Quality Lead – Laboratory (Greenfield Project)
Location: West Cork
The Opportunity
An exciting opportunity to join a major greenfield investment delivering a next-generation manufacturing facility. This newly created role will lead the design, setup, qualification, and validation of a state-of-the-art Quality Control Laboratory, ensuring full operational readiness from day one of commercial production.
This role offers an excellent salary and comprehensive benefits package, along with strong long-term career progression opportunities within a global organisation and a high-profile capital project environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the design, commissioning, and start-up of a new Greenfield QC laboratory (microbiology, nutritional, and sensory).
- Ensure full laboratory readiness, validation, and QMS compliance for ISO 17025 and regulatory audit standards.
- Oversee lab layout, zoning, workflow, and contamination control in line with GMP and global quality standards.
- Develop URS, qualification, and validation documentation for all laboratory equipment and systems.
- Design and execute validation plans for analytical methods ahead of commercial production.
- Integrate laboratory systems with LIMS (Bambo) and SAP for accurate data capture and reporting.
- Provide regular project updates to senior leadership and global quality stakeholders.
- Recruit, train, and develop laboratory teams, embedding capability, competency frameworks, and training matrices.
- Establish KPIs, SPC tools, and performance monitoring systems for lab operations and product quality.
- Drive testing schedules, prioritisation, and continuous improvement across laboratory operations.
- Act as SME for laboratory validation, quality systems, and audit readiness.
About You
- Degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Biotechnology or related discipline
- 8–10 years’ experience, including 5+ years in a manufacturing laboratory (food, pharma, or aseptic environment preferred)
- Proven experience in laboratory start-ups or major expansions (greenfield/brownfield advantageous)
- Strong knowledge of ISO 17025, GMP, and regulatory quality systems
- Experience in validation (URS through to qualification and method validation)
Why This Role?
This is a rare opportunity to shape and lead a brand-new laboratory from the ground up within a major strategic investment project, with significant visibility across global quality and operations teams.
Alongside a highly competitive salary and benefits package, this role offers genuine career progression within a growing international organisation and the chance to play a key part in a flagship greenfield facility.
