Quality Assurance Lead
This position oversees the Technical, QA, and Compliance teams to drive operational excellence, audit readiness, and continuous improvement across the organization.
About the Role:
* Oversee the delivery of products that meet specifications.
* Maintain relevant quality standards, e.g. HACCP, to ensure food safety and compliance with statutory and company standards.
* Develop production/working specifications as needed and record any product or service quality issues.
* Create and implement a site's food safety and quality strategy aligned with business objectives, customer expectations, and regulatory requirements.
* Maintain suitable product traceability records throughout the supply chain and develop a product recall system.
* Audit suppliers based on risk analysis.
* Coordinate internal audits, including regular GMP checks.
* Collaborate with production supervisors/managers and prepare management reports and trend analysis.
* Communicate technical information effectively to various audiences.
* Approve finished product specifications, shelf-life protocols, and allergen risk assessments before launch.
* Monitor factory and staff hygiene standards daily and inform production/cleaning staff of areas needing attention.
* Support product development and NPD functions, including line trials through to factory production.
* Maintain and improve certifications to BRCGS, Organic, DAFM, and customer-specific standards.
Essential Criteria:
* BSc or MSc in Food Science, Microbiology, or related field.
* At least 5+ years of senior food safety or quality leadership experience, preferably in chilled/high-care environments.
* In-depth understanding of HACCP, EMP, BRCGS, and Irish/EU food law.
* Demonstrated success in leading customer and regulatory audits.
* Experience with QMS, specification systems, and ERP integration.
* Strong cross-functional communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
* Excellent communication abilities.
* Calm under pressure with strong problem-solving capabilities.
* Ability to show initiative and demonstrate problem-solving skills.