About Kerry
A career with Kerry Taste & Nutrition offers you an opportunity to shape how people across the globe view food and beverage while providing you opportunities to explore and grow as your interests do. With our commitment to a sustainable future, a career with Kerry is something you can feel good about.
About the role
We are currently looking for a QA Lead to join our Kerry site in Zwijndrecht, close to Rotterdam in The Netherlands! The Zwijndrecht site produces emulsifiers which are sold worldwide and distributes food ingredients for sister companies within the western part of Europe.
The role of the QA Lead is to drive the GMP standards within the plants to ensure all products manufactured comply with all food safety, quality and legal requirements.
You will be responsible for all quality assurance related matters with our internal and external customers and lead your direct reports to effectively manage the Quality Assurance at sites.
Key responsibilities
• Supporting the Quality Systems Manager in the sites HACCP, TACCP and VACCP programme and FSMA programme in implementation in the factory.
• Implement the standard created by the Quality Systems lead and Hygiene lead in the sites allergen management programme.
• Completion of food safety based risk assessments with the support of the Quality Manager.
• Lead the sites external audits and visits, including 3rd party and customer.
• Vendor approval where outside of Supply Quality Scope (pest control, detergent, calibration, Elis, dan…).
• Manage the process for the release of all raw materials and finished products.
• Ensure the quality of product produced meets our and customer specifications.
• Working closely cross functionally to drive improvements in factory standards.
• Ensuring the production teams understand the required standard within the production and associated areas.
• Support the sites root cause analysis to prevent any reoccurrence of issue.
• Manage incidents with the support of the Senior Food Safety and Quality Manager.
• Primary contact for domestic authorities concerned FS/Hygiene/Compliance.
• Lead change management requests from a food safety perspective or, where they have a direct impact on product quality.
• Report KPI’s to internal and central functions as required.
• Conduct appraisals and regular 121 sessions with direct reports to support, coach and develop.
• Complete annual development plans with direct reports to support progression.
• Lead projects that are relating to Food Safety and Quality .
Qualifications and skills
Essential
• Fluency of Dutch and English language.
• 5+ years of experience in a chemical analytical function in the (food and/or chemical) industry.
• 2+ years of experience in a chemical analytical or R&D function in the emulsifiers, oils or fats industry.
• Knowledge of relevant laws and regulations ((food) safety, environment and quality).
• Food Hygiene Level 4 or equivalent.
• Laboratory safety.
• Proficient in the use of MS Office tools.
• Understanding of Food Safety and Quality Management Systems in both low/high care food manufacturing environments.
• The ability to identify, create local strategy and actively deliver improvements.
Desirable
• Food manufacturing experience.
• Experience with ERP (SAP) systems: ECC, SRM and Quality module.
• Experience with HPLC, GC, NIR, Carl Fisher, titration and color measurement.
• Understanding and ability to apply in live situations the principles and tools of lean manufacturing.
• Knowledge of H&S Policies and Procedures.
• Knowledge of Environmental Management systems e.g. ISO 14001.
• Ability to solve problems using 8 Step Practical Problem Solving.
Education
• Bachelors in Laboratory, analytical chemistry or equivalent.
• Diploma/Degree or higher in a Food Science related subject (desirable).