Key Leadership Role:
The Quality Assurance Lead is a key leadership position that forms part of the site management team, working closely with operations to deliver production requirements with a focus on food safety, quality, and compliance.
The site specializes in cooked food products, much of which are canned, and operates two high-risk processes that require robust control systems and technical oversight.
The successful candidate will bring strong experience in high-risk food manufacturing, a relevant science-based qualification, and the ability to balance quality leadership with a commercial understanding of production operations.
Responsibilities:
* Oversee and continuously improve the site's Food Safety and Quality Management System.
* Manage high-risk food production and canning operations, ensuring compliance with all relevant standards and legislation.
* Lead the implementation and maintenance of HACCP and hygiene systems (HACCP Team Leader).
* Maintain compliance with DAFF regulations and liaise with relevant officials and auditors.
* Ensure adherence to customer specifications and manage non-conforming product processes.
* Oversee laboratory testing, sanitation, and cleaning activities.
* Conduct internal audits and support customer and third-party audits (BRC, Bord Bia PQAS).
* Act as management representative for Bord Bia PQAS accreditation.
* Drive corrective and preventative action programs to resolve quality issues.
* Implement user-friendly control procedures to embed accountability across teams.
* Lead continuous improvement activities and participate in Lean/CI initiatives.
* Develop and support product and process improvements in collaboration with R&D and production.
* Analyse and report on quality performance metrics to site and group management.
Requirements:
* Relevant science-based qualification
* Strong experience in high-risk food manufacturing
* Ability to balance quality leadership with commercial understanding of production operations
Benefits:
* Opportunity to lead continuous improvement activities and participate in Lean/CI initiatives
* Chance to develop and support product and process improvements in collaboration with R&D and production
* Role in analysing and reporting on quality performance metrics to site and group management
Other Information:
This role reports directly to Site Management.
The ideal candidate will have excellent communication and problem-solving skills.