Quality Assurance Manager

Job Description

Job Title:           Quality Assurance Manager

Function:        Technical

Reports to:     Technical Manager

Location:         Mitchelstown, Co Cork

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Ornua is a leading dairy co-operative which sells premium dairy products globally on behalf of its Member Co-operatives, Ireland’s dairy processors and, in turn, Irish dairy farmers. 

Ornua has revenues of €3.4 billion and is supported by a global team of approximately 2,800 employees. The Group operates as a commercial organisation across 10 business units, including 12 production facilities located in Europe, North America, the Middle East and Africa. 

The commercial organisation is responsible for the marketing and sales of Ornua’s consumer brands including Ireland’s most successful food export: Kerrygold. Consumer markets are served by production facilities in Ireland, Germany and the UK and by in-market Sales & Marketing Teams in Asia, Germany, Ireland, MEA, Poland, Spain, rest of Europe and North and Latin America. 

It also manages the procurement of Irish and non-Irish dairy products, the sale of dairy ingredients to food manufacturing and foodservice customers globally, and the implementation of de-risking and trading strategies to manage market volatility. These activities are supported by production facilities and in-market teams in Europe, North America, the Middle East and Africa. 

The Role

We are seeking a Quality Assurance Manager.  The QA Manager will have responsibility for the daily implementation and monitoring of the Kerrygold Park (KGP) Food Safety and Quality Management systems (FSQMS) in the factory.

The role includes leading and developing the Quality Assurance team that operates 24/7 and this does require an element of on call duties

The role requires a practical and hands on approach with a high degree of flexibility and adaptability to ensure success.

Key Areas of Responsibility

Lead QA team including resource management, coaching and succession planning to develop a high performing team

Compliance with relevant standards such as BRC, Kosher, Halal etc. as well as legislative and other customer specific requirements

Site lead for site hygiene and GMP standards

Drive a continuous improvement agenda to ensure a culture of right first time and audit readiness across the site

HACCP and prerequisite program implementation

Drive Factory and Supplier Non-conformance resolution and embedding of long-term preventive measures and ensuring speedy inspection and resolution via risk assessment of affected stock/materials.

Develop and execute site GMP audits and schedules

Commit to striving for a strong Health and Safety culture in all everything we do

Manage floor specifications

Maintain internal traceability systems and records  

Lead traceability exercises for 3rd party audits

Monitoring receipt of key raw materials

Support new product development projects / Trials

Support change management where required on improvement project across site

Internal stock management of Quality Hold items

Lead Quality Projects as required

Key Skills / Attributes

The ideal candidate will have a desire to progress and develop their career in Quality Management. You will have experience as a Quality lead in a food processing environment that operates to GFSI standards ideally BRC.

A third level qualification in Food science / Science / Quality disciplines

3/4 years in a Manufacturing environment

BRC (or equivalent) and retail standards experience is essential

Experience in leading, coaching and developing teams is desirable

Strong communication, interpersonal, organisational, and administrative skills

Flexible to work outside office hours if required to effectively manage a Team on shift rotation

Committed attitude with the ability to display initiative and make decisions

Problem solver, disciplined in collecting information, ascertaining root cause of issues and identifying and developing practical solutions

Ability to work to deadlines, under pressure and with a can-do attitude

The ability to work well individually and integrate well with operations teams

IT literate with strong Word, Excel and database skills to drive efficiencies

HACCP, PCQI or similar trained desirable

Trained Auditor desirable

Ornua Core Competencies

• Expertise: For projects that involve others applies effective professional skill, analysis, decision making, planning and reviewing.
• Forward-Looking: Helps others to accept change, implements change, and looks ahead to anticipate change.
• Communicative: Applies advanced communication skills, considering impact on the audience and desired outcomes.
• Working Together: Ensure own team effectiveness; facilitates and leads cross-functional working.