Food Safety and Quality Manager

Kinisla; Listowel; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Kinisla, Listowel, County Kerry, seeks a Food Safety and Quality Manager to lead a team and uphold quality expectations across our farm-to-fork operation.

You will drive hygiene, GMP, HACCP compliance, support continuous improvement, and build strong relationships with customers and regulators.

Qualifications

• Honours science degree in Food Science, Pharmaceutical or Microbiology.
• Minimum 5 years quality management experience in a food manufacturing or pharmaceutical environment.
• Experience in spray drying & evaporation technologies is an advantage.
• Experience in validation and control of facilities, equipment utilities, processing and cleaning is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead the quality agenda in area of responsibility with multi-functional team.
• Manage & deliver on agreed annual quality objectives programme & quality targets.
• Define and implement hygiene, GMP and compliance standards as per Kinisla and customer standards.
• Identification of and delivery of relevant continuous improvement initiatives.
• Address quality issues by implementing rigorous root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Develop effective relations with customers and other external agencies and manage audits and other relevant agendas.
• Manage Quality Systems & Standards Compliance to HACCP, applicable Global Standards, Regulatory Agencies and Accreditation Bodies.

Skills

People management

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Education

Honours science degree in Food Science/Pharmaceutical/Microbiology

Job description

About the Role

Here at Kinisla, we're currently recruiting for a Food Safety and Quality Manager to join our team in Listowel, County Kerry. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading a team and meeting all quality expectations.

What will I be doing?

• Lead the quality agenda in area of responsibility with multi-functional team
• Manage & deliver on agreed annual quality objectives programme & quality targets
• Define and implement hygiene, GMP and compliance standards as per Kinisla and customer standards
• Identification of and delivery of all relevant continuous improvement initiatives.
• Address quality issues by implementing rigorous root cause analysis and corrective actions
• Develop effective relations with customers and other external agencies as required and manage audits and other relevant agendas
• Manage Quality Systems & Standards Compliance to HACCP, applicable Global Standards, Regulatory Agencies and Accreditation Bodies

What do I need to be successful?

• Minimum of an Honours Science degree in Food Science, Pharmaceutical, Microbiology or equivalent discipline
• Minimum of 5 Years Quality management experience in a food manufacturing or pharmaceutical environment
• Experience in Spray Drying & Evaporation Technologies is an advantage
• Experience in control of facilities, equipment utilities, processing and cleaning
• Experience in Validation desirable but not essential

These include:

• Focus on delivery of key agreed objectives and targets
• Ability to gain deep process understanding
• Attention to detail coupled with strong problem-solving ability
• Team focus on strong people management and interpersonal skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent organizational and planning skills

About Kinisla

Kinisla 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, Kinisla 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 28 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, Kinisla employs over 1,700 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.

Get in touch today!

At Kinisla, 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 Kinisla 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 Kinisla 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 Kinisla Hiring Managers.