Deputy Quality Manager
Location: Longford
Department: Quality
Reports To: Quality Manager
Direct Reports: Production Floor QA Team
About the Role
Our client, a leading player in the food manufacturing industry, is seeking a Deputy Quality
Manager to join their team. This is a replacement position offering the opportunity to play a
pivotal role in maintaining and enhancing the company's Food Safety and Quality
Management Systems.
The successful candidate will support the Quality Manager in ensuring compliance with
legal, customer, and company standards while driving continuous improvement and fostering
a culture of quality across the site.
Key Responsibilities
● Support the Quality Manager in implementing, maintaining, and improving the Quality
Management System (QMS) and Food Safety Management System (FSMS), including HACCP and GMP.
● Act as a primary contact for accreditation, regulatory, and customer audits, as well as inspections.
● Lead the Quality Team in the absence of the Quality Manager to ensure smooth daily operations.
● Conduct internal audits, investigate non-conformances, and manage customer complaints.
● Collaborate cross-functionally with Production, Engineering, and R&D teams to enhance product quality.
● Manage the site's Pest Control Programme and Cleaning & Hygiene Programme, liaising with external contractors to ensure compliance.
● Validate cleaning processes, conduct hygiene inspections, and maintain high hygiene standards.
● Lead, manage, and develop a team of QA staff, including recruitment, training, and
performance monitoring.
● Support site Food Safety Culture and Food Defence initiatives.
Key Performance Measures
● Audit performance results
● Site cleaning and hygiene standards
● Pest control compliance
● QA team effectiveness
What We're Looking For
● Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills
● Strong leadership abilities and team motivation skills
● Exceptional attention to detail with problem-solving capabilities
● Highly organized with strong time management under pressure
Qualifications & Experience
● Degree in Food Science or related discipline
● 5+ years' experience in a quality role within the food manufacturing sector
● In-depth knowledge of HACCP, food safety legislation, GFSI schemes (BRCGS), and retailer standards
● Competent in root cause analysis, risk assessment, and continuous improvement
● Proficient in Microsoft Office and quality management systems
● Internal Audit training