Quality Assurance Laboratory Manager

Kerry; Auckland; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Kerry in Auckland, New Zealand, is seeking a Laboratory Team Lead to manage the Auckland laboratory and the Laboratory Technician team. You will ensure accurate, timely testing and release of materials and products, maintain data integrity, calibration, and compliant processes, and collaborate with site teams to resolve non-conformances and improve first-time-right performance.

Reporting to the Quality Manager, you will own testing and positive release of materials, support audits, and drive

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or related field.
• Minimum 3 years leading a laboratory, quality-control, or technical team in food manufacturing.
• Experience in lab operations, product testing and release, calibration, technical records, and non-conformance management.
• Working knowledge of HACCP, GMP, allergen management, risk assessment, and GFSI standards.
• Proficiency in SAP quality control, inspection, batch status, traceability, and release processes.
• Strong analytical, risk-based decision-making, and data integrity focus.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop the Laboratory Technician team with competency and safety focus.
• Ensure test results are accurate and delivered timely, with cost effectiveness.
• Apply lean lab principles to optimize resource use in the lab.
• Manage laboratory operations including sample control, testing, and housekeeping.
• Maintain equipment calibration, verification, and compliant methods and records.
• Report performance, risks, trends, and improvements to the Quality Manager.
• Complete required training and maintain competency for all assigned duties.

Skills

Lab leadership

Analytical problem solving

Risk-based decision making

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science/ Microbiology/ Chemistry

Tools

SAP

Excel

PowerPoint

Quality/lab systems

Job description

About Kerry

Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.

Requisition ID 66228

Position Type FT Permanent

About The Role

Work Location Auckland, New Zealand

Reporting To Quality Manager

This role will lead the Auckland laboratory, Laboratory Technician team. The role ensures accurate, timely testing and release of materials and products; maintains laboratory capability, data integrity, calibration, and compliance; and partners with site teams to resolve non-conformances, strengthen process control, and improve right-first-time performance.

Key responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop the Laboratory Technician team, ensuring appropriate competency, safe work practices, shift coverage, and service delivery.
• Ensure test results are accurate, delivered in time (within GR in SAP), produced in an efficient manner, and cost effective.
• Apply lean lab principles to optimize resource utilization in the lab.
• Manage laboratory operations, including sample control, sensory, water and shelf-life testing, external services, consumables, reference standards, housekeeping, and good laboratory practices.
• Maintain equipment calibration and verification, approved test methods, specifications, sampling plans, work instructions, competency records, and complete, traceable laboratory data.
• Report laboratory performance, risks, trends, service levels, and improvement progress to the Food Safety and Quality Manager.
• Complete required training and maintain competency for all assigned responsibilities

RM and (New) Product release management

• Own testing and positive release of raw materials and finished products, including review, disposition, traceability, and timely SAP transactions. Provide the third layer of verification of in-process controls for product release.
• Immediately report and elevate any food safety, legality, quality, regulatory, or product-integrity concern, derived from test results or third verification for product release, and support appropriate product hold and disposition decisions.
• Support quality approval for new products and changes, confirming specifications, testing capability, inspection plans, release requirements, and operational readiness.
• Support functions via testing to resolve quality issues, protect customer service, and strengthen site-wide ownership of food safety and quality.
• Support internal and external audits in the scope of laboratory responsibilities, including customer, regulatory, and certification audits, and ensure corrective actions are completed effectively and on time.
• Site SAP Superuser
• Undertake other reasonable duties as directed by the Food Safety and Quality Manager.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
• Minimum 3 years of leading a laboratory, quality-control, or technical team in food manufacturing environment.
• Experience in laboratory operations, product testing and release, calibration, technical records, and non-conformance management.
• Working knowledge of HACCP, GMP, allergen management, risk assessment, and GFSI benchmarked standards.
• Experience applying root cause analysis, CAPA, trend analysis, Statistical Process Control, and process capability principles.
• Proficiency in SAP quality control, inspection, batch status, traceability, and release processes.
• Strong technical judgement, analytical problem-solving, and risk-based decision-making.
• High attention to detail and commitment to data integrity, product safety, quality, and compliance.
• Clear communication, planning, prioritisation, and cross-functional influencing skills.
• Strong digital capability, including Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, SAP, and quality or laboratory systems.