Global Head of Food Safety

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Global Head of Food Safety & Defence
Location: Hybrid, West London - 2 days a week in office
Salary: Up to £150,000 + benefits

An ambitious, fast-growing food manufacturing business is seeking a Global Head of Food Safety & Defence.

This organisation is a custodian of well-known international brands and is committed to maintaining the highest standards in product quality, ingredients, and talent.

The successful candidate will thrive in a purpose-driven, fast-paced environment that values agility, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

This is a senior leadership role offering global scope, strategic influence, and the opportunity to make a significant impact.

The Global Head of Food Safety & Defence is accountable for protecting consumers and global brands by leading the design, governance, and execution of food safety and food defence programmes worldwide.

This role ensures that products are developed, manufactured, and distributed safely, consistently, and in full compliance with regulatory and customer expectations. It also provides strategic leadership in preventing, detecting, and responding to intentional threats such as adulteration, tampering, and extortion.

The position serves as the organisation's leading subject matter expert in food safety science, including microbiology, toxicology, contaminants, allergens, hygiene, and food defence.

Key Responsibilities
Global Strategy & Governance
Define and lead the global food safety and defence strategy aligned with business objectives and regulatory requirements
Establish policies, standards, and performance metrics across food safety, hygiene, allergen control, traceability, and defence
Lead governance forums and represent food safety at executive level
Embed food safety and defence considerations into innovation, supply chain, procurement, and operations

Food Safety Systems & Compliance
Oversee implementation of global food safety systems (HACCP, environmental monitoring, sanitation, GMP, allergen management)
Ensure compliance with global standards (e.g., BRCGS, FSSC 22000, ISO 22000) and customer requirements
Lead global audit programmes and oversee regional quality teams
Develop risk frameworks for high-risk ingredients (e.g., cocoa, dairy, nuts, flavourings)
Food Defence & Product Security
Lead vulnerability assessments (TACCP/VACCP) and mitigation strategies
Collaborate with Security, Procurement, and Supply Chain to protect assets and processes
Ensure product integrity across all logistics and third-party partners

Incident Management & Crisis Response
Act as global technical lead for food safety and defence incidents, including contamination, allergen breaches, microbiological events, and malicious threats
Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions
Partner with Legal, Communications, Security, and Regulatory teams during crises

Scientific Leadership & Innovation
Provide expertise in microbiology, toxicology, allergens, and emerging food safety risks
Advise R&D and Operations on hygienic design, processing, and new technologies
Lead horizon scanning for emerging risks (e.g., fraud, climate impacts, cyber-physical threats)
Collaborate with Regulatory Affairs on assessing and mitigating regulatory changes

Talent, Training & Culture
Build and lead a high-performing global food safety and defence function
Develop training frameworks and certification programmes (including TACCP/VACCP)
Foster a strong, proactive food safety culture across all levels of the organisation

External Engagement
Represent the organisation at global forums, regulatory bodies, and industry groups
Build partnerships with academic institutions and external experts
Benchmark and implement industry best practices

Candidate Profile
Education
Degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Public Health, or related field
Advanced qualifications (e.g., PhD or MBA) desirable
Formal training in HACCP, TACCP/VACCP, and relevant regulatory frameworks

Experience
Extensive experience in food safety, quality, and risk management within FMCG or large-scale food manufacturing
Proven leadership of global or multi-regional teams
Strong experience managing complex supply chains and high-risk ingredients
Demonstrated success handling major food safety or product security incidents
Experience in confectionery, chocolate, or bakery sectors advantageous

Technical Expertise
Deep knowledge of HACCP/HARPC, GMP, GFSI standards, and global regulations
Strong grounding in microbiology, toxicology, allergens, and hygienic design
Expertise in food defence methodologies and risk assessment tools
Familiarity with digital food safety systems, traceability, and data analytics

Key Competencies
Strategic leadership and global influence
Strong risk assessment and decision-making capability
Effective crisis management under pressure
Cross-functional collaboration across technical and non-technical teams
High level of scientific credibility and innovation mindset
Cultural agility in global environments
Clear and impactful communication of complex topics

Rewards & Benefits
Competitive benefits package including pension, life assurance, and health plans
Generous annual leave and flexible benefits
Wellbeing and employee assistance programmes
Access to training and development opportunities
Additional perks such as volunteering days and lifestyle schemes

TPBN1_UKTJ
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Location:
Brent
Salary:
£100,000
Job Type:
FullTime
Category:
Construction;Catering

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