Associate Director, Quality Assurance

Please note for people leaders: We work in a hybrid environment. The successful candidate will be supporting Central Canada and must be able to travel to all locations/sites within this territory as well as Ottawa, Ontario. All people leaders are encouraged to have in-person presence for a minimum of 40% of the time to ensure we continue to meet the needs of our donors, our staff and our communities. 

​Job category: Supervisory and management
Job posting ID: 4511

​Employment status: Regular full-time

Note: This hybrid role will primarily support Eastern Canada

Classification: PTS/MGT/IT B
Salary/Rate of pay: $125,000 to $141,000

Application deadline: 2023-06-05 

Do you currently work for Canadian Blood Services? All employees must apply via the internal career page.

Somewhere in Canada there’s a life you can save.   

Be part of a dynamic, collaborative and caring organization committed to saving and improving the lives of Canadians. Thousands of Canadians depend on us every day for reliable access to blood, plasma, stem cells and organs and tissues.  

Join Canada’s Lifeline and make a meaningful difference every day.

About The Role:
 
Canadian Blood Services is looking for a Regular Full-Time Associate Director, Quality Assurance to join our dynamic Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs Team in Eastern Canada.  The work of an Associate Director, Quality Assurance is integral to Canadian Blood Services role as Canada’s Lifeline. 
 
In this role, under the direction of the Director, Quality Assurance, you will be responsible for providing leadership, direction, management, and support to immediate subordinates in Canadian Blood Services in the design, implementation and monitoring of the performance of relevant quality assurance activities across disciplines.  You will develop budgets, authorize expenditures and monitor to ensure compliance and identify variances. You will participate as appropriate in all aspects of new product/process development, ensuring that site implementation and operational requirements are met through site involvement. 
 
This role directs and monitors the actions planned and performed to provide confidence that all systems and elements that influence the quality of the Canadian Blood Services’ products and services delivered in different regions are working as expected, individually and collectively.  Quality Assurance activities include but are not limited to review and approval of documents and records, quality control, training, site audits, trending and reporting of quality and performance indicators and evaluation of deviations.
 
Key Responsibilities Include:    

• Establishes, directs, co-ordinates and monitors quality assurance activities in accordance with applicable quality, regulatory (including GMP) and legislative requirements, in collaboration with site representatives, to ensure continuous process improvement.
• Ensures that process and product specifications and requirements, established by CBS, regulators and customers, meet or exceed their expectations. 
• Directs the execution of Quality Assurance activities at all CBS sites, communicates process quality requirements while promoting and responding to feedback.
• May serve as alternate for the Director of Quality Assurance in the absence of the incumbent.
• Requirement to be on call for approximately one week once a quarter, 24/7 to support the national team.
• Performs other related duties as required.

 
Qualifications: 

• Post-secondary level education in sciences from a recognized academic institution, preferably a bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy or Biological Sciences.
• A minimum of seven years of experience in an established drug-manufacturing environment.
• Direct experience with, and accountability for, product quality control, quality assurance or significant product/process/premises validation function where organizational performance management techniques have been practiced.
• Experience directing, managing and coaching a large professional staff.
• Demonstrated leadership and motivational skills.
• General management and administrative skills.
• Demonstrated proficiency in team building, negotiating and dispute resolution.
• Innovative and critical thinking skills are essential.
• Well-developed tact and diplomacy skills are required.
• Must be available to travel as required. 

Benefits:

• Competitive base salary range.
• Annual Performance Award up to 10%.
• 4 weeks’ vacation to start.
• Comprehensive extended health and benefits.
• Defined benefits pension plan.
• Employee discounts, wellness programs and professional advancement opportunities.

Diversity and inclusion play a vital role in ensuring health equity for patients across Canada. We are committed to reflecting Canada’s population in our organization and fostering an environment where all employees can be their authentic selves, with equal opportunities to succeed and contribute.  

Canadian Blood Services requires that all employees be fully vaccinated (COVID 19 vaccine doses as approved by Health Canada), subject to any medical or other human rights considerations. Persons who have been vaccinated outside of Canada must contact their local Public Health Unit in order to obtain a vaccine equivalency certificate.

If this role resonates with you, we encourage you to apply! This could be your first step towards a meaningful and inspiring career. Come to work each day knowing that you save lives. 

We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those considered for an interview or those invited to participate in an assessment (such as testing) will be contacted. Applicants who require accommodation should discuss their needs with us.