Quality Assurance Laboratory Manager

About Kerry

Kerry is a global leader in taste and nutrition, serving the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. We partner daily with customers worldwide to develop healthier, more flavorful, and sustainable products consumed by billions. Our vision is to be the most valued partner in sustainable nutrition. Joining Kerry means contributing to the future of food in a large international environment offering growth opportunities.

Role Overview

Located in Auckland, New Zealand and reporting to the Quality Manager, this position leads the Quality Assurance function. The role ensures compliant implementation of Kerry's global food safety, quality standards, and compliance programs. It plays a vital role in preserving product integrity, supporting operational excellence, and spearheading continuous improvement across manufacturing and laboratory operations. Key stakeholders will be closely collaborated with to guarantee products meet all customer, regulatory, and corporate requirements while nurturing a culture emphasizing quality and food safety campus-wide.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and upskill the Quality Control team, ensuring efficient product and raw material testing and release processes.
• Oversee production laboratory operations, maintaining equipment, resources, and supplies necessary for consistent service.
• Foster collaboration with cross-functional teams to provide exemplary customer service.
• Support prerequisite programs, including pest control, sanitation, and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
• Implement and uphold global food safety and quality programs per Kerry standards.
• Serve as gatekeeper for new product introductions in the factory.
• Apply root cause analysis tools and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA) to resolve quality issues and prevent future occurrences.
• Utilize Statistical Process Control (SPC) and analyze Process Capability Index (CpK) to elevate product quality.
• Provide leadership, evaluate performance, and deliver training for laboratory employees.
• Lead non-conformance and customer complaint investigations, ensuring timely root cause determinations and CAPA implementation.
• Promote a culture of quality excellence by embedding food safety and quality into daily routines and leadership behavior.
• Engage in continuous improvement initiatives, applying change management best practices.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or related scientific field.
• At least 3 years of leadership experience in Quality Assurance and food safety within food manufacturing.
• Comprehensive knowledge of food safety systems, quality management principles, and regulatory compliance.
• Proficient with HACCP, risk assessments, prerequisite programs, and food safety investigations.
• Experienced in leading teams, influencing stakeholders, and enforcing accountability across departments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with proven use of RCA, CAPA, and continuous improvement techniques.
• Familiar with BRC, SQF, WQA, AQIS, HACCP, and GMP standards.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities including stakeholder management.
• Able to manage priorities in fast-paced manufacturing environments independently and collaboratively.
• Self-driven with a record of successfully leading change and quality improvement initiatives.
• Experience using Statistical Process Control (SPC), process capability evaluation, and quality metrics.
• Knowledge of global food safety and quality frameworks in multinational manufacturing settings.

Additional Information

Beware of fraudulent recruitment attempts posing as Kerry representatives using non-official emails or phone contacts. Kerry does not conduct interviews on video chat platforms like Google Hangouts and will never request payment from applicants aside from reimbursable travel expenses. Any payments made will come from official Kerry accounts.