Senior Director, Food Safety and Quality Assurance - Maple Lodge Farms

Maple Lodge Farms Ltd. (MLF) is Canada’s largest independent, family-owned poultry processor, proudly supplying families with Canadian wholesome chicken since 1955. Headquartered in Brampton, Ontario, the company employs approximately 3,000 people across facilities in Ontario and New Brunswick. MLF offers a full range of fresh, seasoned, and prepared chicken products and is the country’s leading Halal meat supplier. The majority of the products produced are fresh chickens sourced from Canadian licensed chicken farmers. Its products are sold domestically through retail and food service channels and are exported to several countries worldwide.

With a strong focus on sustainability, animal welfare, employee and community impact, MLF is driven by a clear mission: to provide the best quality chicken with unparalleled service, guided by our multi-generational family roots.

MLF is recruiting an experienced food safety and quality assurance leader to support the business at an exciting time of growth. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Senior Director, Food Safety and Quality Assurance is responsible for leading the food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance programs for multiple high-volume poultry processing facilities. This role provides strategic direction, leadership, and oversight to ensure products meet or exceed regulatory, customer, and company standards for safety and quality. The Senior Director will build and develop high-performing FSQA teams, fostering a culture of teamwork and support. Partnering with all departments, this leader drives best practices in food safety, quality assurance, and employee training and development at all levels. With a “food safety first” mindset, the Senior Director influences operational decision making while supporting business objectives and protecting the company’s stellar reputation. They exhibit a high degree of judgement, resilience and calm in the midst of operating within the high-stakes, perishable protein industry.

The Senior Director is a proactive leader who champions high standards of care and consistency in policies, processes and decision-making. They are leaders in their field and are at the forefront of developing and monitoring new strategies and approaches to leverage technology, data analytics, and automation to enhance monitoring and reporting systems. They are current on emerging trends, technologies, and regulatory changes in protein manufacturing from farm to table. They partner with HR and Operations to ensure FSQA training for employees at all levels and facilities.

The successful candidate holds a bachelor’s degree in food science, microbiology, meat science, or related field, along with 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in food safety and quality within the meat or protein industry. Experience in a large, multi-site meat manufacturing organization is essential, ideally including poultry live bird arrival, fresh product handling, and ready-to-eat manufacturing. They have in-depth knowledge of CFIA/Health Canada, HACCP, BRCGS, and SQF and demonstrated experience leading large FSQA teams in high-volume processing environments. Excellent leadership, influencing, and change management capabilities are complemented by well-developed analytical, communication, and problem-solving abilities. Crisis management expertise and experience interacting with regulators is required.

To learn more about MLF, please visit: https://maplelodgefarms.com/

Royer Thompson is committed to presenting a diverse and inclusive roster of candidates to our clients. We welcome and encourage applications from the following underrepresented groups: Indigenous persons, racially visible persons, women, and persons of a minority sexual orientation and/or gender identity. If you are a member of one of these underrepresented groups, we invite you to self-identify on your cover letter or resume.

Please submit a combined resume and cover letter online by clicking “Apply”. For a confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact Kim West ([email protected]) or Erica Armstrong ([email protected]).

If you require an accommodation(s) to participate in the application, interview, or selection process with Royer Thompson, please contact Edgarson Moxey ([email protected]).

Royer Thompson is a Canadian executive advisory firm focused on capturing the full potential of people in pursuit of leadership and organizational excellence.