Job Summary
The Alternate Quality Assurance Person (AQAP) is a key member of the Quality & Compliance team and serves as the designated alternate to the QAP in accordance with the Cannabis Act and Cannabis Regulations.
Reporting to the Director, Quality & Compliance, the AQAP is responsible for supporting and maintaining a robust QMS, ensuring regulatory compliance, protecting product quality, and promoting a culture where quality is integrated into every aspect of the Company's operations.
This position works collaboratively across Production, Extraction, Packaging, Commercial, Supply Chain, and senior leadership to ensure products consistently meet regulatory requirements, customer expectations, and the Company's uncompromising quality standards.
Duties & Responsibilities
Regulatory Compliance & Product Quality
- Support the QAP in fulfilling all statutory responsibilities under the Cannabis Act, Cannabis Regulations, and GPP/GMP.
- Serve as the AQAP and assume QAP responsibilities, including product release decisions, when designated.
- Review and approve batch production records, laboratory results, specifications, deviations, and quality documentation to ensure compliance prior to product release.
- Ensure cannabis products are manufactured, packaged, labelled, tested, stored, and distributed in accordance with all applicable regulatory requirements and Company quality standards.
- Maintain current knowledge of Health Canada guidance documents, regulatory changes, and industry best practices.
Quality Management System (QMS)
- Maintain and continuously improve the Company's QMS.
- Develop, review, and approve SOPs, work instructions, forms, specifications, and controlled documentation.
- Lead or support investigations involving deviations, non-conformances, complaints, out-of-specification results, root cause analyses, CAPAs, change controls, and risk assessments.
- Monitor quality trends and recommend improvements that strengthen compliance, product quality, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
- Ensure quality records are complete, accurate, and maintained in accordance with regulatory retention requirements.
Audits, Inspections, & Continuous Improvement
- Lead or participate in internal audits, supplier qualification activities, customer audits, and Health Canada inspections.
- Coordinate responses to audit observations and inspection findings, ensuring timely implementation of corrective actions.
- Partner with operational departments to identify opportunities for continuous improvement while maintaining regulatory compliance.
- Participate in validation activities, process improvements, new product commercialization, and change management initiatives.
Leadership & Collaboration
- Provide quality leadership and technical guidance to employees across the organization.
- Deliver GPP/GMP- and quality-related training while promoting a culture of compliance, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Build collaborative relationships with Production, Extraction, Packaging, Maintenance, Engineering, Commercial, and Supply Chain teams.
- Support the development of quality metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure and improve organizational performance.
- Act as a trusted advisor to management on quality and regulatory matters.
Other
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor's degree or diploma in Chemistry, Microbiology, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Food Science, Engineering, or another relevant scientific discipline.
Experience
- Previous experience as a QAP or AQAP within a Health Canada-licensed cannabis facility is strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience within a GPP or GMP regulated manufacturing environment.
- Experience supporting Health Canada inspections and regulatory compliance activities.
- Experience maintaining a QMS within a regulated industry.
- Experience leading investigations, CAPAs, change controls, and quality risk assessments.
- Previous leadership or supervisory experience is considered an asset.
Knowledge & Technical Skills
- Thorough knowledge of the Cannabis Act, Cannabis Regulations, GPP/GMP, and applicable Health Canada guidance.
- Strong understanding of Quality Management Systems, document control, investigations, risk management, CAPAs, complaints, change management, and internal auditing.
- Experience reviewing and approving batch documentation and quality records.
