Job Description

Department: Research & Development
Reports To: Director, Research & Development
Location: Hamilton, ON
The pay range for the role is $75,300 to $125,300 plus bonus, comprehensive benefits, retirement savings plan, paid vacation, and other perks and opportunities.

The BOM Governance & Process Lead is responsible for overseeing and governing the end-to-end Bill of Materials (BOM) lifecycle within Research and Development and across cross-functional teams. This position is accountable for establishing and maintaining stable BOM processes and ensuring that product data is accurate, complete, controlled, and ready to support execution.

Key Responsibilities:
BOM Lifecycle Ownership & Control
• Own the end-to-end BOM lifecycle: intake → validation → approval → release → communication
• Act as the gatekeeper for BOM creation and modifications
• Ensure adherence to workflows, timelines, and documentation standards
• Maintain consistency in BOM structures and templates

Workflow Governance & Execution
• Manage intake, prioritization, and tracking BOM requests
• Ensure completeness of all inputs prior to workflow progression
• Drive follow-ups and ensure timely approvals
• Maintain visibility of BOM status across stakeholders
• Prevent release of incomplete or unapproved BOMs

Change Control & Release Management
• Govern BOM revision control and change documentation
• Ensure traceability and proper version control
• Validate release readiness:
◦ Completeness & structural accuracy
◦ alignment with specifications
• Support audit readiness and documentation control

Cross-Functional Coordination
Act as the central coordination point across: R&D, Operations, QA / Regulatory, Finance, Procurement, Master Data / IT.
• Ensure correct engagement and alignment across functions
• Resolve ownership gaps and data inconsistencies

Data Integrity & System Alignment
• Ensure accuracy and integrity of BOM data across systems (D365, Optiva, SharePoint)
• Maintain version control and traceability
• Validate:
◦ formulation-to-manufacturing alignment
◦ mass balance and yield consistency
• Align formulation data with system records

Process Stabilization & Improvements:
• Identify process gaps and inefficiencies
• Standardize templates, workflows, and data practices
• Reduce cycle time, rework, and manual dependencies
• Improve compliance with defined processes
• Collaborate with IT/Digital teams on improvement and support workflow automation integration
• Contribute to development of tracking and validation tools

Data Analysis & Continuous Improvement Support
• Support analysis of BOM data to identify:
◦ Inefficiencies, inconsistencies
◦ improvement opportunities
• Contribute to cost visibility and operational improvements

Decision Rights & Authority
• Authorized to hold, return, or reject incomplete BOM requests
• Ensures no BOM is released without proper validation and approvals
• Escalates delays, gaps, and unresolved issues
• Acts as process authority for BOM governance
Success in this role:
• BOM Cycle Time (Request to Release) The speed at which BOMs are processed from request to final release, with a focus on consistent cycle time reduction.
• First-Time-Right Accuracy Rate — The percentage of BOMs approved without correction or resubmission, reflecting quality and attention to detail.
• Data Completeness Compliance — The rate at which submitted BOMs contain all required fields, attributes, and documentation prior to submission.
• BOM Validation Standards Compliance — The proportion of BOMs that successfully pass internal validation checks against defined standards.
• Rework and Error Reduction — The measurable reduction of BOM-related rework and downstream errors over time through proactive root cause resolution.
• System Consistency (Formulation vs. ERP) — The rate of data discrepancies between the formulation system and ERP platform, with success defined as maintaining a single source of truth.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in food science, Engineering, or related field
• 8-10 years’ experience in similar function; process manufacturing (food/dairy preferred)
• Experience with BOM, formulation, or product data management
• ERP experience (D365 preferred)
• Strong cross-functional team communications, analytical & problem solving skills
• Strong process governance mindset
• High attention to detail and data accuracy
• Strong coordination and organizational skills
• Ability to manage multiple workflows

Gay Lea Foods is a leading Canadian dairy co-operative renowned for producing high-quality, nutritious dairy products that Canadian families love and trust. From farm to table, our 1,200 farmer members in Ontario and Manitoba, and more than 1,200 employees across four provinces, work together to nourish communities through award-winning brands including Gay Lea, Nordica, Salerno, Bothwell Cheese, and more. As part of its deeply rooted, balanced commitment to people, profit, and planet, Gay Lea Foods proudly invests one percent of pre-tax earnings back into Canadian communities through a national food security partnership with Second Harvest, and the community-building efforts of the Gay Lea Foundation. To learn more, visit gayleafoods.com.
Gay Lea Foods is an equal-opportunity employer and values diversity in our workplace.
Reasonable accommodation is available upon request throughout our recruitment and selection process.
Gay Lea Foods may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support aspects of the recruitment process, including screening and assessment.
We are currently accepting applications for this open position.
Thank you for your interest in Gay Lea Foods.
Wishing you all the best with your career search!