QA Compliance Officer

About the role

Location: Charleville, Cork, Ireland 

Department: Production / Quality

Contract Type: Special‑purpose contract (12‑month cover)

Work Arrangement: Onsite, 5 days per week

Reports To: Quality Manager

Direct Reports: None 

In this role as a Quality Compliance Officer you will play a central part in strengthening food safety and quality capability across the site. You’ll work closely with operational teams to build technical skills, enhance understanding of quality standards, and ensure that processes consistently meet regulatory and customer expectations.

A key focus of the position is developing people. You will train, coach, and mentor teams to confidently apply food safety and quality principles, create and maintain accurate SOPs, and carry out routine checks such as QC, pre‑start, start‑up, fabrication, glass integrity, foreign body controls, and GMP audits. You’ll help teams understand Product Quality Attributes and ensure these expectations are clearly communicated and consistently achieved.

You will lead improvement initiatives using KPS and 8 Step Practical Problem Solving, guiding teams through structured problem‑solving and supporting them in resolving non‑conformances. Through layered confirmation, you will verify adherence to standards, provide constructive feedback, and enable corrective actions where needed.

The role also involves supporting communication with the Quality function, contributing to audit follow‑up, and identifying performance gaps or opportunities for improvement. You’ll use visual management tools to share insights, promote transparency, and help drive a culture of continuous improvement.

This is a hands‑on, people‑focused role suited to someone who thrives in a fast‑paced environment, enjoys developing others, and brings strong communication, analytical thinking, and process‑focused discipline.

Key responsibilities

• Build technical capability through training, coaching, and mentoring.
• Strengthen knowledge in food safety, quality standards, and in‑process checks.
• Promote confidence and strong communication across teams.
• Train teams to create and maintain SOPs aligned with the Quality Management System.
• Ensure SOPs accurately reflect real manufacturing processes.
• Lead improvement initiatives using KPS and 8‑Step Practical Problem Solving.
• Coach teams and assess consistency of application.
• Verify adherence to standards through layered confirmation.
• Provide feedback and enable corrective actions.
• Train teams to understand and apply Product Quality Attributes.
• Ensure quality expectations are clear and consistently met.
• Equip teams to carry out routine food safety and quality checks, including QC, pre‑start, start‑up, fabrication, glass integrity, foreign body, and GMP audits.
• Guide teams in resolving non‑conformances using 8‑Step PPS.
• Assist communication with the Quality function and support audit follow‑up.
• Identify performance gaps and improvement opportunities.
• Share insights using visual management tools.

Qualifications and skills

Essential Skills & Experience

• Strong communication and data‑interpretation skills
• Proficient in MS Office
• Experience with process standardisation and lean practices
• Knowledge of food safety and quality systems (incl. BRC standards)
• Skilled in 8‑Step Practical Problem Solving

Education & Training

• Diploma or higher in Food Science or related field
• Recognised training qualification

Behavioural Strengths

• Proactive, improvement‑focused mindset
• Adaptable in a fast‑paced environment
• Strong team‑guidance and communication skills

Key Skills

• Coaching and facilitation
• Influencing and relationship‑building
• Critical thinking
• People‑centred communication
• Ability to meet deadlines

What we offer:

• 25 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays)
• Matched pension scheme
• Access to our employee development platform and Udemy learning resources
• Benefits platform offering discounts and cashback at major retailers
• A collaborative and inclusive work environment with opportunities for career growth

About Kerry Dairy Ireland

Kerry Dairy Ireland is a vertically integrated farm-to-fork business with a very substantial consumer foods presence and a leading nutritional and dairy ingredients division, delivering high-quality dairy solutions with a focus on sustainability and innovation. From partnering with
local family farms to producing world-class dairy products, we ensure every step of our value chain reflects our commitment to excellence.
 
With over 50 years’ experience in milk processing, dairy and nutritional technology advancement, and product innovation, we are a key stakeholder in the global food industry and creators of a strong portfolio of market leading dairy brands including Cheestrings, Charleville and Coleraine Cheese, Dairygold, Golden Cow and our new SMUG range. Our from food, for food culture and deep-rooted connection to our 2,800 milk suppliers differentiates our business and offers captivating opportunities for our customers and consumers. 
 
Our dairy comes from some of the world’s richest grazing land and is produced by a network of Irish family farms that have one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world. Through a combination of expertise, innovation, and sustainability, Kerry Dairy Ireland is proud to shape the future of dairy while meeting the diverse needs of our farmers, customers, and communities.
 
Headquartered in Tralee, Co. Kerry, we operate multiple manufacturing facilities in the southwest of Ireland, including Listowel, Charleville, Newmarket, and Farranfore. Additionally, we manage 29 Farm & Home stores throughout the region, ensuring comprehensive coverage and service.
In Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, our presence extends to key locations in Portadown, Coleraine, and Ossett.
 
Globally, Kerry Dairy Ireland employs over 1,600 dedicated professionals across Ireland, Northern Ireland, the UK, USA, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and China. In 2024, we achieved a turnover of approximately €1.3 billion, reflecting our commitment to excellence and growth.
 
Our Safety purpose: At Kerry, we work together in a caring culture where everybody goes home safe every day. We are committed to providing a safe working environment and ensuring that all safety protocols are strictly followed. Join us in creating a workplace where safety is everyone's responsibility.