Quality Team Lead

Quality

Job Purpose

To lead a technical team in the development and maintenance of the Quality and Food Safety systems to regulatory legislation, customer and third-party standards. Provide technical support in areas of food safety and legal

requirements as well as in training for quality improvement projects

Reports To

Quality Manager

Key Responsibilities

Responsibilities associated with this role include, but are not limited to:

Communication and People Management skills

• Willingness to learn leadership and motivation skills
• Manage the site QC team and develop a team of professional technicians
• Coordinate with all departments and managers and represent the team at site level
• Influence decision making to ensure food safety and quality needs of the business are being met
• Ensure that the company is kept aware of legislative & customer constraints on the business and any standards in terms of quality and food safety and integrity are adhered t
  
  

Department Management

• Monitoring KPI targets and objectives for the department and wider company and ensuring their effective measurement
• Ensure effective communications of customer requirements to the operations team and ensuring their compliance
• Interface with the innovation team for the successful launch of new products into production, and for product and process improvement projects
• Review of technical information to view trending and analysis of same to take relevant actions were required to make improvements to the process, plant and systems as necessary
• Champion the training and development of staff in the areas of food safety or quality, for example: Induction, hygiene & cleaning, food hygiene, HACCP, allergen awareness, taste panel training
• Assist with the implementation of plant wide process & quality system improvements, working with the relevant departments to ensure multi-disciplinary approach
• Recognise and implement opportunities for quality improvement in both manufacturing and business processes
  
  

QMS & HACCP Systems

• Lead/ co Lead the plants HACCP team, challenging processes food safety systems and maintaining and reviewing the plan as required
• Ensuring that the procedures, process documentation and systems in use comply with customer and best practice requirements, maintaining and reviewing when driven by improvement, audit and customer requirements etc
• Responsible for the implementation of the internal audit programme to ensure quality system compliance. Leading the team in external audits for food safety and quality audits for customers and governing bodies(eg BRC, DAFM and their representatives, M&S, Tesco, Waitrose (Retail) Greencore, 2SFG (Manufacture), Brake Bros, Yum Brands (Foodservice))
  
  

Testing Programmes

• Ensure raw material, process and finished product evaluation and verification is completed as required within production, leading the team to solve issues as they arise
• Risk assess and ensure implementation of microbiological, chemical and physical testing schedules in accordance with agreed programme
• Deal with non-conformances (internal and external) and drive root cause analysis in a timely and comprehensive fashion, involving all relevant disciplines, and using learnings to drive continuous improvement
• Management of quarantined product, ensuring product traceability and safety is maintained
• Shelf-life analysis management as required for chilled and frozen product
  
  

Supplier Management

• Ensure the supplier management process is maintained with detailed specification, risk assessment, audit and approval records for all raw material, packaging or miscellaneous suppliers and complies with customer and best practice requirements
• Review and evaluate suppliers to give feedback on performance and quality on a frequency that reflects their risk, size and complexity
• Travel to conduct supplier audits as necessary as part of new approval, ongoing review or in response to issues
• Manage the approval of new raw material, packaging or miscellaneous suppliers
• Keep buying team appraised of supplier behaviours/ quality of service/ goods as part of review
  
  

Customer Management and Service

• Implement and maintain detailed specifications and quality standards for all finished products, knowledge of various software programmes used by customers required (Micros, Hamilton Grant, FIND, etc)
• Ensure that internal specifications for the factory are developed and maintained
• Support the Quality Manager in the management of complaints from customers in a timely manner, involving other teams where needed
• Meet with customers and represent the companies technical expertise when needed as part of customer service or as part of investigation of issues
• Assist the business development team, helping to forge new relationships and build on existing ones
  
  

Skills / Qualifications / Experience

• Diploma or higher in a Food Science related subject
• 4 years + in a similar role in FMCG or food retail environment
• Knowledge of BRC standards required and preferably with familiarity of cooking processes and high care facilities
• People management experience an advantage
• Lead auditor certification is preferential
• HACCP certification is essential
• Proficient written, numerical and verbal skills
• Numerical ability to record, interpret and analyse key process data
• Fluency in the English language
• Self-starting individual, capable of clear strategic view and implementation
• Be willing to develop team management and leadership skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with and present to customers, Stakeholders (eg DAFM), Suppliers, Senior Management / Directors
• Understanding of food safety and quality management systems
• Strong knowledge of food legislation, BRC Global Food Standard and specific customer standards and codes of practice
• Good interpersonal skills, and the ability to react well under pressure
• Excellent proficiency in the use of MS Office tools
• Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability
• Ability to work cross functionally, meet deadlines and build effective relationships
• Ability to identify and actively plan improvements
  
  

Note: As with all positions, due to the dynamic nature of Arrow Group business, key responsibilities will evolve and change over time. Some travel will be required. Appointment to this role is subject to the candidate's eligibility to work in Ireland.

Apply Now
#J-18808-Ljbffr

---