Quality Controller

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The person: We are seeking an energetic, practical and proactive person who shares our passion for producing high quality, natural foods in a sustainable way. The person will enjoy being a visible member of the team, spending a meaningful part of their day on the production floor alongside the prepping, cooking and packing teams. They will have a sharp eye for detail, notice non-conforming product or activity quickly, and have the confidence and communication skills to help correct issues in a positive and motivating way. They will understand that accurate records, good traceability, clear escalation and strong follow-up are central to food safety and quality. The person will support investigations, root cause analysis, corrective actions and continuous improvement by bringing practical observations from the floor and helping ensure agreed actions are completed and effective. Excellent organisation, IT, task management and follow-through will be key for success in this role.

The business: We are an ambitious and growing condiment and sauce producer based in Co. Cork. Our flagship product, Ballymaloe Relish, is one of Ireland’s favourite food brands. We are a driven organisation, continuously seeking to improve, grow and develop in all areas. While we have a strong and growing platform of sales in Ireland, we are also focused on developing our export sales. Our values are high standards, dedication and Ballymaloe warmth, and we ask and expect our employees to work to these values. We try to be sustainable in our processes where possible and are committed to continuous improvement in this area.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Quality Management System (QMS): Support the maintenance and development of the Quality Management System in line with BRC, HACCP, customer requirements and internal standards. Contribute to keeping procedures, forms and records clear, accurate, current and practical for use on the factory floor. Support the continued digital development of the QMS where appropriate.
• Regulatory Compliance: Support compliance with local, national and customer food safety, legality and quality requirements. Carry out checks and follow procedures in a way that protects product safety, customer standards and audit readiness.
• Audits and Inspections: Take part in internal audits, customer audits, regulatory inspections and certification audits. Support audit preparation, gather evidence, complete assigned follow-up actions and help ensure corrective actions are closed out properly.
• Supplier Quality Support: Support supplier quality activities by checking incoming materials, raising concerns where raw materials do not meet requirements, assisting with supplier non-conformances and providing clear evidence to the Quality Manager where follow-up is required.
• Production Monitoring and Floor Support: Monitor and supervise quality control throughout the production process, ensuring procedures are followed and standards are met. Maintain a visible presence on the production floor and support operators and supervisors to complete in-process product checks correctly, including temperature, pH, brix/consistency and general product quality checks. Verify packaging and pack details, including Best Before dates, allergen declarations, labels, traceability information and other required coding or pack checks. Help resolve issues at source and escalate any food safety, quality, legality or traceability concerns promptly.
• Testing and Validation: Ensure product and environmental testing, including microbiological, chemical and physical testing, is carried out according to the agreed schedule. Record, review and escalate results as required to maintain product safety, quality and release standards.
• Records, Traceability and Reporting: Complete quality, production, hygiene, testing, traceability and non-conformance records accurately, clearly and on time. Ensure records are audit-ready, gaps or errors are followed up promptly, and reports or summaries are prepared where required to highlight trends, risks and areas for improvement.
• Training and Coaching: Support production staff with quality control, hygiene, food safety procedures and record completion. Help build a quality-focused culture by coaching people in a clear, practical and respectful way.
• Continuous Improvement: Actively identify repeat quality issues, waste, rework, process weaknesses and opportunities to improve right-first-time performance. Work with production, technical and management teams to turn observations into practical improvements and verify that changes have been effective.
• RCA, CAPA and Complaints: Contribute to the investigation of customer complaints, internal non-conformances, audit findings, product holds and recurring process issues. Support root cause analysis by gathering facts, observations and records from the floor. Help implement corrective and preventive actions and follow up to confirm that actions are completed and effective.
• New Product Development: Assist and advise in the new product development process by supporting trials, checks, records, shelf-life work and quality observations where required.
• Escalation: Escalate food safety, legality, quality, hygiene or traceability concerns promptly and professionally. Take appropriate action to protect product, customers and company standards.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry or a related field is desirable. Further education or qualifications in food safety, HACCP or quality management would be an advantage.
• Experience: Minimum 3 years’ experience in a quality role within food manufacturing, ideally with strong exposure to production floor checks, traceability, records, non-conformance management and audit preparation.
• Certifications: HACCP, BRCGS or equivalent food safety and quality training would be an advantage.
• Knowledge: Good understanding of food safety standards, quality systems, hygiene, traceability, GMP and continuous improvement. A practical knowledge of Lean or other improvement methods would be beneficial, along with a strong desire to keep learning and developing.

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong attention to detail, with the discipline to complete records accurately and follow issues through to close-out.
• Good communication skills, with the ability to challenge standards respectfully and support colleagues in a practical, constructive way.
• Strong organisation, IT and task management skills, with the ability to manage several priorities in a busy food manufacturing environment.

Ballymaloe Foods is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Pay: €36,000.00-€42,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Bike to work scheme
• Company pension
• Employee assistance program
• On-site parking

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Little Island, County Cork: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)

Experience:

• quality role: 3 years (preferred)

Language:

• English (preferred)

Work authorisation:

• Ireland (required)

Work Location: In person