Head of Quality

Head of Quality & Craft Standards (BRC Lead)Location: James Whelan Butchers, Multi Site

Reporting: Senior Stewardship Team

About James Whelan Butchers

James Whelan Butchers is a 5th generation, family founded Irish food business, built over more than 60 years on two founding principles, Quality and Service.

What began as a traditional butcher’s shop has grown into a pioneering, values led business, one that combines craft butchery, deep provenance, animal welfare and modern quality systems to meet the expectations of today’s customers without compromising the integrity of the past.

Quality at James Whelan Butchers is not an overlay - it is woven into the craft.

We are now seeking a Head of Quality to act as both guardian and innovator, someone who understands that world class standards and traditional craft are not opposing forces, but powerful partners.

The Role and purpose

The Head of Quality is the custodian of trust across the James Whelan Butchers business.

This role exists to ensure that our craft, products, people and partners consistently meet the highest standards of food safety, integrity and excellence, while continuing to evolve in line with BRC certification, regulatory requirements and best in class food systems.

Crucially, this is a hands on, visible leadership role, rooted in factories, shops, farms and teams, not a desk bound compliance function.

Key Responsibilities

BRC & Quality Systems Leadership

Lead, maintain and continually strengthen the company’s BRC Global Standard accreditation across relevant sites.

Own and evolve the Quality Management System, ensuring it reflects both best practice and real world craft environments.

Lead all external audits, inspections and customer assessments with confidence and credibility.

Ensure full compliance with Irish, EU and customer food safety and regulatory requirements.

Leads the implementation of all organisational standards.

Champions standards that go beyond compliance and represent the highest level of operational excellence.

Serves as a role model of principled leadership throughout the organisation.

Craft Led Quality Culture

Embed a culture of quality ownership, where standards are understood and respected at every level.

Translate technical standards into practical, meaningful behaviours for butchers, production teams and retail staff.

Work closely with People & Culture to design training that respects craft while raising capability.

Provenance, Animal Welfare & Supply Partnerships

Steward of quality across the supply base, with particular focus on: Animal welfare and humane handling.

Provenance and traceability.

Long term farmer and producer relationships.

Conduct supplier approval, monitoring and continuous improvement in line with BRC and company values.

Lead HACCP, risk assessment and incident management processes.

Proactively identify vulnerabilities within the supply chain, production and retail environments.

Use insight, data and experience to continuously improve systems, processes and outcomes.

Support the business’s approach to nose to tail utilisation and food waste reduction.

Innovation Without Compromise

Partner with commercial and innovation teams to support new product development.

Ensure that premiumisation, convenience and innovation are delivered without dilution of quality or craft.

Act as a critical friend, asking the hard questions when standards may be at risk.

Leadership & Stewardship

Lead, mentor and develop the Quality team.

Be a visible leader on the floor, trusted, approachable and respected.

Act as a senior advisor to the Stewardship Team on all matters relating to quality, risk and reputation.

Experience & Capability

Essential

Senior quality leadership experience within meat, food or agri food environments.

Proven hands on experience leading BRC accreditation and audits.

Deep practical understanding of HACCP, traceability and food safety systems.

Ability to lead in complex, craft based environments where people matter as much as process.

Highly Desirable

Background in premium, provenance led or artisan food businesses.

Experience operating across multi-site production and retail settings.

Strong understanding of sustainability, animal welfare and ethical sourcing frameworks.

Personal Attributes

Deep respect for craft, people and standards.

Calm, authoritative and trusted under pressure.

Comfortable challenging when needed, supportive when required.

Detail driven but never detached from the bigger picture.

Proud to stand behind the product and the people who produce it.

Why This Role Matters

This is not a maintenance role.

It is a pioneering stewardship position at the heart of a fifth generation business.

The Head of Quality will help ensure that James Whelan Butchers continues to:

Honour its past and Lead its present and build a future where quality, service and sustainability remain inseparable-

Quality is our heritage.

Craft is our language.

Standards are our promise.