Fish Biologist Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Job purpose
This position oversees the execution of High Liner Foods' food safety and quality programs within the processing facility, ensuring all products consistently meet or exceed regulatory requirements. The role supports QA, production, maintenance, engineering, product development, and other departments involved in producing safe, high quality food. Responsibilities include supervising and guiding QA technicians, maintaining and improving policies and procedures, and conducting routine GMP inspections and working with the QA Manager to host and lead audits. The incumbent also provides technical QA and food safety support to cross-functional teams and projects. In the QA Supervisor's absence, these responsibilities will be carried out by the QA Manager or their designee.
Essential Duties and responsibilities

• Oversee daily execution of site food safety and quality programs, including product inspections, CCP verification, GMP checks, and performance management walks.
• Ensure timely and consistent management of nonconforming and held product.
• Lead investigations into food safety and quality nonconformances, including customer/consumer complaints, process deviations, and audit findings.
• Conduct and participate in sensory evaluations of raw materials, ingredients, WIP, and finished products.
• Maintain a regular presence on the production floor to support operations and QA visibility.
• Support ongoing GMP training and compliance monitoring for employees and contractors.

Compliance, Reporting & Record Keeping

• Ensure inspections, tests, and audits are completed according to SOPs, regulatory requirements, and customer expectations.
• Review and approve quality records, including batch documentation, CCP records, and inspection reports.
• Maintain compliance with FDA, USDA, USDC, GMP, HACCP, and other applicable standards.
• Maintain accurate QA documentation, logs, and audit trails.
• Support internal and external audits, including customer, regulatory, and third party assessments.
• Create, update, and maintain quality documents as needed.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify quality trends, recurring issues, and process gaps using data driven analysis.
• Lead root cause investigations and corrective/preventive action (CAPA) activities.
• Issue and manage Corrective Action Reports and ensure effective follow through.
• Collaborate with cross functional teams to implement improvements that enhance product quality and reduce defects.

Team Leadership & Oversight

• Promote and reinforce a strong Food Safety and Quality Culture across the organization.
• Supervise, train, and mentor QA staff, ensuring consistent performance and adherence to procedures.
• Assign daily tasks, manage schedules, and monitor workload distribution.
• Conduct performance evaluations and support professional development.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in Food Science, Biology, Chemistry, or related field preferred.
• 2-4 years of experience in food manufacturing QA; supervisory experience is an asset.
• Strong working knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, FSMA, food safety regulations, and major audit standards including regulatory, customer, third-party, and GFSI frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate teams in a fast paced production environment while also working independently with sound judgment.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with digital QA systems is an advantage.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally with internal and external customers, auditors and regulators.

Current employees please note: this position is referral bonus eligible! See our policy for more details.
What's in it for you?
Join High Liner Foods for a career where you shape your path, backed by great benefits, and a culture of diversity, innovation, and sustainability. Immerse yourself in opportunities to make a real impact and grow with us in our mission to nourish lives. Start your adventure where endless possibilities to thrive together await.

• Competitive Salary
• Heath, dental & vision coverage
• Pay for performance incentives
• Employee & Family assistance programs
• Wellness Programs
• Retirement Planning
• Supplemental Parental Leaves
• Disability Support
• Volunteer hours
• Learning and mentorship opportunities
• Safety focused work environment

About High Liner Foods
Founded in 1899 in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, High Liner Foods has grown from a small salt fish company into a leading North American processor and marketer of value-added frozen seafood. Our trusted brands - including High Liner, Fisher Boy, Mirabel, Sea Cuisine, C.Wirthy & Co, Mrs. Paul's, Van de Kamp's, and Icelandic Seafood - are enjoyed by families, restaurants, and institutions across Canada and the United States.
Guided by our purpose of Reimagining Seafood to Nourish Life, we combine over a century of expertise with innovation, consumer insight, and responsible practices to deliver high-quality seafood people can trust.
At High Liner Foods, we are a people-first organization. We invest in our employees through development opportunities, collaborative teamwork, and a culture where safety, well-being, and growth are priorities. Whether in our offices, plants, or distribution teams, our people work together to deliver excellence and drive the future of seafood.
Our Values
Serve with Purpose - We put our customers and consumers at the heart of everything we do, creating quality products that help to nourish lives and foster connections that go beyond the plate.
Do the Right Thing - We lead with integrity, act responsibly, and make choices that support our people, our partners, and our planet. .
Innovate & Reimagine - We challenge the norm, embrace fresh ideas, and turn innovation into impact.
All Hands on Deck - Powered by people and driven by purpose, we lead with courage, hold one another accountable, and celebrate as a team
Ready to make waves with us? Join High Liner Foods and help shape the future of seafood.
To learn more please visit our Career/LinkedIn/Indeed page
#HLSJ
Working conditions
Plant Environment:
The plant work environment will expose the employee to loud noise, food grade dust & odors, moving & vibrating machinery, heavy equipment, powered industrial trucks, heights, traffic, anhydrous ammonia, oil and electricity. The employee may be exposed to adverse weather conditions including extreme cold, heat, rain, snow, dust, smoke and odors. Flexibility of work hours. Ability to work on feet for extended periods of time if needed. Allergens found inside the plant include: fish, shellfish, nuts, eggs, wheat, soy, milk and coconut.
Physical requirements/Allergens
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit, talk, listen, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is required to use hands to handle, operate, and feel objects, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to operate a motor vehicle to travel to off-site meetings. The employee must have visual acuity sufficient to operate a motor vehicle and digital camera, as well as other office and position equipment. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. Employee must be able to hear and speak clearly in order to communicate with clients, coworkers, employees and vendors.
Travel

• Expected travel for this role <5%

Direct reports

• Approx. 3-4 direct reports.

Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
All employees will embrace High Liner Foods safety and quality principles. Working together employees will ensure that activities and operations are performed in compliance with the Company's Code of Conduct.
AAP/EEO Statement
High Liner Foods (USA), Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, High Liner Foods (USA), Inc. complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.