JOB SUMMARY

The QC Lead owns the physical quality controls: sampling and contract laboratory coordination, environmental monitoring, incoming inspection and material status, line clearance, retention samples, on-site issue of controlled logs and labels, equipment calibration and qualification status, and the first-stage batch record review.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Sampling & Testing

- Prepare sampling plans and perform or oversee representative sampling of cannabis, water, incoming materials and stability samples, including line clearance before sampling.
- Assign sample IDs, maintain chain of custody, and pack and ship samples to the contract laboratory.
- Carry out the rotating water sampling schedule.
- Receive and file Certificates of Analysis, check results against specification, and prepare the disposition record for the QAP/AQAP.
- Report any out-of-specification, out-of-trend or unexpected result to the QA Lead and QAP/AQAP immediately, hold the batch, and resample where the investigation justifies it.
- Manage retention samples and the Retention Sample Log.

2. Environmental Monitoring

- Perform daily environmental monitoring and verify the data recorded.
- Carry out scheduled microbiological monitoring of GMP areas (settle plates, active air, contact plates and swabs).
- Download and trend building management system data monthly, identify excursions, and place affected material on hold.
- Verify cleaning, sanitation, pest control and gowning practice through routine floor walkthroughs.

3. Material & Product Status

- Inspect incoming materials and B2B cannabis against specification and supplier documentation and place them in quarantine.
- Apply and verify Quarantine, Released, Rejected and Hold labels and the segregation that goes with them.
- Verify line clearance at each stage transition from harvest through bulk packaging.
- Verify batches into secure storage and apply batch release labels.
- Complete the monthly physical inventory reconciliation with the Department Supervisor and report discrepancies.

4. First-Stage Batch Record Review

- Review executed batch records, logs and forms on site, at or near the time of execution, for completeness, legibility and good documentation practice, and have errors corrected by the originator.




- Confirm that every record, result and label reconciliation is present in the batch traceability file, then scan and file it for the QA Lead's second-stage review.

5. Controlled Records on Site

- Issue and reconcile controlled logs, forms and labels; only QAQC-issued labels are applied to product.
- Keep current versions at the point of use and retrieve and destroy superseded or uncontrolled copies.
- Maintain the on-site master copy archive and scan signed records to the electronic QMS.

6. Equipment, Calibration & Qualification

- Maintain the Equipment Registers and the calibration, qualification and preventive maintenance schedules.
- Verify calibration status and labelling, tag out-of-order equipment, and complete return-to-service checks.
- Execute or witness qualification, mapping and validation protocols on site and review the results with the Department Supervisor.

7. Quality Events & Floor Compliance

- Identify, contain and report deviations and non-conformances on the day they occur, segregate and label affected material, and gather evidence for the QA Lead.
- Verify on site that CAPA and change control actions have been implemented and are effective.
- Carry out scheduled self-inspections and host on-site audits and regulatory inspections.
- Observe practical competency assessments as a qualified evaluator and return the records to the QA Lead.
- Examine retention samples and physically quarantine returned or recalled product during complaint and recall handling.

WHAT THIS ROLE DOES NOT DO

1. Batch release and disposition — QAP/AQAP; status labels are applied only on their authorization.

2. Disposition of out-of-specification results and environmental excursions — escalate to the QAP/AQAP; this role holds and reports.

3. Opening, numbering and writing up quality event records — QA Lead; this role contains the event and supplies the evidence.





4. Ownership of the training program, its materials and written assessments — QA Lead.

5. Supplier qualification and approval — QA Lead and QAP/AQAP; this role inspects what is received.

6. Analytical testing — contract laboratory.

7. Any contact with Health Canada or a competent authority — escalate to the QAP.

8. Containment is implemented first; escalation does not wait on the investigation.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

1. Sampling, water and environmental monitoring schedules completed on time, with excursions reported the same day.

2. Batch records reviewed and corrected on site before they go to second-stage review.

3. No material held or moved without the correct status label; inventory reconciles each month.

4. Calibration and qualification schedules current; no overdue equipment in use.

5. No superseded or uncontrolled documents at the point of use.

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

1. Post-secondary education in microbiology, biology, chemistry, food science or a related field, or equivalent experience.

2. Two to five years in quality control or quality assurance in a regulated production setting (cannabis, pharmaceutical or food).

3. Hands-on experience with sampling, environmental monitoring and incoming inspection.

4. Working knowledge of GPP under the Cannabis Regulations and of GACP; GMP experience is an asset.

5. Able to read a Certificate of Analysis against a specification (cannabinoids, microbiology, pesticides, heavy metals and mycotoxins).

6. Disciplined documentation practice, and the confidence to stop or hold work when quality is at risk.

7. Proficiency in Microsoft 365.

MANDATORY

1. Must not have any criminal convictions involving drug-related offences (a criminal record check with the RCMP will be required prior to hire and, at the CEO's discretion, to maintain the position).

2. Must have legal authorization to work in Canada with no restrictions.

3. Must have reliable transportation, as the facility is out of town.

4. Must comply with all gowning, sanitation and hygiene requirements applicable to the areas entered.

Location:

- Red Deer, AB (required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Red Deer, AB

📌 QC Lead (Red Deer)
🏢 High Ground Medica
📍 Red Deer