The Opportunity:

The Manager, Technical Services Laboratory - Chemistry is responsible for the operations and staffing of the laboratory. Maintains an in-depth understanding of analytical methodologies, techniques and procedures. Responsible for providing leadership and development within the team and evaluates employee performance.  Provide ongoing coaching and support to the laboratory team to ensure development and growth. Provide resources required to perform operations in the laboratory.  Ensure that employees are working in a safe environment. The Laboratory Manager must have excellent communication and organizational skills, a high attention to detail, and the ability to lead a team professionally in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

Any MLF team member interested in being considered for this role are encouraged to apply online by April 4, 2025. Applications received beyond that date are not guaranteed consideration.

Snapshot of a Day-in-the-Life:

• Supervision: Manage staff performance through communication of responsibilities and expectations, rewards and recognition, documenting and evaluating performance while providing support to reach staff’s objectives. This may include providing assistance to further an employee’s academic/ professional goals by the involvement in professional associations, seminars, academic courses and/or lectures.  
• Communicate expectations, set goals, assesses gaps, provides feedback, reviews results, provides broader insight and support to the Technical Services team.
• Conduct disciplinary reviews with follow-up, hiring and termination of laboratory staff. This includes the completion of all administrative functions associated with these activities. 
• Assess current lab structures and provide recommendations for improvement when required.  
• Maintain an in-depth functional knowledge and capability to perform the test methods currently in scope and in use in the laboratory. This may include proficiency testing.
• Report Generation: Perform a review, approval, and issue/distribute laboratory reports including email notifications to the appropriate distribution lists and/or customers.
• Customer service: Act as a point of contact between MLF and customers and/or vendors.  Provide customers with accurate, consistent and timely information, consulting with appropriate resources when required.
• Prepare and monitor the laboratories annual budget. This includes providing capital estimates on equipment expenditures and preparation of capital expense requests. Identify variances with finance and develop budget plan to support forecasted laboratory requirements. 
• Equipment management: Review for replacement, repair, and purchase; including the preparation of Capital Expense Requests (CER).
• SAP approver: Approve orders for lab supplies and services, review requested purchase with budget.
• Analyze expenditures in the lab against the budget to ensure the lab supplies and services ordered through SAP or otherwise are acceptable.
• Documentation: Adapt and/or improve existing laboratory techniques and methods; may write, update and review analytical procedure protocols (SOP’s), validations, verifications, measurement of uncertainty reports, project reports. 
• Document Owner (Issuing Authority) for all technical procedures, forms and work instructions for the applicable area. 
• Contribute to the preparation of the annual Management Review.
• Aid in the data collection for key performance indicators (KPI’s) and in establishing performance improvement initiatives.
• Maintain accurate training files, attendance records, and personnel files for all laboratory staff.
• Manage and oversee the laboratory’s Proficiency Testing program including direction of staff participation, collation, review and submission of results.
• Oversight of Corporate Internal Proficiency Testing programs including follow-up and assistance when non-conformance issues are identified.  
• Safety: Ensure employee, customer, and visitor safety and overall compliance with the Occupational Health & Safety Act. This includes participating in and/or reviewing all safety audits and ensuring the implementation of audit recommendations and staff compliance. 
• Coaching/Decision Making: Provides ongoing coaching and support to the laboratory team to ensure their development and growth. Provide final approval of responsibilities, laboratory changes (people, process and equipment).
• Coach, mentor and support the Processing Plant Laboratories across Maple Leaf and Green Leaf facilities.  Ensures consistent application of the MLF practices and procedures related to testing methods and analysis.
• Support standardization initiatives for technologies and methodologies across all facilities.
• Assess and provide recommendations involving new technologies, procedures, test methods and instrumentation which impact the corporate laboratories and their programs.
• Perform technical staff duties during high volume work periods and/or during staff shortages.
• Analyze test results, interpret scientific data and provide an assessment of any potential risks / impact to the organization. 
• Auditor: Responsible for adherence to the management system and technical program. This includes conducting and/or participating in internal and external audits. 
• Support programs and initiatives to ensure Standards Council of Canada/ISO 17025 compliance at corporate accredited laboratories.  This includes participation in the development of annual laboratory objectives and management review, in compliance with ISO 17025.
• Identify non-conformances, perform and/or assign investigations using root cause analysis ensuring the implementation of audit recommendations and staff compliance. 
• Establishment of the Technical Services vision, mission and blueprint ensuring alignment with Maple Leaf Foods vision and mission.
• Works to continually improve the sustainability efforts of Technical Services and Maple Leaf Foods.     

Management System Commitment 
 
The Manager, Technical Services - Laboratory is responsible for the knowledge of and compliance with those aspects of the management system including those that apply to tasks falling under the laboratory’s scope of accreditation. 
 

What You’ll Bring:

Chemistry: Minimum: B.Sc. or Technical Diploma in relevant sciences; Chemistry (preferred) or Biochemistry with emphasis on food/environmental chemistry. Minimum 5 years of work experience in a chemistry laboratory or food industry. Minimum 2 years supervising technical teams.

• 3-5 years of quality assurance or relevant work experience dealing with ISO 17025 standard quality systems, preferably in an analytical laboratory setting.
• Exceptional problem-solving, troubleshooting skills and analytical skills. Demonstrated time management, multi-tasking and priority setting skills. Ability to be very organized, working well in a team as well as individually.
• Computer skills including a strong knowledge of Microsoft Office. 
• Able to effectively coach and mentor staff, including negotiation and conflict resolution skills.  Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to deal with people professionally. 
• Manager must be business, results and values oriented, work as part of a functional team, abide by the company’s Code of Business Conduct, be able to display impartiality and be an exceptional fit with our Maple Leaf Leadership values.

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.

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