Food, Safety and Quality Manager

About Kerry

A career with Kerry Taste & Nutrition offers you an opportunity to shape how people across the globe view food and beverage while providing you opportunities to explore and grow as your interests do. With our commitment to a sustainable future, a career with Kerry is something you can feel good about. 

About the role

Here at Kerry, we're currently recruiting for a Food Safety & Quality Manager on a full time, permanent basis onsite in Birstwith, North Yorkshire.

As FSQ Manager you will provide site leadership for Food Safety and Quality in alignment with the Kerry Corporate Policies.

To be successful you will be confident with engaging workforce (from Shop Floor through to Senior Management), coaching and developing individuals to ensure the right behaviours are implemented and sustained. 

About the site - The flourmill at Birstwith sits on the same site as the original flour mill from the 19th Century. It is the primary source of flour for rusk production, and much of the raw material for the blends is also produced on site, as well as flour for other Kerry sites across the group. The mill produces about 40000 tonnes of flour a year, mostly from locally grown wheat. Rusk plant – The rusk plant was purchased in 1975 and has since been significantly expanded upon and modified. The plant produces rusk using a conventional baking and drying process for a variety of functional meat applications, including sausages and meat pies etc, as well as crumbs for coatings applications. Blending Plant – Commissioned in 1993, the Blending Plant supplies flour based blends for coatings applications, and manufactures a range of batters, breaders, predusts, and intermediates. 

Key responsibilities

• Ensure effective food safety compliance and work with plant management team to implement programs to mitigate risk and drive a positive Food Safety culture across the site.
• Manage and lead HACCP program and team at site level, ensuring that Good Manufacturing Practices, preventive controls and prerequisite programs are in place and effective.
• Manage the plant Food Safety & Quality System to produce safe quality food, acting as SQF Practitioner or equivalent GFSI manager (BRC, FS22000).
• Be responsible for the accurate and effective evaluation of product through sensory, analytical and microbiological testing.
• Ensure Kerry standards are fully implemented and followed in the areas of ingredient and product standards, process specifications, formula compliance, sanitation/GMP/pest control, and regulatory compliance.
• Develop and lead proactive action plans for performance improvement including complaint reduction, right the first time, timely release of product, completion and verification of corrective actions and audit findings.
• Leads effective and successful external and internal audits.
• Act as the primary technical liaison with customers, vendors and regulatory agencies.
• Be proactive and responsive in addressing customer complaints, communicating effectively on technical issues and leading the root cause analysis.
• Develop, engage and maintain qualified personnel within the plant Quality department, through training, communication, and accountability.
• Continuously improve knowledge of products and technology to investigate variation and resolve technical problems with the team.
   

Qualifications and skills

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Microbiology, or similar Science/Engineering
• Quality experience and/or training
• Experience in a plant environment strongly preferred
• Managing FSQ systems
• Proficiency in analysis through Excel, Intelex, SAP, and root cause analysis methodology
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills Industry / Sector Specific Knowledge and understanding of applicable Food Safety regulations, and industry and market trends.
• Knowledge and experience with relevant GFSI stand would be an advantage

What's in it for me?

Opportunity for career development, matched pension scheme to up to 10% and access to an employee assistance program and employee benefit platform. 

In Kerry we benefit from the knowledge of our colleagues who bring a diverse range of cultures, backgrounds, lifestyles and experiences.

One team fostering an inclusive culture that, above all, inspires food and nourishes life.

One culture where everyone brings their unique perspectives and experiences to help make us better, together.

We are committed to nurturing an environment of positivity and inclusiveness, where everyone can be at their best, both personally and professionally.

​Our recruitment, selection and assessment process are based on the skills and competencies of the specific roles and based entirely on merit. We are committed to and value Diversity and Inclusion in all recruitment processes within Kerry and do not discriminate based on gender, race, class, economic status, ethnic background, sexual orientation, age, political beliefs, veteran status, marital status or any other protected characteristic.

Get in touch today- we look forward to meeting you!