Food Safety & Quality Auditor - Maternity Cover

Pilgrim's Europe; Dungannon; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food company in Dungannon is seeking a Food Safety & Quality Auditor to ensure compliance with quality standards and food safety regulations. The role involves auditing processes, monitoring product quality, and providing technical support across departments. Candidates should have at least a year of experience in the food industry, knowledge of HACCP standards, and strong communication skills. The position offers a competitive salary and a rotating shift pattern.

Benefits

Competitive Salary

Competitive Holiday Entitlement

Pension Contribution

Family Friendly Policies

Learning and Development Opportunities

Life Assurance

Qualifications

• Minimum 1 year experience in the food industry.
• Basic HACCP and Food Hygiene certification.
• Intermediate Food Hygiene and HACCP certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Audit factory environment, processes, products, and records.
• Monitor product quality daily.
• Conduct traceability exercises for ingredients.

Skills

Knowledge of HACCP

Problem-solving skills

Strong communication skills

Team player

Computer literacy

Education

Good general education

Third-level qualification (preferably food-related)

Tools

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Job description

My job

Food Safety & Quality Auditor

Location: Dungannon

Contract: Temporary (9-12 months maternity cover)

Hours: Rotating shift pattern

• Week 1: Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday - 06:00-18:00
• Week 2: Wednesday & Thursday - 06:00-18:00

Purpose of the Role

To implement, audit, and continually improve the Quality Assurance System, providing technical support to Production, Maintenance, and Hygiene teams. You will ensure products are consistently produced safely, meeting customer quality standards and legislative requirements, and take corrective action where necessary to maintain specifications.

Key Responsibilities

• Audit factory environment, processes, products, and records to verify compliance with agreed standards and procedures. Identify discrepancies and agree corrective actions with relevant managers.
• Report technical status and non-compliance issues verbally and in writing, including action plans.
• Monitor product quality daily (Despatch, On-Line, Taste Panel).
• Maintain and improve the Quality Assurance System, ensuring retrievability of records and compliance with specifications.
• Audit HACCP systems to guarantee product safety.
• Conduct traceability exercises for all ingredients through to customer deliveries.
• Perform critical tasks such as thermal process validation, calibration, and temperature monitoring.
• Provide technical guidance and training to other departments.
• Participate in problem-solving and project work.
• Ensure food safety, integrity, legality, and quality at all times.
• Promote environmental responsibility (e.g., waste reduction, recycling).
• Carry out any other duties required to fulfill the role.

Health & Safety Responsibilities

• Take reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of others.
• Drive Health & Safety compliance and improvements in your area.
• Work safely and follow company Health & Safety rules.
• Cooperate with managers and colleagues to maintain a safe workplace.
• Comply with safe systems of work at all times.

Key Deliverables

• Complete audits effectively and on time.
• Review factory SOPs in line with GSOP implementation.
• Support operational improvements by closing out non-conformances.
• Work collaboratively as part of the team.
• Monitor product quality and complete traceability exercises.

Skills & Knowledge

Essential:

• Good general education.
• Minimum 1 year experience in the food industry.
• Knowledge of HACCP, BRC Standards, Food Legislation, and Food Hygiene.
• Basic HACCP and Food Hygiene certification.
• Computer literacy.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Self‑motivated, well‑organized, and proactive.
• Team player with a customer‑focused approach.
• Problem‑solving and decision‑making skills.

Desirable:

• Third-level qualification (preferably food‑related) or equivalent experience.
• Working knowledge of Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Intermediate Food Hygiene and HACCP certification.
• Previous QA experience in a similar role.
• Experience with customer audits and COPs.
• Leadership skills.

The company

Pilgrim's Europe produces some of the best‑known and most iconic brands in the UK and Ireland, including Fridge Raiders, Rollover, Denny, Richmond, Oakhouse and Moy Park, alongside a diverse range of industry‑leading own‑label products in categories including fresh pork, lamb and chicken, working with all the major retailers and food service outlets.

Our portfolio extends to authentic chilled and frozen ready meals, snacking ranges, added‑value and food service products.

Across Pilgrim's Europe we combine 20,000 of the best people in the industry, united by a shared set of core values and a passion for producing the highest quality, most delicious and innovative food, which is enjoyed by millions of people in the UK, Ireland and Europe every day. Our Pilgrim's Europe team are based in our Pilgrim's UK, Moy Park, Pilgrim's Food Masters and Pilgrim's Shared Services businesses.

What we'll bring to the table

• Competitive Salary
• Competitive Holiday Entitlement
• Pension Contribution
• Family Friendly Policies
• Learning and Development Opportunities
• Life Assurance

Our values

• Determination
• Simplicity
• Availability
• Humility
• Discipline
• Sincerity
• Ownership