Location:
Cork, Dublin or Belfast (Hybrid Working)
Join Musgrave – A Legacy of Innovation, Community, and Excellence
Musgrave is one of Europe's most successful family-owned businesses, with a rich 150-year legacy in food and brand innovation.
We're proud to serve communities across Ireland and Spain, feeding one in three people every day through 19 iconic brands like SuperValu, Centra, Mace, Frank and Honest, and Musgrave MarketPlace.
By supporting thousands of retail and foodservice family businesses, we make a positive impact on the communities they serve.
We're committed to becoming the most trusted and sustainable business in Ireland, and we're looking for dynamic, forward-thinking individuals to join us on this journey.
As we continue our journey toward becoming Ireland's most trusted and sustainable business, we have an exciting opportunity for a
Director of Food Safety and Quality
to join our team.
Musgrave is committed to world class food safety and quality across our independent and company owned retail stores, wholesale, supply chain, and logistics, food production, and supplier network.
The Director of Food Safety & Quality will lead an end to end agenda that spans strategy, design and specification, sourcing, manufacture, logistics and distribution, retail execution, and consumer trust – to protect customers and the brand while enabling innovation and commercial value across Musgrave Group and acquisitions.
Key Responsibilities (include but are not limited to):
Define the Group FS&Q Strategy and ensure enterprise wide alignment and communication.
Operate the Food Safety Advisory Group (FSAG) to shape and challenge the FS&Q agenda.
Own label & claims sign off governance including allergen and legal compliance (final technical authority).
Establish recall/withdrawal delegation of authority – ensure decision rights are clear and practiced.
Own the enterprise FSQ internal audit programme and management/HACCP review cadence.
FS&Q lead representative on strategic cross functional programmes (e.g., Health Strategy).
Review structure and resources annually to ensure effectiveness for the business.
Performance & Communications
Operate reporting and tiered alerts to enable prompt escalation of critical issues.
Run BAU performance reporting against the annual plan and 3 Year Plan; integrate consumer complaints/insights and systemic corrective and protective action.
Provide formal updates to the Musgrave Board, Executive and Audit Committee on FS&Q matters.
Provide structured performance communication to Business Unit MDs and their management teams.
Ensure aligned, effective FS&Q communication across channels that reach all stakeholders.
Incident & Crisis Readiness
Maintain the Crisis Management communications plan with key stakeholders and lead Group wide crisis capability.
Lead contact for authorised regulatory and certification bodies e.g. FSAI, HSE.
Directly manage critical FS&Q issues arising from stakeholders e.g. Media, CEO and Executive queries.
Own traceability performance and KPIs.
Strategic Projects & Digital
Sponsor and govern strategic FS&Q projects, e.g. International, Food Production and FS&Q Database.
Lead a continuous improvement ethos within the team and partner functions.
Industrialise predictive risk dashboards (supplier risk, complaints trend, horizon scan signals) and link insights to monthly action plans.
Integrate FSQ data with supply chain systems to improve traceability and recall speed.
Set design for safety and design for quality principles for specifications; include packaging and food contact safety considerations.
Ensure specification master data quality (complete, current, connected) as a release gate.
Maintain risk segmented supplier tiering with targeted audit/test frequencies and development plans.
Own product integrity programmes and provenance/traceability expectations.
External Influence & Networks
Maintain external networks in retail, manufacturing, regulators, experts and third level institutes to keep Musgrave informed and influential.
Attend annual food safety conferences to stay ahead of emerging issues and global best practice.
Field Leadership & Ways of Working
Visit suppliers, retailers, Business Units and depots regularly to assess effectiveness of FS&Q processes and stay close to the coalface.
Conduct bi-annual workshops to align FS&Q teams with Group and Business Unit objectives.
Mergers and Acquisitions & Integration
Lead FS&Q due diligence (certifications, supplier/product risks, recall history, testing programmes).
Define Day 1/Day 100 control plans (specs, allergen/label control, testing, complaints, recall readiness).
Integrate acquired businesses into Musgrave standards, systems and reporting, close gaps to plan.
Own FS&Q spend and lead the annual budget and 3 Year Plan (3YP).
Chair the FSQLT activity review to ensure delivery of plans, by exception HR support, feedback loops on strategic priorities and team synergies.
Lead and develop the FS&Q team across Retail, Wholesale, Logistics, Production, Supplier and Acquisitions ensuring they have the skills, resources and support to achieve goals while upholding the Musgrave values and positively influence culture through coaching and mentoring.
Champion talent development and succession planning.
The successful candidate will have/be:
***** years' plus FS&Q management experience in a retail or manufacturing multinational.
Demonstrated track record of improving standards in complex, multi site environments.
Clear, confident communicator at all levels (formal and informal).
Ability to motivate and positively lead teams.
Balanced, effective decision maker under pressure and with incomplete information.
Ability to translate technical/scientific issues into clear, actionable concepts.
Innovative thinker who connects ideas for future development.
Committed to learning and self-development.
Knowledge of EU and UK food legislation.
Degree or Masters in Food Science, Nutrition or Food Safety or relevant.
Career Development:
With a commitment to your personal and professional growth, Musgrave offers numerous opportunities for advancement and learning.
Collaborative Environment:
Lead a passionate team and work with different teams to make a significant impact.
Innovation Focus:
Be part of a company that values forward-thinking solutions.
Community Focus:
Be part of a company that truly values its communities and strives to make a positive impact.
Be Part of a Legacy:
Join a company with a long-standing commitment to community and innovation.
Ready to make an impact?
Apply now and be part of a forward-thinking company that values your expertise and vision.
If you would like to arrange a confidential conversation about this role, please contact Eileen Biggs, Head of HR Resourcing, Musgrave ([emailprotected]).
Musgrave is an equal opportunities employer.
We encourage applications from diverse candidates.
If we can make any accommodations to enable you to be the best version of yourself during the interview, please let us know.
Musgrave operates a Work Smart hybrid working model where you can alternate your time between connecting and collaborating in the business and working remotely.
#J-*****-Ljbffr