Quality Manager - FMCG

About the role

An established Irish FMCG company in Munster is hiring a Quality Manager to strengthen its operations team in Kilkenny. The business has grown rapidly, employs more than 100 people at head office, and has an ambitious plan to double in size over the next five years as it expands into a new category. This is a newly created position and offers the chance to join a collaborative, family-led environment where teamwork and high standards are genuinely valued.

The Quality Manager will join the leadership team and play a central role in safeguarding food safety, quality, compliance, and operational excellence. The successful person will need strong quality and people management experience, the confidence to influence different teams, and a hands-on approach when issues arise on the floor. The company is looking for someone who is calm under pressure, practical, detail-focused, and committed to protecting the business from food safety and health risks.

Key responsibilities

• Oversee and support the quality team of three direct reports across the manufacturing sites.
• Build, roll out, and maintain robust systems that place food safety and product quality at the center of the company’s operations.
• Identify, assess, and manage food safety risks while also weighing business risks and opportunities.
• Apply sound judgment, leadership, and operational insight across food safety and manufacturing matters.
• Guide all business units on technical and manufacturing governance so strategic goals are delivered through profitable operations.
• Use cross-functional knowledge to make practical, well-informed decisions for the business.
• Promote a culture of ongoing improvement within technical and manufacturing areas.
• Ensure the company’s values are upheld through strong ethics, integrity, and full food safety compliance.
• Contribute as a member of the Senior Leadership Team to shaping and delivering the company vision and strategic plan.
• Provide mentoring and coaching to senior leaders as a subject-matter expert.
• Strengthen current strategic customer relationships and develop new ones through a partnership-led approach.

Requirements

• At least 3 to 6 years of FMCG experience in a quality or technical role, with proven people management experience.
• HACCP accreditation is essential.
• A strategic, commercially minded professional with a growth mindset and the ability to develop people and teams.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across the organization.
• Experience working in a fast-moving manufacturing environment and comfort handling issues directly on the production floor.
• Attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to remain composed in high-pressure situations.

Additional information

This role is confidential and the employer expects all applications to be handled discreetly. Interested candidates should be able to contribute to a culture where everyone works together, listens to each other, and takes pride in maintaining best-in-class standards. The company values approachable leadership, strong ethics, and a genuine focus on food safety and quality.