mitigation strategies for contaminants at critical control points.
• Conduct formal verification and validation of physical hazard control systems:
  • Metal Detectors:
    Perform challenge testing using calibrated test pieces to confirm detection thresholds across product matrices.
  • Magnets:
    Validate magnetic flux density and efficacy of retention under production conditions using Gauss meters.
  • Sieves:
    Execute mesh integrity testing and evaluate separation performance against product specifications.
• Perform analytical testing for food and feed using AOAC or other applicable accredited methods.
• Participate in development of testing procedures and QFS considerations related to run time extension exercises.
• Communicate with onsite Management and LDC Plant Proteins R&D team for the implementation of new product SKU's. This will require providing expertise and exercising judgement in the testing procedures related to the new process required for the implementation…