Quality Manager

HRM Search Partners; Longford; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

HRM Search Partners is assisting a Midlands-based food manufacturer to appoint an experienced Quality Manager. The role leads the day-to-day Quality Assurance function, maintains food safety and product quality, and partners with Production and cross-functional teams to uphold standards across site.

The successful candidate will drive audit readiness, manage CAPAs, and develop QA capability on the factory floor while representing Quality to external customers and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Must have strong quality/technical management experience in food manufacturing.
• Proven people leadership and team development capability.
• Experience in high-volume, automated manufacturing environments.
• Strong audit/compliance experience (BRCGS, food safety systems).
• Solid knowledge of HACCP, TACCP, VACCP and related food safety systems.
• Experience managing customer complaints, non-conformances and CAPAs.
• Experience managing supplier quality and compliance.
• Able to represent Quality with external customers and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day Quality Assurance team and ensure quality coverage across production.
• Drive food safety and product standards on the factory floor; work with cross-functional teams.
• Maintain and develop quality systems, including HACCP, TACCP, VACCP; ensure GMP and allergen control.
• Manage audit readiness, findings and corrective actions; support internal, customer and regulatory audits.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives and supplier quality performance.
• Coach and develop the QA team; foster cross-functional problem solving with Production and Operations.

Skills

Quality leadership

People leadership

Audit & compliance

HACCP/TACCP/VACCP

Customer complaints handling

Supplier quality

Cross-functional collaboration

Stakeholder management

Production partnership

Education

Degree in Food Science or related discipline

Job description

Our client is an established and growing food manufacturing business supplying high-quality products to leading retail and foodservice 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.
• 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.