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- Tasks: Lead food safety and quality for our grocery and restaurant operations across the UK and Europe.
- Company: Join a well-known QSR business based in central London with a dynamic grocery offering.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, bonuses, benefits, and free food!
- Why this job: Shape food safety culture while working with a talented team in a reputable company.
- Qualifications: Senior experience in food safety, technical roles, and expertise in HACCP and food legislation required.
- Other info: Flexibility to travel across the UK and Europe is essential.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
In this role, you will shape the safety and quality of our food for our UK grocery business and Restaurants in the UK and Europe. You will confidently lead a talented team to develop and deliver safety systems and embed a culture of continuous improvement, best practice and resilience.
The key responsibilities of this role include:
- Develop and lead company-wide food safety, quality, and compliance standards.
- Set safety and technical policies and procedures, ensuring they are future-fit, scalable, and aligned with regulatory and industry best practice.
- Be the key point of contact for external regulators, Primary Authority, auditors, and legal food safety matters.
- Manage and refine our internal and external audit programmes, embedding accountability and action plans at every level.
- Champion food safety culture across restaurants, supporting General Managers and Ops teams with training, insights, and coaching.
- Collaborate with NPD and Operations to ensure new products, ingredients, and processes are safe and deliverable by the operations team.
- Lead supplier technical approval and ongoing compliance, including onboarding, auditing, and performance management.
- Own the technical integrity of product specifications - ensuring our food meets all safety, nutritional, allergen, and customer-facing requirements.
- Build and maintain strong, values-led relationships with suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors.
- Oversee technical governance for grocery product range - including food safety, packaging compliance, labelling, claims, and retailer standards.
- Act as the gatekeeper for all food and non-food products, ensuring robust technical approval processes are in place from development to launch and then maintained.
The ideal candidate will have a background in:
- Senior-level experience in a food safety, technical, or quality assurance role.
- A strong background in food service, retail, or manufacturing.
- Expertise in HACCP, QMS, GFSI, allergen management, food safety legislation, and ethical sourcing.
- Lead Auditor certification (or equivalent) and hands-on auditing experience.
- Strong people management and development skills.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills.
- Strong systems, reporting, and data analysis capabilities.
- Passion for food and sustainability.
- Flexibility to travel across the UK and Europe as required.
Competitive salary + bonus + benefits + free food.
Contact Detail:
Michael Page Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Food Safety and Technical
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest food safety regulations and industry best practices. This knowledge will not only help you in interviews but also demonstrate your commitment to maintaining high standards in food safety.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the food safety and quality assurance sectors. Attend industry events or join relevant online forums to connect with others who can provide insights or even refer you to opportunities at StudySmarter.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you've successfully managed teams in the past. Highlight specific examples where you've implemented food safety systems or improved compliance, as this will resonate well with our values.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your passion for food and sustainability during the interview process. We value candidates who are not only skilled but also genuinely care about the impact of their work on the environment and society.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Food Safety and Technical
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in food safety, quality assurance, and compliance. Emphasise your leadership skills and any specific achievements related to HACCP, QMS, or GFSI.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for food safety and sustainability. Discuss how your background aligns with the responsibilities of the role and provide examples of how you've successfully led teams in similar environments.
Highlight Relevant Certifications: Clearly list any certifications you hold, such as Lead Auditor certification or equivalent. This will demonstrate your expertise and commitment to food safety standards.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since excellent communication is key for this role, include examples in your application that showcase your ability to influence and train others, particularly in a food safety context.
How to prepare for a job interview at Michael Page
✨Showcase Your Expertise
Make sure to highlight your senior-level experience in food safety and quality assurance. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've developed and implemented safety systems in previous roles, particularly in food service or retail.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As this role involves leading a talented team, be ready to share your experiences in people management. Discuss how you've successfully trained and developed teams, and how you foster a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
✨Know the Regulations
Familiarise yourself with relevant food safety legislation and industry best practices. Be prepared to discuss how you have navigated regulatory requirements in the past and how you would ensure compliance in this new role.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and decision-making abilities. Think about challenges you've faced in food safety and how you resolved them, especially in relation to supplier management and technical approvals.
