VP Quality and Food Safety in London
VP Quality and Food Safety

VP Quality and Food Safety in London

London Full-Time No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead global transformation in Quality & Food Safety across multiple regions.
  • Company: Join a dynamic organisation focused on proactive quality culture.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus, car allowance, and relocation support.
  • Other info: Opportunity for international travel and career advancement.
  • Why this job: Make a significant impact by shaping food safety standards globally.
  • Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in Quality & Food Safety required.

We are seeking a Vice President of Quality & Food Safety to lead a critical global transformation agenda. This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for building and embedding a world-class, centralised Quality & Food Safety function across a complex, multi-regional organisation. With strong executive sponsorship and significant recent investment in foundational food safety, the business is now focused on shifting from reactive compliance to a proactive, embedded quality culture.

The Opportunity

This is not a steady-state leadership role. You will:

  • Build and scale a global quality framework
  • Align regional quality operations under a consistent standard
  • Act as the organisation’s senior authority on quality and food safety
  • Influence executive leadership to prioritise and invest in quality

You will lead a globally distributed ecosystem of approximately 400 quality professionals, including 6 regional quality leads in a matrix structure.

Key Responsibilities

Global Quality & Food Safety Leadership

  • Define and implement the global Quality & Food Safety strategy
  • Establish consistent standards, policies, and governance across all regions
  • Ensure alignment between central and regional teams

Culture Transformation

  • Drive the shift toward a proactive quality culture
  • Embed quality and food safety into day-to-day business operations
  • Champion accountability and continuous improvement across the organisation

Technical Oversight

  • Provide expert guidance across the food safety and quality risk landscape
  • Ensure robust systems, processes, and controls are in place
  • Act as a credible authority with engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain teams

Stakeholder Management & Influence

  • Partner with senior stakeholders including:
  • Regional Managing Directors
  • Supply Chain leadership
  • R&D and Operations
  • Confidently challenge and influence at executive level
  • Navigate complex, and at times controversial, decision-making environments
  • Commercial Leadership

    • Translate quality and food safety priorities into clear business value
    • Build compelling cases for investment in quality initiatives
    • Secure resources by articulating risk, return, and impact

    Organisation & Capability Building

    • Build and develop a high-performing global quality organisation
    • Strengthen capability across regions
    • Create clear structures, roles, and accountability

    Candidate Profile

    Experience

    • Senior leadership experience in Quality & Food Safety within:
    • Food manufacturing, FMCG, or adjacent sectors (e.g. personal care)
  • Proven track record in:
    • Global or multi-regional roles, OR
    • Leading quality within a region of a large multinational and ready to step into a global role
  • Experience operating in complex, matrixed organisations
  • Technical Expertise

    • Strong understanding of:
    • Food safety systems and standards
    • Quality management frameworks
    • Regulatory environments
  • Ability to engage deeply on technical topics while operating at strategic level
  • Leadership & Behavioural Capabilities

    • Critical success factors:
    • Exceptional stakeholder management and influencing skills
    • Ability to operate effectively at executive and board level
    • Strong commercial acumen
    • Experience securing investment and resources
  • Leadership style:
    • Credible, calm, and measured
    • Able to challenge constructively
    • Balances firmness with cultural sensitivity
    • Builds trust quickly across diverse teams

    What We Are Looking For

    • A builder, not a maintainer
    • A leader who can:
    • Drive change
    • Align diverse stakeholders
    • Embed sustainable systems and behaviours

    What We Are Not Looking For

    • Pure technical specialists without leadership depth
    • Individuals lacking stakeholder influence at senior level
    • Leadership styles that are either:
    • Too passive to drive change, or
    • Overly aggressive and culturally misaligned

    Qualifications

    • Degree (or equivalent) in:
    • Food Science, Engineering, or a related discipline
  • Advanced qualifications in quality or food safety are advantageous
  • Location & Mobility

    • UK preferred (relocation supported)
    • Open to Europe-based candidates willing to travel
    • International travel required

    Compensation

    • Competitive executive package including:
    • Circa £220,000 base salary
    • Bonus
    • Car allowance
    • Benefits
    • Relocation support

    VP Quality and Food Safety in London employer: develop

    As a leading employer in the food safety and quality sector, we offer an exceptional opportunity for growth and impact in a dynamic environment. Our commitment to fostering a proactive quality culture is matched by our investment in employee development and a supportive work atmosphere that values collaboration and innovation. With relocation support and the chance to influence global standards, this role is perfect for those looking to make a meaningful difference in a complex, multi-regional organisation.
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    Contact Detail:

    develop Recruiting Team

    StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

    We think this is how you could land VP Quality and Food Safety in London

    ✨Tip Number 1

    Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts and attend relevant events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that VP role.

    ✨Tip Number 2

    Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s culture and values. We want to show that we’re not just a fit on paper, but that we can truly embody their proactive quality culture.

    ✨Tip Number 3

    Practice your storytelling skills! We need to articulate our past experiences in a way that highlights our leadership and ability to drive change. Make sure to have examples ready that showcase our impact.

    ✨Tip Number 4

    Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our mission.

    We think you need these skills to ace VP Quality and Food Safety in London

    Global Quality Framework Development
    Food Safety Systems and Standards
    Quality Management Frameworks
    Regulatory Environment Knowledge
    Stakeholder Management
    Influencing Skills
    Commercial Acumen
    Change Management
    Leadership in Complex Organisations
    Cultural Sensitivity
    Continuous Improvement
    Risk Assessment and Management
    Technical Oversight
    Matrix Structure Navigation
    High-Performing Team Development

    Some tips for your application 🫡

    Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of VP Quality and Food Safety. Highlight your leadership experience in quality and food safety, especially in global or multi-regional contexts. We want to see how you've driven change and built high-performing teams!

    Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us about your vision for a proactive quality culture and how you’ve influenced stakeholders at an executive level. Be authentic and let your passion for quality and food safety come through.

    Showcase Your Achievements: Quantify your successes where possible! Whether it's improving compliance rates or leading successful quality initiatives, we love numbers that tell a story. This helps us understand the impact you've made in previous roles.

    Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team at StudySmarter!

    How to prepare for a job interview at develop

    ✨Know Your Quality Frameworks

    Make sure you’re well-versed in global quality frameworks and food safety standards. Brush up on the latest regulations and best practices in the industry, as this will show your technical expertise and readiness to lead.

    ✨Showcase Your Leadership Style

    Prepare to discuss your leadership approach and how you’ve successfully driven change in previous roles. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've aligned diverse stakeholders and built high-performing teams.

    ✨Demonstrate Stakeholder Management Skills

    Think of instances where you’ve influenced senior leadership or navigated complex decision-making environments. Highlight your ability to challenge constructively while maintaining cultural sensitivity.

    ✨Articulate Business Value

    Be prepared to translate quality and food safety priorities into clear business value. Have examples ready that illustrate how your initiatives have secured investment and resources, showcasing your commercial acumen.

    VP Quality and Food Safety in London
    develop
    Location: London

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