The Opportunity:

Are you ready for your next challenge? If you have a passion for food and a drive to make an impact in the industry, this role could be the perfect fit for you. 

The FSQA Specialist – Product Performance is responsible for overseeing the performance of Maple Leaf Foods (MLF) products from a food safety and quality perspective. This role plays a key part in delivering financial value to MLF while ensuring customer satisfaction and providing consumers with a consistently excellent eating experience. The position involves hands-on evaluation of product quality at various stages of shelf life, with a focus on delivering accurate, timely data to cross-functional stakeholders. 

The successful candidate will be an experienced FS&Q professional and proven leader, bringing strong expertise in food safety, quality assessment, report writing, respectful communication, and collaboration—ensuring products meet the highest standards of safety and quality.  

The incumbent will report to the Director, FSQA and work out of our Head Office in Mississauga, Ontario. 

Any MLF team member interested in being considered for this role are encouraged to apply online by October 1, 2025. Applications received beyond that date are not guaranteed consideration.

Snapshot of a Day-in-the-Life:

• Lead the performance of team-based sensory Quality Assessments for aging products inclusive of Ready-To-Eat and/or Frozen and/or Shelf Stable over extended periods of time  
• Influentially bringing together experienced, impartial MLF participants to perform the testing at product cuttings and collect their feedback 
• Utilize FSQA knowledge & experience to enable a value outcome to our business derived from product shelf-life testing  
• This unique role requires you to apply your senses—including sight, smell, taste, and touch—to evaluate a variety of product types and species, such as pork, poultry, turkey, beef, and alternative proteins. 
• Gather and analyze technical information from the testing associated with our products 
• Drive execution of the MLF shelf life program  
• Actively assess specification conformance of the products during testing 
• Provide the network of recommendations from confirmed shelf life performance 
• Review product SOPs (5* specifications) to confirm products comply to specifications & Regulations 
• Confirm products comply to MLF food safety requirements  
• Become our MLF first point of contact for shelf life requests and questions from the MLF network 
• Oversee the ongoing physical monitoring of the products reserved for cuttings throughout the life of the products  
• Ownership of the sensory data collection and organization of shelf life testing results  
• Maintain an ongoing list of any changes to shelf life made including the financial value of those changes 
• Completion of internal report showing changes to shelf life of products to show monthly and cumulative financial benefit  
• Lead the monthly recurring meeting with the MLF Supply Chain Planning team to communicate progress and ensure the right products are being tested in the right order 
• Participate in the annual review of the OCD (Old Code Date) list of products with the MLF Supply Chain Planning Team  
• Align with the MLF Supply Chain Planning Team which products to test from the highest priority  to the lowest priority OCD risks to the business 
• Initiate shelf life finished product testing when requested by our manufacturing facilities where they are unable to do so in their plant  
• Initiate “ad hoc” shelf life testing for requests from MLF Sales or Customer requests  
• Accurately perform SAP critical inventory queries and the Hold & Release of goods in our DCs. 
• Execute components of ECRs related to shelf life changes in SAP Master Data to enable timely changes  
• Maintain an up-to-date file of Customers, whose branded products shelf life changes can only be made with the Customers’ written approval 
• Develop a comprehensive in-house sensory training program for participants who are new to shelf life sensory testing 
• During business hours, monitor temperatures of the cold storage units that hold/store products to be tested & report any non-conformances immediately 

 

What You’ll Bring:

• Experience navigating within the SAP-QM model (ECR execution and Hold & Release process) 
• Food Safety background experience & related education 
• Ability to work independently, as well as a part of a team  
• Well organized enabling on-time of deliverables while managing changing milestones and timelines 
• No food restrictions  
• No sensory restrictions 
• Advanced organizational skills with demonstrated attention to detail 
• Competency using Microsoft Software 
• Proficiency in SharePoint 
• Valid driver’s license 

What We Offer at Maple Leaf Foods:

• Being part of a high-performance, people-focused company that has an inspiring and unique vision to become the most sustainable protein company on earth, and a deep commitment to sustainable protein across North America.
• An inclusive company culture and a work environment that keeps our people safe, rewards excellence, and empowers everyone to learn and contribute their best. 
• Competitive Health and Wellness benefits that offer flexibility to meet your individual or family needs, including programs focused on improving mental health and wellbeing. These benefits start on your first day of employment.
• Defined Contribution Pension Plan with company matching that starts on your first day of employment.
• Learning and development opportunities, including workshops, ‘speaker series’ events, and resources that allow you to develop your skills and progress your career.
• Comprehensive tuition reimbursement program that supports continuous learning and development of our team members through investment in eligible degrees, diplomas, professional certification, or trades programs.
• Supporting our deep commitment to community impact, we offer up to two paid days annually to volunteer at a cause of your choice.

About Us:

We’re a carbon neutral food company on a purposeful journey to Raise the Good in Food through better nutrition, safer food and workplaces, more humane animal care, and environmental sustainability efforts that protect our planet. We care about our communities and commit to reducing food insecurity in Canada. Join us on the journey. Let’s build a better future, together.

We’re passionate about food. For more than 100 years, we’ve made delicious, healthy protein that Canadians love under iconic national and regional brands, like Maple Leaf®, Schneiders®, and Greenfield Natural Meat Co.® We’re on a journey to become the most sustainable protein company – not just in Canada – but on earth.

• We are carbon neutral.
• We are one of the only food companies in Canada to set science-based targets.

We’re a global food company with more than 13,500 team members. We operate sites in 20+ locations across Canada. We also have locations in the U.S. and Mexico, and do business in Asia.

A diverse and inclusive work environment

Championing diversity and inclusion is a critical component to advancing our collective purpose and vision and living the Maple Leaf Leadership Values. We believe in building, investing in, recognizing, and rewarding remarkable people who value an inclusive workplace, embrace all forms of diversity, and commit to including every voice in our collaborative environment. We’re so much stronger when we know we’re accepted and valued for who we are and what we each bring to the workplace.

We embrace a strong, values-based culture

Our eight Leadership Values are our north star. They guide the decisions we make for all our stakeholders: our consumers, our customers, our people, our communities, our shareholders, and the environment.

• Doing What’s Right
• Shared Value
• High Performance
• Diverse and Inclusive Teams
• Disciplined Decision Making
• Our Accountability
• Intense Curiosity
• Transparency and Humility

We thank all applicants for their interest in exploring employment opportunities with Maple Leaf Foods; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Applicants may be subject to a background check and must meet the security criteria designated for the position.

Championing diversity and inclusion is a critical component to advancing our collective purpose and vision, living the Maple Leaf Leadership Values, and delivering winning results. Accommodation is available upon request for applicants with disabilities in the recruitment and assessment process and when hired; please contact our Talent Attraction Team at accommodations@mapleleaf.com.

Disclaimer:  Please note that salaries posted on sites other than the MLF Careers Page are not a reflection of Maple Leaf Foods and are an estimated salary range provided by that particular job board.  Maple Leaf Foods offers competitive wages and an attractive total rewards package, which will be discussed during an interview with our Talent Team.