Food Safety and Quality Manager

At Aspire, we are defined by our people. Together, we foster a culture of transparency, fairness, integrity, respect, kindness, risk-taking, getting the right things done, and getting things done right. We have the humility to realize we can always get better, and we have developed a team that strives for excellence and continuous improvement. If you share these values and are interested in being part of a pioneering team and company, we want to hear from you!

Our Vision: Pioneering sustainable insect agriculture for the good of all by building the world’s smartest and densest, first of its kind, cricket protein production and processing facility.

Food Safety and Quality Manager

We are currently seeking a highly motivated Food Safety and Quality Manager that is responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of the Aspire Quality and Food Safety Program. You will provide best practices, analyzed data and risk assessments to the Aspire Leadership Team, as well as guide the QA Team to a continuous improvement mindset. This role is located in London, Ontario and reports to the Plant Manager.

• Design, implement, champion, and continuously improve the Quality Program, HACCP Program, SOP’s, processes and Quality Culture throughout the facility.
• Lead as a subject matter expert on areas within Quality Management, creating and providing training and industry leading resources to all team members.
• Build and maintain a broad understanding of all regulatory and certification frameworks that impact current and potential operations, advising Leadership on regulatory and certification considerations.
• Foster positive working relationships with regulatory agencies, external vendors and third party auditors.
• Seek and lead continuous improvements by ensuring regular inspections, hazard analysis, risk assessments, and audits are conducted.
• Implement and report on Quality Management OKR deliverables and contribute to lessons learned.
• Lead investigations into food safety, quality issues and product standard and specification deviations with a root cause analysis and provide immediate corrective action, tracking and analyzing for future prevention.
• Provide leadership, direction, guidance and support to production personnel and production supervisors and develop positive, motivating and efficient communication with all employees.
• Ensure compliance and lead the Aspire team in internal and external audits.
• Directly manage the Quality Team and Sanitation Teams by providing guidance, completing performance reviews, implementing professional development plans, coaching, mentoring and advising employees.

• 5 to 7 years experience in a comparable leadership role in a food manufacturing facility.
• Degree in Microbiology, Chemistry, Food Sciences or related discipline.
• Experience setting up or implementing change within a QA environment.
• Experience in successful leading, coaching, motivating and developing a team in a “hands on” environment.
• Strong analytical, organizational, interpersonal and communication skills, and ability to collaborate with and influence others.

• Aspire has assembled the largest body of research on cricket biology and production in the world.
• We are pioneering the industry by customizing, synthesizing and integrating cutting-edge technologies, including an Advanced Automation ASRS, IoT-Enabled Data Accumulation, Artificial Intelligence and Selective Breeding and Biological Optimization processes.
• We offer a competitive compensation package that includes paid time off, medical benefits, STD/LTD, RRSP and Stock Option plans.