Food Safety Director

Come make your difference in communities across Canada, where authenticity, trust and making connections is valued – as we shape the future of Canadian retail, together. Our unique position as one of the country's largest employers, coupled with our commitment to positively impact the lives of all Canadians, provides our colleagues a range of opportunities and experiences to help Canadians Live Life Well®.

At Loblaw Companies Limited, we succeed through collaboration and commitment and set a high bar for ourselves and those around us. Whether you are just starting your career, re-entering the workforce, or looking for a new job, this is where you belong. 

Loblaw Companies Limited is committed to maintaining the highest standards of food safety and quality across our extensive supply chain network. We are seeking an accomplished and dedicated Director, Food Safety, Supply Chain to lead our food safety initiatives and provide expert support for our Distribution Centers across Canada.

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 our supply chain operations. Reporting to the National Senior Director Food Safety & White Label, you will be instrumental in safeguarding product integrity, mitigating risks, and upholding the trust our customers place in us.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Program Management:

• 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.).

Regulatory Compliance & Standards:

• 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.

Food Safety Systems & Audits:

• 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.

Risk Management & Incident Response:

• 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).

Data Analysis & Training Development:

• 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.

What You Bring

• Experience: 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in food safety, quality assurance, or related areas, specifically within a complex supply chain, distribution, or manufacturing environment.

• Educational Background: Post-secondary degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Public Health Inspection, or a related discipline.

• Essential Technical Expertise:

  • 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.

• Leadership & Influence: Strong leadership skills with the ability to effectively drive improvements, build capability, mentor teams, and ensure alignment with strategic priorities across multiple sites.

• Analytical & Problem-Solving: 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.

• Communication & Collaboration: Exceptional interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to liaise effectively with internal stakeholders, senior leadership, and regulatory bodies (e.g., CFIA).

• Independent & Driven: A self-starter with the ability to work independently, demonstrate strong ownership, integrity, and reliability.

• Flexibility: Willingness to work flexible hours and travel frequently within Canada, as required, to support Distribution Centers and other supply chain operations.

• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

  • 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.

Why Loblaw?

Join a team that is dedicated to innovation, quality, and the well-being of Canadians. At Loblaw, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on our operations and contribute to our mission of helping Canadians Live Life Well. We offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and a supportive work environment where your expertise will be valued and developed.

If you are a visionary food safety leader with a commitment to excellence within the supply chain, we encourage you to apply!

Our commitment to Sustainability and Social Impact is an essential part of the way we do business, and we focus our attention on areas where we can have the greatest impact. Our approach to sustainability and social impact is based on three pillars – Environment, Sourcing and Community – and we are constantly looking for ways to demonstrate leadership in these important areas. Our CORE Values – Care, Ownership, Respect and Excellence – guide all our decision-making and come to life through our Blue Culture. We offer our colleagues progressive careers, comprehensive training, flexibility, and other competitive benefits – these are some of the many reasons why we are one of Canada’s Top Employers, Canada’s Best Diversity Employers, Canada’s Greenest Employers & Canada’s Top Employers for Young People.

If you are unsure whether your experience matches every requirement above, we encourage you to apply anyway. We are looking for varied perspectives which include diverse experiences that we can add to our team.

We have a long-standing focus on diversity, equity and inclusion because we know it will make our company a better place to work and shop. We are committed to creating accessible environments for our colleagues, candidates and customers. Requests for accommodation due to a disability (which may be visible or invisible, temporary or permanent) can be made at any stage of application and employment. We encourage candidates to make their accommodation needs known so that we can provide equitable opportunities.

Please Note:
Candidates who are 18 years or older are required to complete a criminal background check. Details will be provided through the application process.

Hiring Range / Échelle salariale à l’embauche :$128,000.00 - $176,000.00 / 128.000,00$ - 176.000,00$ (per year / par an)A candidate’s experience and knowledge as well as the geographical region in which the position is located may be factored into the pay a candidate receives for this position. This posting is for an existing vacancy. The Company uses artificial intelligence for the purpose of screening, assessing and/or selecting applicants for this position. / L’expérience et les connaissances d’un candidat ainsi que la région géographique dans laquelle le poste est situé peuvent être prises en compte dans la rémunération qu’un candidat reçoit pour ce poste. Cette offre d’emploi concerne un poste vacant existant. L’entreprise utilise l’intelligence artificielle dans le but de filtrer, d’évaluer et/ou de sélectionner les candidats à ce poste.

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