Thunder Bay Jobs, Farms & Food Safety

Position: Food Safety Development Specialist
Farm: Sleepy G Farm
Location: Pass Lake, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

Sleepy G Farm, a 10-acre certified organic farm located in Pass Lake, Ontario is looking for a Food Safety Development Specialist. Sleepy G Farm is dedicated to providing high-quality organic vegetables to the greater Thunder Bay area and needs a detail-oriented person to help refine food safety protocols and manage post-harvest handling operations on the farm.
​
This is a unique opportunity to gain hands-on agricultural experience and lead a critical area of the farm. Your time will be split between packhouse operations and developing/monitoring food safety protocols. You will work closely with the farm owners to develop, implement, and lead a comprehensive food safety program, while also managing the day-to-day operations of the vegetable packhouse.

What You'll Do:

Your responsibilities will be divided between two key areas:

Food Safety Program Leadership:

• Develop a HACCP Plan: Analyze our current processes and create a written food safety plan using Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles.
• Implement and Monitor Protocols: Actively apply food safety measures, such as monitoring wash water, sanitizing equipment, and verifying storage temperatures.
• Lead 3rd-Party Audits: Prepare for and assist inspector with annual third-party food safety audits, including documentation reviews and on-site inspections.

Post-Harvest Management:

• Lead Post-Harvest Operations: Oversee post-harvest handling of all crops, ensure proper handling of produce as it comes through the packhouse for processing and/or storage.
• Manage Vegetable Post-Harvest: Run the packhouse, ensuring all produce is washed, sorted, and packed efficiently.
• Ensure Quality and Accuracy: Maintain quality control, track case counts, and pack orders with a high degree of accuracy for our CSA members and retail partners.
• Maintain records: Ensure accurate harvest records are kept for various analyses/audits, follow or improve on existing systems.

Position Details:

Timeline:
· September - December 2025: General farm and post-harvest training, focus on developing the HACCP plan.
· January - August 2026: Implement the plan, manage packhouse operations, and prepare for and execute a successful third-party audit.

Mentorship: You'll be mentored daily by Co-owners Marcelle Paulin and Brendan Grant, who have over 40 years of combined farming experience.

Compensation:

Hours Per Week: 35
Hourly Pay Rate: $24 to start + free produce

Location: Pass Lake, Ontario (40 mins east of Thunder Bay)
Term: September 2025 to August 2026 with the possibility of extension/permanent placement.

This position is perfect for a detail-oriented, focused, and self-motivated person who wants to develop expertise in both food safety and vegetable farming operations. The successful candidate will be energetic, have excellent communication skills and will have some background in farming or food safety. A successful placement will be defined by a fully implemented HACCP plan, successful 3rd party audit, an efficiently managed packhouse and smooth day to day operations in the post-harvest and storage areas.

How To Apply

Applicants will send a cover letter and PDF resume to info@sleepygfarm.ca with the subject line “Food Safety Development Specialist”

Please mention you saw this at FoodWork.ca.