Quality Manager - FMCG

Morgan McKinley; Cork; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Morgan McKinley is recruiting on behalf of a well-established, fast-paced food manufacturing business in Ireland for an experienced Quality Manager. Reporting to the Technical Manager, the role leads day-to-day QA, audits and continuous improvement, managing a small team and partnering with Production and Management to uphold food safety and customer standards. You will drive GMP and hygiene, ensure audit readiness, and mentor junior staff to sustain top quality across the site.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a Quality Manager role within food manufacturing.
• Experience preparing for and leading retailer/auditor audits.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, TACCP, GMP and food safety management systems.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills across technical and production teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the day-to-day Quality Assurance function.
• Ensure the site remains audit-ready at all times.
• Lead customer, retailer and certification audits, including preparation, actions and close-out.
• Maintain GMP and quality standards and drive continuous improvement across the site.
• Oversee QA checks, sampling, testing and documentation across materials and finished products.

Skills

Quality management

Audit management

HACCP/TACCP knowledge

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Job description

Job Description Our client is a well-established, fast-paced food manufacturing business supplying a number of major retail customers. They are now seeking an experienced Quality Manager to join their technical team on a permanent basis. Reporting directly to the Technical Manager, this is a key site-based role with responsibility for leading the day-to-day Quality Assurance function and ensuring consistently high standards of food safety, quality and customer compliance. You will manage a team of three direct reports and work closely with Production, Technical and wider site management to maintain a strong culture of food safety, quality and continuous improvement.

The Role

The Quality Manager will take ownership of the site's QA operations, ensuring products consistently meet customer specifications, legislative requirements and recognised food safety standards. A significant part of the role will involve customer and retailer audit management. The successful candidate must have proven experience preparing for and managing retailer/customer audits and be confident representing the business in a demanding audit environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the day-to-day Quality Assurance function.
• Ensure the site remains audit-ready at all times.
• Lead and support customer, retailer and certification audits, including preparation, execution, corrective actions and close-out.
• Maintain and implement relevant food safety and quality standards, including BRCGS, retailer requirements and other applicable certification standards.
• Lead the HACCP/TACCP team and ensure food safety systems remain effective and current.
• Conduct and oversee factory GMP and internal systems audits.
• Monitor quality results, identify trends and implement appropriate corrective and preventative actions.
• Ensure out-of-specification results are escalated promptly and effectively managed.
• Oversee QA checks, monitoring, sampling, analysis and auditing across raw materials, production and finished products.
• Ensure SOPs, quality documentation, production check sheets and records are accurate and maintained.
• Oversee traceability exercises, label generation and approval.
• Work closely with Production to identify, troubleshoot and resolve quality and food safety issues.
• Drive a strong food safety and quality culture across the site through communication, training and leading by example.
• Ensure GMP and hygiene standards are consistently maintained throughout production.
• Make appropriate quality decisions relating to raw materials and finished products and recommend line stoppages where required.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across the technical and manufacturing functions.
• Act as deputy to the Technical Manager when required.

The Ideal Candidate

• Proven experience in a Quality Manager, or similar role within food manufacturing.
• Previous experience managing customer and, in particular, retailer audits.
• Experience preparing for and leading customer and third-party certification audits.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, TACCP, GMP and food safety management systems.
• Experience working to BRCGS and retailer standards.
• Previous experience managing, mentoring or developing a QA/technical team.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• The confidence to challenge standards and make appropriate quality decisions in a production environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across Technical, Production and Management teams.
• A proactive approach to continuous improvement.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• The ability to remain calm, decisive and solutions-focused in a fast-moving environment.