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- Tasks: Lead food safety and quality for LEON's restaurants and grocery business across the UK and Europe.
- Company: LEON is on a mission to revolutionise fast food with delicious, nutritious options.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, 33 days holiday, Bupa healthcare, and free LEON food!
- Why this job: Join a values-driven team focused on sustainability and continuous improvement in food safety.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in food safety, strong leadership skills, and expertise in HACCP and food legislation required.
- Other info: 1 day work from home and access to extensive learning resources for career growth.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Location: London, SE1 0EN (1 day working from home). Hours: Full-Time / Permanent. Salary: Competitive + Bonus Scheme.
About the role:
Join LEON as our Head of Safety and Technical. In this role, you’ll shape the safety and quality of our food for our UK grocery business and Restaurants in the UK and Europe. You'll confidently lead a talented team to develop and deliver LEON’s safety systems and embed a culture of continuous improvement, best practice and resilience. If you’re an experienced technical and food safety expert with an appetite for fast-paced, values-driven work — we want to hear from you!
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Safety & Compliance: Develop and lead LEON’s 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.
- Restaurant Food Safety: Oversee food safety, hygiene, health & safety, pest control, and allergen processes across all LEON restaurants. 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.
- Supplier and Specification Management: 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 LEON’s 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.
Candidate Requirements:
- At least 5 years of 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.
Benefits & Rewards:
- Competitive Salary & Performance Based Bonus Scheme
- 33 Days Holiday (including bank holidays)
- 1 Day Work from Home
- Bupa Healthcare
- Company Pension
- Casual Dress
- Employee Life Assurance
- ASDA Discount Card - 10% off all ASDA stores
- Smart Health - 24/7 online GP access, health checks and health and wellbeing support
- Employee Assistance Programme - access to our Wellbeing Centre which offers emotional & practical support including free financial advice
- Learning & Development - access to our Learning Hub, the most extensive online course library in the world to support you with every step of your career
- Free Eye Test
- As much LEON food as you can eat, plus 60% food discount for your friends & family when you’re not working.
About LEON:
At LEON, we are on a mission to revolutionise fast food. LEON was founded because we wanted to prove that it was possible to offer food that is both delicious and nutritious! The goal is to make it easy for people to eat well on the high street, and we aspire to achieve this in every major city worldwide!
Head Of Food Safety employer: LEON Restaurants
Contact Detail:
LEON Restaurants Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Of Food Safety
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with LEON's values and mission. Understanding their commitment to sustainability and healthy fast food will help you align your experience and passion for food safety with their goals during any discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the food safety sector, especially those who have experience in fast food or retail. Engaging with industry peers can provide insights into current trends and challenges that LEON may be facing.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've implemented food safety systems in previous roles. Highlighting your hands-on experience with HACCP and compliance will demonstrate your capability to lead LEON’s safety initiatives.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your leadership skills by preparing to talk about how you've developed teams in the past. LEON is looking for someone who can champion a food safety culture, so be ready to share your strategies for training and motivating staff.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Of Food Safety
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in food safety, technical roles, and quality assurance. Emphasise your expertise in HACCP, QMS, and any certifications you hold, such as Lead Auditor.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for food safety and sustainability. Mention specific examples of how you've led teams or improved safety systems in previous roles, aligning with LEON's values.
Showcase Leadership Skills: Since the role involves managing a team, highlight your people management and development skills. Provide examples of how you've successfully coached or trained others in food safety practices.
Demonstrate Industry Knowledge: Research LEON and its mission to revolutionise fast food. In your application, reference their commitment to quality and sustainability, and explain how your background aligns with their goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at LEON Restaurants
✨Showcase Your Expertise
As the Head of Food Safety, you'll need to demonstrate your extensive knowledge in food safety legislation, HACCP, and quality assurance. Prepare specific examples from your past experiences that highlight your expertise and how you've successfully implemented safety systems.
✨Emphasise Leadership Skills
This role requires strong people management abilities. Be ready to discuss your experience in leading teams, developing talent, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Share stories that illustrate your leadership style and how you've motivated others in a fast-paced environment.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills in food safety situations. Think about challenges you've faced in previous roles and how you resolved them. This will show your ability to think critically and act decisively under pressure.
✨Align with LEON's Values
LEON is passionate about sustainability and healthy eating. Research their mission and values, and be prepared to discuss how your personal values align with theirs. Showing that you're not just a fit for the role but also for the company culture can set you apart from other candidates.
