Quality Assurance Specialist

About Us

The Ontario Cannabis Store provides safe, responsible access to recreational cannabis for adults 19 and older. We operate the sole legal online store for recreational cannabis in Ontario and are the provincial wholesaler of cannabis for private retail stores.

Working at the OCS is a unique opportunity to be part of an agile start-up in a ground-breaking new industry. We’re a diverse team passionate about delivering a great customer experience, working together with mutual respect and building value out of our differences. We’re an inclusive organization that understands that delivering great results comes out of ensuring every voice is heard.

We’re looking for a Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist to join our team! The QA Specialist will oversee the quality programs for Cannabis and verify that products meet regulatory and OCS requirements. The QA Specialist will drive Standardization of Processes (SOPs) and support continuous improvement initiatives to promote quality excellence and vendor compliance. They will also use their knowledge of regulatory guidelines, corporate standards, and industry best practices to conduct risk assessments/inspections, review technical documentation, and analyze risk-based trends.

They will be responsible for establishing and maintaining quality standards and procedures that will enhance OCS, vendor, and private retailer success.

• Track quality metrics, analyze performance data, identify trends and gaps, and recommend improvements.
• Prepare reports summarizing quality activity outcomes.
• Conduct data analysis to identify trends, gaps, and needed updates to quality standards and procedures.
• Gather insights from regulatory compliance, quality operations, and consumer complaints to drive improvements.
• Analyze complaint data to identify trends and produce Quality Performance Reports.
• Manage CRM, SharePoint, and other data repositories.
• Coordinate and support internal and external vendor performance reviews.
• Engage with OCS vendors to maintain awareness and compliance with quality and safety requirements through complaint investigations and corrective action management.
• Ensure timely closure of customer complaints and Supplier Corrective Action Reports (SCAR).
• Monitor risk management activities and elevate issues as needed.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with quality and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate cross-functionally for supplier onboarding.
• Review and maintain records of quality incidents and investigation reports.
• Support SCAR projects with cross-functional teams.
• Perform quality inspections for incoming products at the OCS warehouse.
• Investigate supplier non-conformances identified during inspections and follow through on action items.
• Review Certificates of Analysis (COA) and related documents for compliance.
• Conduct label and packaging reviews for product submissions in accordance with the Cannabis Act and related regulations.
• Communicate label/packaging non-conformances to suppliers and collaborate on resolutions.
• Support recall activities, ensuring product containment, inventory reconciliation, and closure.
• Provide regulatory guidance and collaborate with internal quality teams and stakeholders.
• Support departmental projects through active participation, testing, and training.

• Bachelor’s Degree in a Science or Engineering field (ex. Industrial, food Microbiology, etc.)
• Post Graduate Certification in Cannabis Quality Control/Assurance or Regulatory Affairs, SQF or GMP is preferred
• 2-3 years of experience in Quality Assurance / Quality Control within a food or pharmaceutical and/or Cannabis manufacturing environment
• Training, experience and technical knowledge related to the requirements of the Cannabis Regulations and related Regulations for all classes of cannabis.
• QA work experience in a GMP environment is an asset
• Experience working in a warehouse/distribution center environment is preferred
• Experience in a regulated industry, manufacturing operations, cross-functional such as regulatory affairs, category management, retail supply chain, customer care, and government agencies is preferred
• Excellent interpersonal, reporting and technical…