Head of Quality

Job Title: Head of Quality
Department: Technical / Quality Assurance
Location: Dublin 
Reports To: Managing Director

Role Overview

A Leading Food Manufacturing company based near Dublin are currently hiring for a Head of Quality. This position is a senior leadership role responsible for ensuring that all products meet the highest standards in food safety, quality, legality, and customer expectations. Leading the site’s Technical, QA, and Compliance teams, the Head of Quality will drive operational excellence, audit readiness, and continuous improvement throughout the business. This position provides both strategic and technical direction across various functions, acting as the lead for food safety and quality culture, while ensuring full compliance with relevant industry standards and legislation.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Strategy & Technical Leadership

• Develop and implement a food safety and quality strategy in alignment with business objectives and regulatory requirements.

• Lead and develop the QA, Technical, and Compliance teams to foster a proactive, high-performance, and audit-ready culture.

• Represent the organization in technical discussions with customers, retailers, and certification bodies.

Compliance, Certification & Regulatory Alignment

• Oversee and enhance certifications related to industry standards and customer-specific requirements.

• Own and manage the HACCP, TACCP, VACCP, and Environmental Monitoring (EMP) programmes.

• Ensure compliance with Irish and EU food safety regulations and maintain up-to-date regulatory records.

Food Safety Systems & Digital Quality Management

• Maintain and improve the Quality Management System (QMS) to ensure process control, traceability, and continuous improvement.

• Ensure the integrity of quality data across various digital systems (e.g., ERP, QAS portals, complaint systems).

• Utilize data analytics to drive trend analysis, resolve issues, and support strategic planning.

Crisis & Incident Management

• Act as the Technical Lead during food safety incidents, product withdrawals, or recalls.

• Test and maintain the Product Recall Procedure, including mock recalls and traceability drills.

• Lead root cause investigations and communicate with relevant parties as necessary.

Customer & Supplier Management

• Serve as the primary technical contact for all customer interactions.

• Manage customer complaints, ensuring timely response, investigation, and corrective action closure.

• Oversee supplier approval processes, raw material risk assessments, and supplier performance management.

Audit Readiness & Internal Governance

• Lead external audits and ensure minimal non-conformances.

• Maintain an internal audit program to cover GMP, traceability, allergen control, and process compliance.

• Monitor hygiene validation, EMP results, and CCP verification to ensure factory hygiene and environmental safety.

Product Innovation & NPD Support

• Provide technical input for new product launches, packaging validations, and process changes.

• Approve finished product specifications, shelf-life protocols, and allergen risk assessments before launch.

• Participate in factory trials and ensure new lines meet required quality, safety, and legality standards.

Talent & Succession Planning

• Lead succession planning within the technical function, identifying and developing high-potential team members.

• Promote cross-functional learning, technical training, and structured development plans within the QA and compliance teams.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with Operations, NPD, Commercial, Engineering, Hygiene, and Health & Safety teams to ensure end-to-end quality delivery.

• Contribute to CAPEX planning, factory design, and improvement projects as the technical representative.

Working Hours

• Full-time, with flexibility to support audits, mock recalls, customer visits, and crisis response.

• Occasional evening or weekend availability may be required.

KPIs

• External audit scores (e.g., BRCGS, customer, regulatory)

• Product conformance and Right First Time (RFT) rates

• Hygiene and EMP performance trends

• Customer complaints and repeat incident rates

• Supplier non-conformances and raw material compliance

• QMS document review and closure rates

• QA team engagement, retention, and development metrics

Qualifications & Experience

• BSc or MSc in Food Science, Microbiology, or related field.

• Minimum of 7+ years of senior leadership experience in food safety or quality, preferably in chilled/high-care environments.

• Deep knowledge of HACCP, TACCP/VACCP, EMP, BRCGS, and food law (Irish/EU).

• Proven success in leading customer and regulatory audits.

• Experience with QMS, specification systems, and ERP integration.

• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills