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- Tasks: Lead food safety and quality for LEON's grocery and restaurant operations 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, expertise in HACCP, and strong people management skills 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. Where does it say in the rule book that fast food can’t be good for you? 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 (London) employer: LEON Restaurants
Contact Detail:
LEON Restaurants Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Of Food Safety (London)
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the food safety and technical fields. Attend industry events, webinars, or local meetups to connect with others who may have insights or opportunities related to the Head of Food Safety role at LEON.
✨Tip Number 2
Research LEON's current food safety practices and any recent news about their initiatives. This knowledge will help you engage in meaningful conversations during interviews and demonstrate your genuine interest in their mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with HACCP, QMS, and GFSI in detail. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've implemented these systems in previous roles, as this will showcase your expertise and suitability for the position.
✨Tip Number 4
Highlight your leadership and people management skills by preparing anecdotes that illustrate how you've successfully led teams in the past. This is crucial for a role that requires championing food safety culture across multiple restaurants.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Of Food Safety (London)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your relevant experience in food safety, technical roles, and quality assurance. Emphasise your expertise in HACCP, QMS, and allergen management, as these are crucial for the Head of Food Safety position.
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 implemented safety systems in previous roles, showcasing your leadership skills and commitment to continuous improvement.
Highlight Relevant Certifications: Include any certifications you hold, such as Lead Auditor certification or equivalent, prominently in your application. This will demonstrate your qualifications and hands-on auditing experience, which are essential for this role.
Showcase Communication Skills: Since excellent communication and influencing skills are key requirements, provide examples in your application of how you've effectively communicated with teams, suppliers, or regulators in past positions. This will help illustrate your ability to champion food safety culture.
How to prepare for a job interview at LEON Restaurants
✨Showcase Your Expertise
As a candidate for the Head of Food Safety, it's crucial to demonstrate your extensive knowledge in food safety legislation, HACCP, and quality management systems. Prepare specific examples from your past experiences that highlight your technical skills and how you've successfully implemented safety standards.
✨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 safety and compliance. Share stories that illustrate your leadership style and how you've motivated others to prioritise food safety.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills in real-world situations. Think about challenges you've faced in previous roles related to food safety and compliance, and be prepared to explain how you approached these issues and what the outcomes were.
✨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 beliefs align with theirs. Showing that you share their vision will help you stand out as a candidate who fits well within their company culture.
