Quality Lead

Vickerstock are delighted to be working in partnership with growing and innovative food manufacturing business based in County Cork to appoint an experienced and driven Quality Lead to join their technical team.

Reporting to Senior Management, you will lead all aspects of quality assurance, food safety, and regulatory compliance across our production facility.

What's on Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Opportunity to work within a growing and innovative food manufacturing business
• Career development and progression opportunities
• Supportive and collaborative team culture
• Company events and on-site parking

What your day to day will look like

• Lead and continuously improve the site's Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring compliance with food safety legislation, customer requirements, Bord Bia Food Processor Standard, and BRCGS standards.
• Manage and develop the HACCP system, leading the HACCP team and driving food safety best practices.
• Coordinate and lead external audits (customer, BRCGS, Bord Bia, DAFM) and internal audit programmes, ensuring effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) are implemented.
• Monitor, analyse, and report quality performance metrics, including audit outcomes, customer complaints, microbiological and chemical testing, and product quality trends.
• Investigate customer complaints, conduct root cause analysis, and implement effective corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Deliver food safety, quality, and SOP training across the site.
• Prepare KPI reports and present quality performance updates to senior management.
• Support new product development initiatives and continuous improvement projects.
• Manage product recall preparedness, calibration programmes, production record verification, and supplier approval processes.
• Liaise with customers, regulatory authorities, certification bodies, and cross-functional teams to ensure quality and food safety objectives are achieved.

What you will need to succeed

• Degree or qualification in Food Science, Food Technology, Quality Management, or a related discipline.
• 3-5 years' quality assurance experience within the food manufacturing industry.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, TACCP, VACCP, GMP and Quality Management Systems.
• Working knowledge of food safety legislation, BRCGS and Bord Bia standards.
• Experience managing customer, BRCGS and regulatory audits.
• Strong problem-solving, root cause analysis and CAPA management skills.
• Excellent communication, organisational and leadership skills.
• Ability to build effective working relationships across departments.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience within the meat processing industry.
• Knowledge of retailer standards and customer specifications.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• HACCP qualification/certification.
• Internal auditing qualification or experience.