Qual, Health & Saf. Specialist

QEHS Specialist - Americold Monaghan Ireland (Castleblayney & Lough Egish Sites)

Role Summary

Americold Monaghan Ireland, operating across the Castleblayney and Lough Egish sites, is seeking a QEHS Specialist to lead Quality, Food Safety, Environmental, and Health & Safety activities across both locations. You will ensure compliance with legal, customer, and certification requirements, maintain continuous audit readiness, and strengthen QEHS culture throughout the business. This multi-site role requires regular travel between Castleblayney and Lough Egish and a hands-on approach to supporting operational teams in a fast-paced food manufacturing and cold chain environment.

Key Responsibilities

Quality & Food Safety Leadership

- Maintain and improve the Quality Management System (QMS).
- Ensure compliance with legal, customer, and certification requirements.
- Lead HACCP, TACCP, and VACCP activities.
- Drive continuous improvement in food safety, hygiene, and quality standards.

HACCP Leadership

- Lead HACCP reviews, validation, and verification activities.
- Maintain HACCP studies and coordinate HACCP Team meetings.
- Ensure effective implementation of food safety controls across both sites.

Audit Readiness & Certification

- Maintain continuous audit readiness.
- Lead internal audits and manage corrective actions.
- Coordinate customer, certification, and regulatory audits.
- Support compliance with BRCGS Food Safety and BRCGS Storage & Distribution standards.
- Act as the primary site representative during external audits.

Regulatory & Customer Compliance

- Support regulatory inspections and compliance documentation.
- Manage customer standards and technical requirements.
- Participate in customer visits, audits, and complaint investigations.

Environmental Management

- Maintain compliance with environmental legislation and company standards.
- Monitor waste, recycling, and sustainability programmes.
- Conduct environmental inspections and support incident investigations.

Health & Safety Support

- Coordinate site Health & Safety activities.
- Support risk assessments, safe systems of work, and contractor management.
- Lead incident investigations and corrective action follow-up.
- Deliver or coordinate key health, safety, and food safety training.

Qualifications & Experience

Education & Professional Background

- Degree in Food Science, Quality, Environmental Management, Health & Safety, or a related discipline.
- 5+ years' experience in QEHS, Food Safety, Quality, or H&S roles.
- Strong experience with BRCGS Food Safety and/or BRCGS Storage & Distribution standards.
- Experience within food manufacturing, food processing, cold storage, warehousing, logistics, or FMCG.
- Proven HACCP leadership and TACCP/VACCP experience.

Technical & Functional Skills

- Strong understanding of Irish and EU food safety legislation.
- Knowledge of environmental and health & safety compliance requirements.
- Skilled in internal auditing, root cause analysis, and corrective action management.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience leading certification, customer, and internal audits.
- HACCP Level 3 or 4 essential; Lead Auditor qualification desirable.
- Full driving licence and willingness to travel regularly between the Castleblayney and Lough Egish sites.
- Ability to effectively manage priorities across a multi-site operation.

Leadership & Personal Attributes

- Structured, detail-focused, and reliable.
- Strong communicator and influencer.
- Analytical, proactive, and solution-oriented.
- Calm and confident in regulated environments.
- Hands-on approach with the ability to engage effectively across multiple sites.