
Dawson
Director of Operations & QAP
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About
Accomplished Cannabis Operations and Quality Assurance Professional (QAP) with active Health Canada security clearance and extensive experience navigating regulatory frameworks. Proven track record leading federal compliance audits, optimizing facility workflows, and managing complex inventory tracking systems. Skilled in national and international compliance, SOP development, and driving cross-functional efficiency.
Adept at building strategic partnerships with suppliers and brokers to scale business operations.
Experience
Director of Operations & QAP at Cannadiana Inc. (2025-01 – Present)
- Manage and lead audits from Health Canada and CRA
- Manage monthly reporting for Health Canada and the CRA
- Ensure compliance and accuracy for retail product labels and packaging
- Construct, review, and optimize Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for facility operations, production, and retail sales
- Implement and maintain a proprietary in-house inventory tracking system to improve data accuracy
- Manage grow schedules and post-harvest processing workflows
- Direct all commercial sales documentation
- Coordinate facility maintenance to ensure consistent production
- Partnered with brokers to scale industry networks and market reach
- Qualify and maintain records for all approved vendors and purchasers
- Manage sampling protocols and review laboratory results to ensure final release standards are met
Alternate Quality Assurance Person A/QAP at Atlantic Cultivation (2024-03 – 2024-11)
- Managed audit requests and information inquiries from Health Canada
- Released batches and final products in accordance with product specifications for B2B and provincial sales channels
- Implemented package and label control procedures for multiple provinces/territories
- Validated and approved POs for suppliers of both cannabis and raw materials
- Completed monthly CTLS reporting, along with any provincial reporting as required
- Investigated production deviations, root causes, and OOS laboratory results
- Reviewed COAs from contract laboratories and established corrective actions when necessary
- Facilitated B2B purchasing agreements, packaging partnerships, and commercial sales documentation
- Trained facility personnel on revised, optimized, and newly implemented SOPs
Quality Assurance Supervisor/QAP at Redecan (2022-04 – 2024-03)
- Served as the designated QAP at the Cayuga cultivation facility
- Acted as the primary Administrator for the C15 electronic Quality Management System (eQMS)
- Ensured full facility compliance and data integrity through management of the eQMS framework
- Reviewed COAs to release or reject production batches and product lots
- Spearheaded audit responses and managed information requests directly with Health Canada inspectors
- Collaborated on the maintenance and optimization of the Business Central ERP system.
Inventory Coordinator & QA Associate at Cannabis Co-Pack (2021-08 – 2022-03)
- Managed the Ample Organics platform, controlling all inputs, sales, shipping orders, and month-end reconciliation
- Developed data tracking sheets to monitor real-time cannabis inventory and finished product counts
- Supervised excise stamp receiving, secure issuance, and overall physical stamp inventory
- Authored detailed work instructions for internal inventory audits and reconciliation procedures
- Inspected, verified, and received all incoming bulk and packaged cannabis materials.
Quality Assurance Manager at Medical Saints (2020-07 – 2021-08)
- Authored from SOPs from the ground up to successfully align with Health Canada Cannabis Regulations
- Compiled and submitted monthly CTLS and CRA excise reports
- Secured both the facility's cultivation license and processing license through regulatory submissions
- Manage Ample organics including inventory inputs and reports
- Designed, launched, and executed facility-wide testing standards and mock recall procedures
Quality Assurance Manager/Alternate Head of Security (RP) at MJardin (2019-07 – 2020-07)
- Developed and executed facility-wide training modules for Ample Organics
- Operated Argus environmental control applications, establishing optimal room climate set points and nutrient mix ratios
- Compiled and submitted monthly CTLS and CRA excise reports
- Revised and updated current paperwork to meet SOP guidelines
- Calibrated and maintained critical production equipment, including analytical balances, scales, and environmental sensors
- Managed specialized cultivation tasks including Integrated Pest Management, plant maintenance, and cloning
Grow Technician at Aleafia Health Inc (2019-06 – 2019-07)
- Managed the care, health, and propagation of mother plants and vegetative-stage crops
- Deployed biological controls as part of an integrated pest management strategy
- Assisted with grow room design layouts, environmental configuration, and irrigation servicingMaintained plant health and execution of crop care tasks across large-scale cultivation zones
- Maintained strict facility sanitation procedures to comply with Health Canada standards
Grow Technician at CanTrust (2018-09 – 2019-05)
- Managed the care, health, and propagation of mother plants and vegetative-stage crops.
- Deployed biological controls as part of an integrated pest management strategy.
- Assisted with grow room design layouts, environmental configuration, and irrigation servicing
Education
- QAP Certification
- Health Canada Security Cleared
- LEAN Six Sigma Green Belt
- Quality Assurance and GMP for the Cannabis Industry
- Certified Food Safety HACCP Manager
- Auditing SQF Food Safety Systems
- Smart Serve Ontario certification
