Head of Food Safety and Quality - Retail Manufacturing

About Kepak Group

Kepak Group is recognized as a prominent food enterprise in Europe with manufacturing facilities throughout Ireland and the UK. With a vision to be a sustainable, forward-looking food business distinguished by innovation and a positive workplace culture, Kepak supports core values of Responsibility, Ambition, Passion for Food, and Teamwork. The company generates a turnover of €1.75 billion and operates through three main divisions: Meat Division Ireland, Foods Division, and Meat Division UK.

The Meat Division Ireland encompasses eight manufacturing sites employing around 2,500 staff members and focuses on delivering a diverse selection of quality meat and protein-based products tailored for retail and foodservice sectors, emphasizing exceptional stakeholder value and service.

Role Overview

The role of Head of Food Safety and Quality involves leading both strategic and operational initiatives for food safety, quality assurance, regulatory adherence, and continuous improvement within the Meat Division Ireland's Retail Packing operations. This senior leadership position requires driving system enhancements, ensuring strict compliance, empowering teams, and sustaining exceptional standards across sites.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of food safety and quality strategies, fostering innovation and operational excellence.
• Promote a strong health and safety culture, ensuring full compliance with regulations and collaborating with health and safety teams to implement site-specific plans.
• Guarantee compliance with food safety standards including HACCP, BRC, and animal welfare protocols; oversee training and audits.
• Maintain Food Safety and Quality Management Systems and manage auditing processes to deliver outstanding compliance results.
• Identify operational risks and partner with operations teams to formulate and execute effective business continuity plans.
• Champion customer and supplier standards, ensuring site processes consistently meet expectations and regulatory requirements.
• Encourage accountability throughout teams and provide clear guidance and support to meet food safety objectives.
• Constantly monitor regulatory and customer trends to adapt and enhance quality and compliance frameworks proactively.
• Communicate progress and challenges to senior leadership, ensuring urgent and critical initiatives receive timely attention.
• Drive continuous improvement by collaborating with engineering, operations, and IT to implement modernized, optimized food safety systems.
• Support and inspire teams, cultivating engagement, collaboration, and high performance.
• Work cross-functionally with stakeholders and new product development to ensure compliance with technical and safety specifications.
• Engage with external bodies including customers, suppliers, auditors, regulators, and industry organizations to uphold and enhance Kepak’s reputation as a top-tier supplier.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Advanced educational credentials in Food Science, Food Technology, or closely related disciplines.
• Lead auditor certifications such as BRC, GFSI, ISO 22000 are highly desirable.
• Additional professional qualifications in quality management (e.g., Six Sigma, ISO 9001) are beneficial.
• Extensive experience overseeing food safety and quality operations within the food manufacturing sector, ideally in meat, dairy, or fish industries.
• In-depth knowledge of regulatory frameworks, HACCP, BRC standards, GMP, and food safety legislation.
• Strong leadership competencies with proven success managing cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated ability to manage food safety programs specifically in retail manufacturing settings.
• Expertise in compliance, quality assurance, risk evaluation, and mitigation.
• Experienced in driving continuous improvement and leading impactful team initiatives.
• Fluent professional English communication skills.

Employee Benefits

• Participation in a bonus incentive program.
• Eligibility for company pension scheme.
• Access to subsidized canteen facilities.
• Support for continuing education and clear professional advancement pathways through ongoing development opportunities.
• Cycle to Work Scheme allowing purchase of bicycles and safety gear via salary sacrifice to reduce taxable income.
• Long Service Awards acknowledging dedicated employee contributions.
• Referral program offering up to €500 for successful candidate recommendations.