At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead food safety and quality initiatives, ensuring compliance and driving performance.
- Company: Join Pilgrim's Europe, a leader in the food industry with iconic brands.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, development opportunities, and a chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with a focus on continuous improvement and team development.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of food safety and quality, shaping industry standards.
- Qualifications: Experience in food manufacturing, HACCP knowledge, and strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
We are seeking a motivated and experienced Food Safety & Quality Manager to lead food safety, quality and compliance activity within our production environment at Pilgrim's Europe, Ballymena. This is a key technical leadership role, responsible for ensuring products consistently meet customer, legal and company requirements, while driving strong performance against food safety and quality KPIs. You will lead quality systems, support new product development, manage audits and develop the QA team to deliver best-in-class food safety and quality standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Design, implement, maintain and continuously improve a HACCP-based Quality Management System, ensuring full due diligence and compliance.
- Coordinate and lead HACCP team activities.
- Ensure compliance with BRC, customer, third-party and legislative requirements.
- Support NPD and process development through specifications, artwork verification, shelf-life, reference samples and use-by schedules.
- Monitor cleaning, hygiene and housekeeping standards through factory audits, trend analysis and action planning.
- Manage corrective actions and control of non-conforming ingredients and finished product, including holds, rejects and returns.
- Oversee microbiological, shelf-life and chemical testing programmes, identifying trends and driving corrective and preventative actions.
- Manage customer complaints, investigations, serious incidents and follow-up actions.
- Develop, maintain and test the site Crisis Management System.
- Maintain site accreditations and implement additional standards required by customers or industry best practice.
- Produce daily, weekly and monthly quality KPI reporting for operations teams.
- Provide insight-led information to support problem-solving and continuous improvement.
- Liaise with customers and statutory bodies during audits and site visits, ensuring effective responses and close-out of actions.
- Lead, coach and develop QA Auditors in line with Pilgrim's Europe standards and expectations.
- Promote a culture of engagement, accountability and effective communication.
- Support training and development to build capability and resilience within the team.
- Manage performance, attendance and appraisals in line with company requirements.
- Lead by example in Health & Safety compliance and safe systems of work.
- Ensure COSHH assessments, risk assessments, training and incident investigations are completed and actioned.
- Maintain high standards of hygiene and housekeeping across all areas.
- Actively work to reduce environmental impact through waste, energy and carbon-reduction initiatives.
What We're Looking For
- Experience in a technical or quality leadership role within FMCG food manufacturing.
- Strong knowledge of HACCP, BRC standards, food legislation and food hygiene.
- Auditing experience with strong report-writing capability.
- Excellent communication, organisational and stakeholder-management skills.
- Proven people leadership and development experience.
- Third-level qualification in a relevant discipline.
- Advanced Diploma in Applied HACCP.
- Advanced Food Hygiene qualification.
- Project management or continuous improvement experience.
- Experience working directly with customers, auditors and regulatory bodies.
Values & Behaviours
- Demonstrates ownership, integrity and determination, working collaboratively with discipline and humility to deliver practical results.
- Play a critical role in protecting food safety, quality and brand reputation.
- Work in a technically challenging, fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Lead and develop a skilled Quality team.
- Drive real, measurable improvements through continuous improvement.
Interested? If you're passionate about food safety, quality excellence and leading teams to deliver consistently high standards, we would welcome your application. Apply now to join Pilgrim's Europe as Food Safety & Quality Manager and make a meaningful impact at our Ballymena site.
Food, Safety & Quality Manager (Permanent) in Ballymena employer: Pilgrims Europe
Pilgrim's Europe is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Ballymena where food safety and quality are paramount. With a strong focus on employee development, competitive rewards, and a culture that promotes engagement and accountability, you will have the opportunity to lead a skilled team while making a meaningful impact in the food industry. Join us to be part of a passionate team dedicated to producing high-quality products enjoyed by millions across the UK and Ireland.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Food, Safety & Quality Manager (Permanent) in Ballymena
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the food safety and quality sector on LinkedIn or at industry events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your HACCP and BRC knowledge. Be ready to discuss how you've tackled challenges in previous roles, especially around compliance and quality management. Show them you're the expert they need!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just apply anywhere; focus on companies that align with your values. When you find a role that excites you, apply through our website to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves!
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Food, Safety & Quality Manager (Permanent) in Ballymena
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Food Safety & Quality Manager role. Highlight your experience in HACCP, BRC standards, and any relevant leadership roles. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about food safety and quality. Share specific examples of how you've driven improvements in previous roles. Let us know why you’re the perfect fit for our team!
Showcase Your Achievements:When detailing your experience, focus on your achievements. Did you lead a successful audit or implement a new quality system? Quantify your successes with numbers where possible. We love to see results!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role right there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pilgrims Europe
✨Know Your HACCP Inside Out
Make sure you have a solid understanding of HACCP principles and how they apply to the role. Be ready to discuss your experience in designing and implementing HACCP-based Quality Management Systems, as this will be crucial for the Food Safety & Quality Manager position.
✨Showcase Your Auditing Skills
Prepare to talk about your auditing experience, especially with BRC standards. Bring examples of reports you've written and how you've managed corrective actions. This will demonstrate your ability to ensure compliance and drive improvements.
✨Communicate Effectively
Since this role involves liaising with various stakeholders, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Think about how you can convey complex information simply, especially when discussing quality KPIs or customer complaints.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Qualities
Be ready to share examples of how you've led and developed teams in the past. Highlight your approach to coaching QA Auditors and fostering a culture of accountability and engagement, as this is key to succeeding in this leadership role.
