Food Safety & Quality Intern

Job Title: Food Safety & Quality Intern

Location: Calgary, AB

Duration: 4-month

Contract term: Summer internship: June 2026 to October 2026

About Us:

Welcome to Lactalis Canada! We’re proud to be Canada’s #1 branded dairy company and to be consistently recognized as one of the country’s top employers by Forbes. Our purpose is to enrich and nurture the lives of Canadians by offering the best of dairy from Canada’s favourite dairy brands like Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond, Balderson, Astro and Lactantia. In fact, our products can be found in over 90% of Canadian refrigerators in any given time. As part of Lactalis Group, the world’s leading dairy company, we remain focused on innovation and quality and are seeking like-minded individuals to join us as we continue our growth journey.

Lactalis Student Program:

At Lactalis, we are committed to cultivating talent and providing enriching opportunities that ignite passion and foster growth in our future leaders. Our student program is designed to nurture your potential by providing you with enriching work experience in a dynamic and innovative environment.

Lactalis Canada’s student program encourages curiosity, creativity, professional development, and personal growth. Not only will you develop your expertise through hands-on experiences, but you will also join a thriving network of Lactalis Students across Canada. All students will have the chance to participate in social events, group trainings and workshops, manufacturing plant tours, and an end-of semester project!

We are invested in your long-term success and aim to equip you with skills and experiences that will fuel your future!

About the opportunity:

The Food Safety & Quality Intern supports the Quality Assurance (QA) and Food Safety teams in maintaining compliance with regulatory standards, ensuring product quality, and improving operational processes. This role provides hands‑on experience in food manufacturing environments, exposure to industry standards, and opportunities to contribute to real quality‑improvement initiatives.

The attributes we are looking for:

• Conduct routine quality checks on raw materials, in‑process products, and finished goods to ensure compliance with company specifications.
• Assist with environmental monitoring, including swabbing, sample collection, and data entry for microbiological testing.
• Support food safety programs such as HACCP, GMPs, allergen control, sanitation, and traceability.
• Participate in internal audits by preparing documentation, reviewing records, and identifying non‑conformances.
• Help investigate quality deviations, customer complaints, or production issues by gathering data and assisting with root‑cause analysis.
• Maintain accurate records of inspections, test results, and corrective actions in accordance with regulatory and company requirements.
• Collaborate with production teams to reinforce food safety practices and promote continuous improvement.
• Assist with training materials, SOP updates, and quality‑related communication across departments.

What you will bring:

• Currently pursuing a degree or diploma in Food Science, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Nutrition, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, and basic food safety principles.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow procedures accurately.
• Comfortable working in production or laboratory environments.
• Solid communication, teamwork, and problem‑solving skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and basic data analysis is an asset.

What this internship offers:

• Hands‑on experience with real food safety and quality systems.
• Exposure to regulatory frameworks such as CFIA, SQF.
• Opportunities to contribute to process improvements and cross‑functional projects.
• Mentorship from experienced QA and Food Safety professionals.

This job description is intended to summarize the overall level of responsibility of the job and is not an exhaustive list of all the duties performed.

What Lactalis will offer:

Lactalis Canada believes in rewarding its students with the following student package:

• A welcoming and passionate team
• Hands-on, meaningful projects
• An environment where your ideas truly matter
• A great addition to your resume (and maybe more…)
• A competitive salary
• 8% vacation pay
• Health & dental benefits starting day 1 (including coverage for vision, mental health practitioners, physiotherapy, chiropractic care, massage therapy, naturopathy, and more!)
• Social events with other students
• Opportunities to learn about different functions within our company

Our ESG commitment:

Our ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) roadmap drives our sustainability mission. We aim to positively impact communities and the planet by enabling stakeholders including our people, consumers, customers, suppliers, dairy farmers, government, and industry partners to have a positive impact on the wellbeing of our communities and the planet through all that we do.

At Lactalis Canada, we value our employees as catalysts for positive change. Together, we will create a sustainable future, promote belonging, and make a lasting impact on the world.

Our commitment to DEI:

Fuel Our Culture with Your Uniqueness! Lactalis thrives on the value each person brings. We're dedicated to amplifying diverse voices, inviting personal and professional growth, and embracing everyone's true selves. We're committed to crafting an environment that genuinely welcomes all, reflecting the richness of our people and communities.

Our promise extends to accessible processes and spaces. If you require accommodation due to a disability (which may be visible or invisible, temporary, or permanent), please inform our Talent Acquisition team – confidentiality will be maintained.

Note: Lactalis Canada does not conduct credit or background checks through . If required, we'll contact you after signing a Job Offer.

Compensation:

As part of our commitment to fairness, trust, and transparency and our ambition to be an Employer of Choice, the base salary range for this position is $21/h – $22.50+/h.

Please note: Along with a comprehensive Total Rewards package, your actual base salary will be fair, competitive, and be based on your skills, experience, and qualifications.