Varun Bhalodwala
Barrie
Summary
Results-driven professional with extensive experience in the manufacturing industry, specializing in project management, quality assurance leadership, and IT-driven process improvements. Proven track record of successfully managing cross-functional teams, driving operational efficiencies, and ensuring compliance with industry regulations. Adept at developing and implementing quality frameworks, enhancing product safety, and leveraging data to optimize processes. Experienced in acting as a bridge between QA and IT teams, delivering innovative digital solutions to streamline FSQA functions.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Project Manager
McCain Foods
03.2024 - Current
- Managed and maintained progress across innovation initiatives, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
- Developed structured workstreams and comprehensive project plans to achieve key milestones and deliverables.
- Provided cross-functional leadership, tracking key metrics and ensuring accountability for deliverables with a focus on quality.
- Proactively identified and mitigated project risks, implementing strategies to maintain timeline and budget adherence.
- Delivered clear, concise status updates to program sponsors and project teams, ensuring stakeholders remained informed.
- Designed and maintained dashboards to track program progress, KPIs, and milestones for effective reporting.
Project Manager
Select Foods
06.2022 - 02.2024
- Led new projects from initiation through post-launch evaluation, creating and managing timelines, tracking progress, and ensuring all deliverables were met.
- Drove accountability across cross-functional teams by customizing master project timelines, coordinating critical sub-processes, and tracking task completion.
- Collaborated with subject matter experts to define project requirements, facilitating effective communication across departments to maintain alignment and progress.
- Identified and addressed potential risks and issues promptly, coordinating with key stakeholders for troubleshooting and resolution.
- Oversaw continuous improvement of the Stages & Gates process, updating supporting documents and routines while training new associates to ensure smooth project flow.
- Applied structured problem-solving techniques to resolve project challenges, recommending actionable solutions during product development.
- Facilitated weekly milestone and cross-functional meetings, tracking completed tasks and upcoming responsibilities to maintain cohesive team progress
QA IT Manager
FGF Brands
01.2021 - 05.2022
- Acted as a liaison between the Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) team and IT department, ensuring project requirements were effectively communicated and aligned with business needs.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop company-wide solutions that enhanced FSQA processes, improving efficiency and data accuracy.
- Facilitated requirements gathering, ensuring IT solutions addressed FSQA-specific challenges and streamlined critical workflows.
- Led User Acceptance Testing (UAT) to validate system functionality, ensuring solutions met FSQA standards and improved operational performance.
- Supported the development of digital tools that automated manual FSQA tasks, enhancing traceability, reporting, and compliance.
- Drove change management efforts to ensure smooth adoption of new FSQA systems, minimizing disruptions and improving team productivity.
FSQA Lead
FGF Brands
12.2018 - 02.2021
- Supervised and managed a team of six QA technicians, ensuring routine process checks were completed, and finished goods met government regulations and customer specifications.
- Collaborated with the executive team to analyze food safety processes, identifying gaps and successfully implementing process automation to improve operational efficiency.
- Supported plant trials by leveraging data analysis to optimize product quality, enhance production processes, and ensure regulatory compliance.
- Developed and implemented quality improvement frameworks, reducing customer complaints and enhancing overall customer satisfaction through data-driven corrective actions.
- Conducted validation studies and prepared comprehensive reports for QA processes, ensuring consistency, compliance, and continuous improvement.
Education
Post Graduate Diploma - Biotechnology
Centennial College
Ontario 09-2015
Bachelor of Science - Biotechnology
NVPAS College
India 06-2015
Skills
- Data Analysis for Quality Improvement
- Product Testing & Troubleshooting
- Risk Assessment & Mitigation
- Root Cause Analysis & Corrective Actions
- Documentation & Record Keeping
- GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices)
- Process Control & Monitoring
- Customer Complaint Management
- Risk Identification & Mitigation
- Process Improvement Strategies
- Developing Dashboards & KPIs
Languages
English
Full Professional
Certification
- BRCGs
- HACCP
- PCQI
Timeline
Project Manager
McCain Foods
03.2024 - Current
Project Manager
Select Foods
06.2022 - 02.2024
QA IT Manager
FGF Brands
01.2021 - 05.2022
FSQA Lead
FGF Brands
12.2018 - 02.2021
Post Graduate Diploma - Biotechnology
Centennial College
Bachelor of Science - Biotechnology
NVPAS College
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