Food Safety and Quality Manager

About the role

We are currently on the lookout for a Food Safety and Quality Manager, at our manufacturing facility in Listowel.

This role will lead the technical team in ensuring that all manufactured products at the Kerry Dairy Ireland – Dairy Consumer Foods plant comply with quality, food safety customer requirements and regulatory through lab test and validation schemes.

You will also implement and monitor GMP, food safety and FSQ requirements across site.

About Kerry Dairy Ireland

Kerry Dairy Ireland is a vertically integrated farm-to-fork business with a very substantial consumer foods presence and a leading nutritional and dairy ingredients division, delivering high-quality dairy solutions with a focus on sustainability and innovation. From partnering with local family farms to producing world-class dairy products, we ensure every step of our value chain reflects our commitment to excellence.

With over 50 years’ experience in milk processing, dairy and nutritional technology advancement, and product innovation, we are a key stakeholder in the global food industry and creators of a strong portfolio of market leading dairy brands including Cheestrings, Charleville and Coleraine Cheese, Dairygold, Golden Cow and our new SMUG range. Our from food, for food culture and deep-rooted connection to our 2,800 milk suppliers differentiates our business and offers captivating opportunities for our customers and consumers. 

Our dairy comes from some of the world’s richest grazing land and is produced by a network of Irish family farms that have one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world. Through a combination of expertise, innovation, and sustainability, Kerry Dairy Ireland is proud to shape the future of dairy while meeting the diverse needs of our farmers, customers, and communities.

Headquartered in Tralee, Co. Kerry, we operate multiple manufacturing facilities in the southwest of Ireland, including Listowel, Charleville, Newmarket, and Farranfore. Additionally, we manage 29 Farm & Home stores throughout the region, ensuring comprehensive coverage and service. In Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, our presence extends to key locations in Portadown, Coleraine, and Ossett.

Globally, Kerry Dairy Ireland employs over 1,600 dedicated professionals across Ireland, Northern Ireland, the UK, USA, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and China. In 2024, we achieved a turnover of approximately €1.3 billion, reflecting our commitment to excellence and growth.

What you'll be doing

• HACCP site lead and Food safety team member, providing guidelines and support for all operations team in aspects such as verification and yearly validation of HACCP plans and prerequisite programs.
• Ensure that all food safety management systems based on GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) certification are in accordance with the requirements of the current standard.
• Responsible for participating in new product meetings (NPI) ensuring the execution of risk assessment for food safety based on HACCP and customer requirements.
• Lead customer audits, Kerry group items and any audit related to the area of quality and food safety.
• Manage environmental monitoring program.
• Develop training based on the risks raised in HACCP with a focus on risk prevention.
• Ensure the implementation of food safety programs.
• Ensure that all action plans are managed, and generated risk analysis based on the risk map. Manage action plans based on CAPA, using Intelex portal for root cause analysis.
• Conduct risk assessments systematically to avoid deviations that may affect the performance of the plant and our customers.
• Responsible for managing third party companies, service providers such as: Pest control, chemicals, cleaning and conservation of the environment and calibration of critical equipment based on HACCP.
• To be the focal point for good manufacturing practices, change management, preventive maintenance for food safety, foreign material program, golden 6, allergen control, food defence, etc. Ensure that all prerequisites are carried out to avoid possible risk of food safety.
• Perform risk trend analysis and ensure that leadership levels receive all the strengths and weaknesses of the management system based on HACCP, and risk map analysis.
• Responsible for reducing customer and consumer complaints.
• Be the point person at the site for regulatory inspections, identify preserved (ie, organic, kosher) and customer audits.

What you can bring to the role

• Degree or equivalent in Microbiology, Food science, Biology, or related field.
• Significant quality & food safety management experience within a manufacturing setting.
• Knowledge – certified and experienced with relevant consensus systems such as BRC and/or FSSC 22000.
• Knowledge about Allergens, microbiological topics, Kosher, HACCP, GMP´s, Quality systems and Pre-requisite programs, internal audits.
• Knowledge with Microsoft Office & SAP (preferred).

What we can offer

At Kerry Dairy Ireland, we believe in giving talented, curious people the opportunity to make a difference. We work as a team, searching for the best ways to inspire food and nourish life.

We are a community of innovators, working across disciplines to solve global food challenges with a fresh approach. We want you to achieve whatever you put your mind to.

We also offer

•  25 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays)
• Hybrid working
•  Health Care
•  Matched pension scheme
• Benefits platform offering discounts and cashback on major retailers.

In Kerry Dairy Ireland 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.