Quality Manager

HRM Search Partners; Longford; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

HRM Search Partners is seeking a experienced Quality Manager for a food manufacturing site in the Midlands. You will lead the day-to-day Quality Assurance team, ensuring food safety, compliance and product quality across production.

The role combines hands-on leadership on the factory floor with development of quality systems and audit readiness to support customer and regulator requirements. You will work closely with Production, Technical, Engineering, Supply Chain and Commercial teams to

Qualifications

• Proven quality management experience in food manufacturing.
• Leadership and team development skills.
• Experience in high-volume, automated production environments.
• Strong audit and compliance knowledge (BRCGS).
• HACCP, TACCP, VACCP knowledge.
• Experience handling customer complaints and CAPA.
• Experience with supplier quality management.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily Quality Assurance activities on the factory floor.
• Maintain food safety and product standards with Production.
• Develop and maintain HACCP/TACCP/VACCP and quality systems.
• Ensure GMP, hygiene and allergen controls.
• Manage quality documentation, traceability and calibration.
• Lead internal, customer, regulatory and BRCGS audits.
• Investigate and close out audit findings and non-conformances.
• Manage supplier quality in partnership with stakeholders.
• Represent Quality with external customers and stakeholders.
• Develop the QA team and cross-functional collaboration.

Skills

Quality leadership

People leadership

Audit/compliance

HACCP/TACCP/VACCP

Root cause analysis

Supplier quality

Customer liaison

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Degree in Food Science

Job description

Our client is an established and growing food manufacturing business supplying high-quality products to leading retail and food service customers across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Operating from a highly automated manufacturing environment, the business has invested significantly in its production capability and continues to focus on innovation, product development and operational excellence.

Quality is an important part of how the business operates, with strong engagement across Production and the wider organisation. As the operation continues to develop, they are seeking to appoint an experienced Quality Manager to lead the day-to-day Quality function and Quality Assurance team.

This is a hands-on operational leadership role with responsibility for maintaining food safety, compliance and product standards across the site. The successful candidate will work closely with Production and wider cross-functional teams, providing visible Quality leadership on the factory floor while developing team capability, maintaining audit readiness and supporting strong customer and supplier quality performance.

The Role

Quality Leadership & Food Safety

• Lead the day-to-day Quality Assurance team, setting clear priorities and ensuring appropriate Quality coverage across production.
• Provide visible, practical Quality leadership on the factory floor, working closely with Production to maintain food safety and product standards.
• Maintain and develop food safety and quality systems, including HACCP, TACCP and VACCP.
• Ensure GMP, hygiene, allergen control and wider food safety standards are consistently maintained.
• Manage quality documentation, traceability and calibration systems to a clear and auditable standard.
• Identify and resolve quality issues promptly, ensuring appropriate escalation and follow-through.
• Lead and contribute to continuous improvement and development initiatives across the site.

Audit, Customer & Supplier Quality

• Support and lead internal, customer, regulatory and BRCGS audits, maintaining ongoing audit readiness.
• Manage audit findings and non-conformances through root-cause investigation and corrective action.
• Manage customer complaints professionally and promptly, ensuring effective investigation and sustained corrective actions.
• Manage supplier quality and compliance with agreed specifications in partnership with relevant internal stakeholders.
• Represent Quality confidently with key external customers and other external stakeholders.

People & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Lead, coach and develop the Quality Assurance team, building capability, accountability and engagement.
• Work closely with Production, Technical, Engineering, Supply Chain, Procurement and Commercial teams.
• Promote constructive cross-functional problem-solving and strong collaboration between Quality and Operations.
• Support a site-wide culture where food safety and product quality are understood as shared responsibilities.

Key Requirements

• Strong Quality / Technical management experience within food manufacturing.
• Demonstrable people leadership, coaching and team development capability.
• Experience within a high-volume and preferably automated manufacturing environment.
• Strong audit and compliance experience, including BRCGS and food safety management systems.
• Sound working knowledge of HACCP, TACCP, VACCP and wider food safety and quality systems.
• Experience managing customer complaints, non-conformances, root-cause investigations and corrective / preventive actions.
• Experience managing supplier quality and compliance.
• Strong customer-facing capability and the credibility to represent Quality with external customers.
• Experience partnering closely with Production / Operations and wider cross-functional stakeholders.
• Degree in Food Science or a related discipline.
• Experience within bakery or a comparable high-volume food production environment would be advantageous.

Leadership & Management Capability

• Hands-on and operationally visible, with a willingness to spend significant time close to production.
• Confident decision-maker with the ability to prioritise effectively in a fast-moving manufacturing environment.
• Strong people leadership capability with the ability to develop individuals, create accountability and introduce change constructively.
• Naturally curious, with an interest in understanding products and manufacturing processes.
• Able to operate independently, take ownership and follow actions through to completion.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Resilient and adaptable, with the ability to remain calm and pragmatic when responding to emerging issues.

This is a permanent, predominantly site-based position in the Midlands, offering a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.