Village Farms International (Nasdaq: VFF) is a vertically integrated global leader in cannabis and plant-based consumer packaged goods, driven by sustainable innovation. As one of North America's longest-standing produce operators built on decades of expertise, we're a company where growers, innovators, and creators come together to shape the future of high-performing plant-based brands around the world.
Joining Village Farms means joining a global team built on purpose, integrity, and ambition. Here, we grow people, ideas, and possibilities.
The Opportunity
As our QC Data Specialist, you will own and manage the stability testing program for our cannabis product portfolio, providing the scientific foundation for shelf-life determination, expiry dating, and international regulatory submissions. You will also own tracking, trending, and reporting of all analytical testing data from our internal and external laboratories, including the identification of Out of Trend (OOT) and Out of Specification (OOS) results and regular reporting through meetings, presentations, and formal reports. As the internal subject matter expert on stability science and laboratory data trending, you will work across Research & Lab, Quality Assurance (QA), Regulatory Affairs (RA), and Operations, exercising a high degree of technical judgment, accountability, and independence in a regulated GPP/GACP/EU-GMP environment
What You'll Do
Stability Program Management
- Own and manage the end-to-end stability program for all cannabis product categories (dried flower, trim, extracts, novel formats), including study design, sample scheduling, data collection, trend analysis, and formal reporting; ensure all required studies are planned, initiated, and executed on the annual schedule
- Design and maintain stability protocols aligned with ICH Q1A(R2), ICH Q1E, and applicable GPP/GACP/EU-GMP requirements, adapting them as new product formats or market requirements are introduced
- Serve as the primary internal subject matter expert on stability science, providing technical guidance to QA, RA, Product Development & Innovation, and Operations on shelf-life, storage conditions, and product performance, and establishing and maintaining expiry dating and retest date rationale for all registered and in-development products
- Identify and escalate OOT/OOS results and lead or support the resulting investigations and CAPAs; prepare and own stability summary reports for batch release, regulatory submissions, and partner/customer requests; and manage stability chambers and storage units (IQ/OQ/PQ, calibration, temperature/humidity monitoring, deviation management)
Sampling & Testing Coordination
- Coordinate and physically prepare samples for stability time-points, GPP/ GACP/EU GMP batch release, compliance and research studies in accordance with SOPs, regulations, and good laboratory practices
- Coordinate with third-party laboratories to ensure testing is accurate, in scope, and on time; manage Certificate of Analysis (COA) receipt, review, and filing; and review laboratory reports for accuracy, initiating and circulating Laboratory Investigation Reports (LIRs) and tracking resolution
- Maintain accurate records in the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system and SharePoint, including Chain of Custody (COC) documentation, sampling and requisition forms, and sample labels
Data Management, Trending & Reporting
- Build, own, and continuously improve the laboratory and stability data management system (databases, trackers, dashboards), ensuring data integrity in accordance with ALCOA+ principles
- Track and monitor all analytical testing data generated across the internal laboratory and external / third-party laboratories, spanning stability, batch release, in-process, and research testing, to maintain a consolidated, current view of laboratory quality data
- Trend results over time and identify OOT/OOS patterns across products, cultivars, sites, processing routes, and testing stages; escalate emerging signals to QA, the QAP, and relevant stakeholders; and provide trend context and historical analysis to support investigations and CAPAs
- Build and maintain data visualizations, graphs, and dashboards, and establish and maintain the cadence, format, and content standards for routine reporting, ensuring outputs are traceable, reproducible, and aligned with ALCOA+ principles
- Deliver regular laboratory data reporting through recurring meetings, presentations, and formal written reports to QA, RA, Research & Lab, Operations, and management; maintain SOPs, work instructions, and forms governing stability, sampling, and testing; and support QA and RA during inspections, audits, and technical dossier preparation
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Product Development & Innovation on new products to establish stability-informed specifications and shelf-life targets, and provide stability data to RA for international submissions (e.g., EU- GMP, TGA, NZ MPI, IMCA)
- Coordinate with Operations and Supply Chain on inventory and sample allocation for stability commitments, and prepare customer and wholesale partner samples per purchase order and SOPs
What You Bring
- BSc or MSc (preferred) in chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, biochemistry, life sciences, or a related field
- Minimum 3–5 years in a laboratory, QC, QA, or regulatory role in a Health Canada-regulated environment (cannabis, pharmaceutical, or natural health products), including direct experience managing a stability program; EU GMP/GPP facility experience strongly preferred
- Working knowledge of ICH stability guidelines (Q1A(R2), Q1B, Q1D, Q1E) and their application to shelf-life determination, with experience in stability chamber qualification and temperature/humidity monitoring
- Demonstrated experience compiling, trending, and reporting laboratory or quality data from multiple sources (graphs, dashboards, formal reports); experience contributing to regulatory submissions incorporating stability data is an asset
- Strong working knowledge of GPP/GACP/EU-GMP quality standards and ALCOA+ data integrity principles, applied to cannabis or pharmaceutical manufacturing
- Demonstrated ability to design, execute, and interpret cannabis or pharmaceutical stability studies, including statistical and trend analysis of stability data and ICH Q1E approaches
- Ability to consolidate, trend, and monitor analytical data from multiple internal and external sources, and to distinguish routine variability from meaningful OOT/OOS signals
- Proficiency in data visualization and reporting tools (e.g., Power BI, advanced Excel) to build graphs, dashboards, and trend reports; proficient with MS Office, ERP systems, and LIMS or equivalent
- Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills with exceptional attention to detail; able to critically evaluate COAs, laboratory reports, and regulatory guidance and to present clear technical reports to cross-functional audiences
- Able to lift and transport samples and laboratory materials up to 20 kg, and work in a controlled-access facility environment including donning and doffing appropriate PPE
- Able to work independently with a high degree of accountability while collaborating across departments; must be able to obtain and maintain a valid security clearance (RCMP criminal record check)
Life at Village Farms
- At Village Farms International, you're part of something bigger - a global organization where you can grow your career across brands, functions, and countries.
- We believe It Takes A Village®, and we mean it.
- Our values guide every decision we make: Versatility | Innovation | Leadership | Loyalty | Accountability | Grit | Entrepreneurship
- What you do here matters - to our people, our products, and the customers we serve around the world.
- We've got you covered with company-paid comprehensive benefits and education assistance to support your continued growth.
- We embrace meaningful opportunities, collaboration, and continuous improvement as we expand our global footprint.
Ready to Grow With Us?
If you're passionate about quality, compliance, and bringing world-class products to international markets, we'd love to hear from you.
