Requisition ID: 60197
Position Type: FT Permanent
Workplace Arrangement:

About the role

We have a great opportunity for a Food Safety & Quality Manager to join us, at our site in Coleraine.

The Food Safety & Quality Manager provides site leadership for Food Safety & Quality in alignment with the Kerry Corporate Policies. This position reports to the Quality Director and has a matrix reporting relationship to the Plant Manager. Plant quality assurance personnel will report to this position. This position requires 5-10% travel.

This is a Monday – Friday role, with some occasional requirement to work outside these hours.

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

• Ensure effective food safety compliance and work with plant management team to implement programs to mitigate risk.
• Support Food Safety and HACCP program and team at site level, ensuring that Good Manufacturing Practices, preventive controls and prerequisite programs are in place and effective.
• Support the plant Food Safety & Quality System to produce safe quality food, maintaining GFSI certification utilizing Kerry Manufacturing Standards. Demonstrates Safety First, Quality Always approach.
• Support food safety and quality systems including QC & QA. Develop, review and align procedures with corporate KFMS, through Intelex, with a drive towards global best practice.
• Internally audit practices and procedures for improvement to prevent non-conformances. Quality system shall include food safety, Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), Quality Control in ERP systems, material control, sanitation, and Food Safety Plans, as required by FSMA, Intelex and KFMS.
• Enforce Kerry manufacturing standards in the areas of ingredient and product standards, process specifications, formula compliance, sanitation/GMP/pest control, and regulatory audit compliance.
• Ensure that the products released are compliant and safe foods. Support the site for regulatory inspections (FDA/CFIA), identify preserved (ie. organic, Kosher, etc) and customer audits.
• Track and trend agreed upon KPI’s. Support the plant Quality Improvement Plans.
• Partner cross-functionally in quality and process improvement by applying RCAAP principles.
• Develop Kerry Production Stream through training activities to drive improvements to align with Kerry global. Role model proactive engagement on production floor.
• Be proactive and responsive in supporting customer complaints, communicating effectively on technical issues and ensuring the root cause analysis and verification of corrective actions.
• Develop and maintain qualified personnel within the Quality department, through training, development, communication, and accountability.
• Support the department within budgets and utilize resources effectively to meet needs of the business on a timely basis.

What you can bring to the role

• A primary degree in Science / Engineering with an OHS/Environmental/Sustainability qualification to Diploma level or higher.
• Previous experience with QHSE management systems and continuous improvement across multiple sites.
• Understanding of sustainability and ethical trading best practice.
• Experience managing customer relationships is essential.
• Exposure to standards development, strategy development and implementation, end-to-end Supply chain insight, interpreting and executing to international standards and project/Change management.

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.

Get in touch today!

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.

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.

Please note: We do not accept CVs or candidate profiles from recruitment agencies where Kerry Dairy Ireland terms of business have not been signed. Additionally, we will not consider or agree to payment of any recruiter fee under these circumstances. This also applies to CVs or candidate profiles sent directly to any Kerry Dairy Ireland Hiring Managers.

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.

Beware of scams online or from individuals claiming to represent us. A Kerry employee will not solicit candidates through a non-Kerry email address or phone number. In addition, Kerry does not currently utilise video chat rooms (e.g., Google Hangouts) to conduct interviews. Refuse any request that asks you to provide payment to participate in the hiring process (e.g., purchasing a “starter kit,” investing in training, or something similar). Kerry will not ask you to pay any money at any point in the hiring process with the exception of reimbursable travel expenses. In addition, any payments made by Kerry will be from official firm accounts bearing the Kerry name.

Recruiter: #LI-SD2
Posting Type: LI