Technical Product Manager Food

Provide global technical leadership, governance, and oversight for LRQA's FSSC certification services, ensuring compliance with accreditation, regulatory, and scheme requirements while supporting LRQA's strategic and commercial objectives. Act as the recognised subject matter expert for FSSC, providing technical guidance and interpretation to internal stakeholders, clients, accreditation bodies, and scheme owners. Establish and maintain effective product frameworks, governance processes, training programmes, and performance monitoring to ensure consistent, compliant, and commercially effective delivery of FSSC services across the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership and Product Governance: Accountable for the technical management and governance of the FSSC certification scheme to support delivery of LRQA's global strategic objectives. Ensure required technical, accreditation, and scheme standards are maintained across all areas of responsibility. Provide feedback and recommendations to Global, Area and Hub Management Teams and Management Systems functions to share best practice and drive continual improvement. Establish, implement, and maintain systems, processes, procedures and product frameworks that support consistent global delivery of FSSC certification services. Monitor and report on key performance indicators, objectives and compliance measures to meet scheme, business and client requirements.
• Technical Expertise and Compliance: Provide expert interpretation of legislation, accreditation requirements, FSSC scheme rules, standards, products and management system processes to QA&G, Client Operations, Sales, GCC and Service Delivery teams. Ensure technical decisions appropriately balance client needs, commercial considerations and accreditation obligations. Maintain effective liaison with accreditation bodies, regulatory authorities and the FSSC Scheme Owner. Support the management and resolution of accreditation findings, scheme non-conformities, certification disputes and escalated third-party complaints in accordance with LRQA processes and timelines.
• Governance, Assurance and Accreditation Management: Lead governance and system monitoring activities required to meet local and global accreditation requirements and LRQA corporate governance standards. Manage product-specific audit activities, including internal audits, management reviews, witness audits, technical reviews and compliance monitoring. Support LRQA during accreditation assessments, regulatory reviews and external audits. Ensure appropriate controls and reporting mechanisms are maintained to safeguard the integrity of the FSSC scheme.
• Product Development and Continuous Improvement: Establish and maintain a globally consistent framework for FSSC service delivery, identifying opportunities for improvement through data analysis and stakeholder feedback. Drive integration of scheme revisions, accreditation updates and regulatory changes throughout the organisation. Work collaboratively across the Assessment business to ensure technical requirements are embedded effectively within operational processes.
• Capability Development and Training: Support the development, qualification and ongoing competence of auditors, technical reviewers, trainers and other personnel involved in FSSC activities. Identify capability gaps and training needs and support the development and delivery of technical training programmes. Provide subject matter expertise and advice for both internal and external training activities. Promote continuing professional development (CPD) and ensure compliance with competency requirements.
• Industry Representation and Stakeholder Engagement: Represent and promote LRQA's interests on accreditation, standards and sector scheme committees where appropriate. Build and maintain effective relationships with the FSSC Foundation, accreditation bodies, regulators and industry stakeholders. Support strategic client engagements by providing technical expertise and guidance.
• Assessment Activities: Within authorised areas of competence, undertake third-party assessments and related technical activities in accordance with LRQA policies, accreditation requirements and fee-earning objectives.

Candidate profile: We're looking for an experienced food safety certification professional who can act as the global technical lead for FSSC 22000. The role requires strong expertise in food safety management systems, certification schemes and accreditation requirements, combined with the ability to provide technical guidance across a global business. The successful candidate is likely to have:

• Extensive experience with FSSC 22000 and food safety certification
• A background as a lead auditor, technical manager, scheme manager or certification specialist
• Experience working with accreditation bodies and certification governance
• Strong stakeholder management skills, including working with clients, regulators and industry bodies
• Experience developing auditor competence, training programmes and technical guidance
• The ability to balance technical compliance requirements with commercial and operational needs

Qualifications: Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Microbiology, or a related discipline (preferred). Lead Auditor qualification in FSSC 22000, ISO 22000 or related food safety standards. HACCP qualification and relevant food safety auditing credentials.

Ideal Background: Candidates from certification, assurance or inspection organisations such as LRQA, SGS, BSI, DNV, Bureau Veritas, Intertek or similar would be particularly relevant, especially if they have held technical leadership responsibilities for food safety schemes. This is less about managing a team and more about being the recognised technical expert who can provide oversight, governance and direction for a globally delivered certification scheme.

Pre-Employment Checks: If you are successful in securing a role with us, we will carry out pre-employment checks in accordance with what is permitted under local law. These checks may include, where legally allowed: right to work, identification, verification of employment history, education, and criminal record checks. We will engage our third-party background screening provider, Cfirst to conduct these checks on our behalf. Cfirst performs all processing in full compliance with applicable data protection laws and adheres to strict legal, regulatory, and ethical obligations in handling personal data. Any personal information collected for the purpose of these checks will be used solely for evaluating your suitability for employment and will be retained only for as long as necessary to fulfil these purposes and meet legal requirements. Your data will be stored securely and managed in accordance with all relevant privacy legislation. If you have any questions or concerns about the pre-employment checks please contact us at Onboarding@lrqa.com. If you have any questions or concerns on how your data will be handled, please contact us as dataprotection@lrqa.com.

At LRQA, we believe that as a leading Global Leading Assurance and Risk Management Service provider, our talented people are our risk management advantage. We believe the best outcomes come from diverse perspectives, shared ambition and working together with integrity. That's how we build a workplace where everyone can contribute, grow and thrive.