Quality Lead

We are currently recruiting a Quality Lead with experience in food manufacturing to join our team at the Coleraine site on a 12-month FTC.

Kerry Coleraine, located on the banks of the River Bann, has a long history of producing high-quality dairy products since the 1940s. Today, the site supplies cheese slices to the food service industry and major UK and Ireland supermarkets. The site also features a child’s yogurt plant and a newly commissioned appetiser plant, reflecting Kerry's ongoing innovation and development.

This key position involves ownership of compliance, auditing, and quality for our dairy consumer foods site. You will have 3 direct reports and will be based on-site, driving continuous improvement alongside our production team members.

This role is Monday to Friday, with one Sunday per month dedicated to a hygiene audit.

About Kerry

Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. We partner with customers daily to create healthier, tastier, and more sustainable products consumed by billions worldwide. Our vision is to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers opportunities to shape the future of food and grow in a global environment.

What will I be doing?

1. Facilitating and executing 'KPS' Methodologies (e.g., 8 Step Practical Problem Solving) to continuously improve standards.
2. Guiding, training, and supporting the Technical and Production teams to ensure quality inspections are in place, including cleaning pre-starts.
3. Supporting the development of the Site Quality Management System and ensuring process quality documentation aligns with Kerry, regulatory, customer, and third-party standards.
4. Leading investigations and resolutions of non-conformances, communicating issues to the Quality function.
5. Analyzing production data to identify gaps, trends, and improvement opportunities, and communicating these internally and externally.
6. Developing and leading the site HACCP plan.
7. Focusing on quality and technical issues, using problem-solving tools, maintaining records, and communicating issues to relevant managers or crisis teams.
8. Facilitating customer audits and site visits.
9. Managing audit corrective actions, mock recalls, traceability challenges, and external/internal audit processes, including preparing formal responses.
10. Supporting R&D/NPI processes to introduce new products/materials while maintaining safety and quality standards.

What experience and skills will I need?

• Diploma or higher in Food Science or related field
• Fluency in English
• Analytical skills for interpreting process data
• Management experience
• Understanding of Food Safety and Quality Management Systems
• Knowledge of BRC Global Food Standard and customer standards
• Practical understanding of lean manufacturing principles and tools
• Problem-solving skills using 8 Step Practical Problem Solving

Key Skills

• Team facilitation and coaching
• Influencing skills
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Deadline management
• Relationship building

If you are excited about working with us and possess most of the skills or experience, we encourage you to apply, even if you do not meet every requirement.

Why should I apply?

We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for personal growth and career development within a leading food and nutrition technology company.

Our inclusive culture values diversity, backgrounds, and perspectives, fostering a positive environment where everyone can excel both personally and professionally.

Our recruitment process is merit-based, and we are committed to diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate based on gender, race, or other protected characteristics. Please be aware of scams; we will not solicit payments or conduct interviews via non-official channels.