Quality Manager

About Kerry

Kerry Group’s UK & Ireland dairy related business includes Dairy Ingredients, Dairy Nutritional Ingredients, Dairy Consumer Foods, and Agribusiness. With a revenue in excess of €1bn per year, it is one of the world’s leading dairy businesses. With our strong dairy heritage and deep-rooted connection to our 3,000 milk suppliers, right through to our portfolio of innovative and high-quality brands, the dairy business has a unique and compelling proposition for both consumers and our customers. 

Our dairy business has a diversified portfolio of dairy, nutritional ingredients and market leading dairy brands and its vertically integrated dairy processing ensures the highest quality, sustainably produced 1.2bn litres of milk for our dairy, nutritional ingredients, and consumer foods business – a key consideration among some of our largest customers across the globe.  

We have an unrivalled dairy consumer brands portfolio coupled with a track record in innovation underpinned by technology and science. We manufacture and market our own leading butter, dairy, and plant spreads brands: Dairygold, Low Low, Pure and Golden Cow. We are the largest supplier of Private Label dairy spreads, supplying all major retailers in Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe. Our cheese brands compete in children’s cheese snacks (Attack-a-Snak), natural cheese (block, slices and grated), and in processed cheese segments and our leading cheese brands include Strings & Things, Coleraine, and Charleville Cheese. Through our multi-geographical presence (UK, Ireland, and Western Europe) we have a deep consumer insight which is a key component of the business. 

About the role

Here at Kerry. we're currently recruiting for a full time. permanent Quality Manager onsite in Charleville, Co. Cork to support with our ongoing project 'Midas'.  

Being apart of this project means you will be at the heart of our much loved Cheestrings products. In the last 12 months, Kerry have harnessed significant investment to increase our Cheestrings capacity by 50%. You will be part of the team shaping the future of a modern, highly automated environment working with the latest in cutting edge food production technology. 

As Quality Manager, you will be responsible for all quality, regulatory, sanitation and food safety related matters at site. In this role you will drive the GMP standards within the plants to ensure all products manufactured comply with all food safety, quality and legal requirements.

You will lead your direct reports and wider quality team to effectively manage the quality function at site, as well as effectively managing internal and external customers.

Key responsibilities

• Departmental Management - Lead, manage, motivate and develop the Quality Assurance (QA) team, coaching encouraging people to achieve results which meet individual, departmental and business targets and objectives, and support the company values.
• Technical Compliance - Specifically, review and action variances to all microbiological, analytical, quality assessment and customer complaint KPIs. To be achieved through Auditing and Coaching Teams on sites –
• Factory Standards - Liaise cross functionally to resolve operational technical problems and drive improvements in factory standards.
• Training - Liase & communicate with Operational Managers on company quality training standards to support Site.
• Visits/Audits - Prepare and organise the department and site for internal and external visitors, effectively promoting the department, building long term relationships and confidence. Lead site visits and audits where required.
• Costs - to ensure that spending is in-line with the technical budget and any additional targets, as agreed with the technical manager. Process purchase orders in good time.
• Personal management & Development - To identify personal knowledge and training gaps, with a view to fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of the Quality Manager role. To prepare oneself through knowledge and behaviours for succession planning to a more senior role at the appropriate time.
• Act as Cover for Technical Manager when required - In the absence of the Technical Manager, the QA manager will act as the senior technical representative on site. As such the QA Manager must work with the TM to ensure all responsibilities are known and covered, including customer contact and attendance at Senior Leadership Team (SLT) Meetings in the TMs absence.

Qualifications and skills

• Food or Science Degree desirable (or equivalent) 
• Able to demonstrate previous experience in food manufacturing
• HACCP Level 3 would be an advantage 
• Food Hygiene - intermediate.
• Internal auditor qualification and/ or audit experience
• Ability to make logical & methodical decisions
• Knowledge of BRC Food manufacturing standard

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!