Head of Quality & Technical

Job Title: Head of Technical 

Description

We are hiring for our client, a leading food manufacturing business in Lusk, Co. Dublin, who are seeking a Head of Quality & Technical to join the senior site leadership team.

This Head of Quality role is responsible for ensuring all products meet the highest standards of food safety, quality, legality, and customer expectations. Leading the Technical, QA and Compliance teams, the Head of Quality will drive audit readiness, continuous improvement, and a strong quality culture across all functions.

The successful Head of Quality will act as the site lead for certifications and governance, maintaining full compliance with BRCGS, HACCP, TACCP/VACCP, customer codes of practice, and Irish/EU legislation, while also supporting new product launches and operational change.

Top 3 Things to Know About this Job

1. Senior leadership role – site ownership of food safety, quality, compliance and culture.

2. High customer and audit exposure – lead BRCGS, customer, DAFM/Organic audits with strong governance.

3. Strategic and hands-on – drive systems, teams, and cross-functional improvements in a high-care environment.

The Role

Quality Strategy & Technical Leadership

• Develop and implement the site’s food safety and quality strategy aligned with business goals and regulatory requirements.

• Lead, coach, and develop QA, Technical and Compliance teams to maintain an audit-ready, proactive culture.

• Represent the site in technical engagements with key customers and certification bodies.

Compliance, Certification & Regulatory Alignment

• Maintain and continuously improve certifications including BRCGS, Organic, DAFM and customer-specific standards.

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

• Ensure compliance with Irish and EU food safety legislation and maintain regulatory registers.

Food Safety Systems & Digital Quality Management

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

• Ensure data integrity across digital systems (ERP, complaint systems, specification platforms, etc.).

• Drive trend analysis and issue resolution through structured reporting and KPI management.

Crisis & Incident Management

• Act as technical lead for food safety incidents, withdrawals, and recalls.

• Maintain and routinely test recall procedures through mock recalls and traceability drills.

• Lead root cause investigations and manage external communications where required.

Customer & Supplier Management

• Primary technical contact for customer relationships, queries and expectations.

• Manage complaints end-to-end, ensuring timely responses, RCA and CAPA close-out.

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

Audit Readiness & Internal Governance

• Lead external audits (BRCGS, customer, DAFM, Organic), targeting high scores and zero major issues.

• Maintain robust internal audit programmes (GMP, allergen control, traceability, process compliance).

• Monitor hygiene validation, EMP results and CCP verification.

Product Innovation & NPD Support

• Provide technical input and approval for new launches, packaging validation and process changes.

• Approve specifications, shelf-life protocols and allergen risk assessments prior to launch.

• Attend factory trials to ensure compliance and readiness.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Site Improvement

• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Hygiene, NPD and H&S to deliver end-to-end quality.

• Support CAPEX planning and site improvement projects as the technical representative.

The Person

• Degree-qualified (BSc/MSc) in Food Science, Microbiology or related discipline.

• Minimum 7+ years’ experience in senior food safety or quality leadership (ideally chilled/high-care).

• Strong working knowledge of BRCGS, HACCP, TACCP/VACCP, EMP, Irish/EU food law, allergen control, traceability and hygiene systems.

• Proven track record leading customer and regulatory audits.

• Confident stakeholder manager with strong cross-functional communication skills.

• Data-driven, highly organised, calm under pressure, and solutions-focused.

• Strong leadership capability with experience developing teams and succession planning.

The Reward (Salary/Benefits/Company Culture)

• Competitive salary package, dependent on experience.

• Senior role with visibility and influence across the site and customer base.

• Opportunity to shape quality strategy, systems and culture within a growing business.

• Strong cross-functional engagement and involvement in site improvement projects.

• Full-time, permanent position with flexibility required to support audits and critical incidents.