QA Manager at Kerry Group

Charleville, Munster, Ireland -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

06 Feb, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

08 Nov, 25

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Quality Management Systems, Food Safety, HACCP, ISO 22000, Leadership, Communication, Problem Solving, Microbiology, Dairy Processing, Continuous Improvement, Auditing, Good Manufacturing Practices, Training, Data Analysis, Regulatory Compliance, Customer Complaint Resolution

Industry

Food and Beverage Services

Description

About the role We have a great opportunity for a Quality Assurance Manager to join us, at our site in Charleville. The QA Manager provides site leadership to lead and manage the quality assurance function, ensuring that all dairy products meet regulatory standards, customer requirements, and company quality objectives. Responsible for implementing and maintaining quality systems, food safety programs, and continuous improvement initiatives. This is a Monday – Friday role, with the requirement to work 1 in 6 weekends. Due to the location, applicants must be able to drive and have their own transport to 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 Develop, implement, and maintain quality management systems (QMS) in line with ISO, HACCP, FSSC 22000, or other relevant standards. Ensure compliance with local and international food safety regulations and statutory requirements (FDA, FSSAI, EU, etc.). Conduct regular audits (internal, supplier, and third-party) and implement corrective actions. Oversee the implementation of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Hygiene Practices (GHP), and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP). Ensure effective monitoring of Critical Control Points (CCPs) in production processes. Lead food safety team meetings and coordinate annual reviews of HACCP plans. Establish and monitor specifications for raw materials, in-process, and finished products. Lead sensory evaluations, shelf-life studies, and product release decisions. Investigate and resolve customer complaints and implement preventive measures. Lead, train, and develop QA/QC teams to maintain high standards of food safety and product quality. Conduct regular training sessions on quality standards, hygiene, and food safety practices for production and warehouse teams. Drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce defects, wastage, and customer complaints. Analyze quality data, prepare reports for management, and propose action plans to meet quality KPIs. Collaborate with R&D, Production, and Supply Chain to ensure smooth new product development (NPD) and process validation. Maintain all quality-related documentation as per regulatory and certification body requirements. Ensure timely preparation and submission of reports, certificates of analysis (COAs), and compliance records. What you can bring to the role A Masters degree or equivalent in food science, dairy or microbiology. Previous experience within a similar role, ideally within the dairy industry, however, experience within the food manufacturing industry would also be beneficial. Strong knowledge of dairy processing, microbiology, and food safety regulations. Expertise in HACCP, ISO 22000/FSSC 22000, and other food safety standards. Analytical mindset with strong problem-solving and root cause analysis skills. Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills. Ability to handle audits and inspections effectively. Experience with the department of agriculture. GMP requirements knowledge Kerry is an Equal Opportunities Employer. Consistent with our policy of providing equality of opportunity for all, we are required to seek particular information from applicants. As part of your application you will be asked to answer a short number of questions. This information will be held separate to your application and treated in the strictest of confidence.

Responsibilities

The QA Manager leads and manages the quality assurance function, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and customer requirements. Responsibilities include implementing quality systems, conducting audits, and driving continuous improvement initiatives.