At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team ensuring food safety and quality across McDonald's UK & Ireland.
- Company: Join the iconic McDonald's brand with a focus on innovation and excellence.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, generous holiday allowance, and free meals in the office.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth with a competitive bonus and sabbatical after 10 years.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on food safety and quality while leading a passionate team.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in food safety and a degree in Food Science required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 € per year.
The Quality Assurance, Food Safety & Product Nutrition Manager (QAFSN Manager) is accountable for the effective leadership and management of the QAFSN team, ensuring the consistent delivery of food safety, quality, legality and product nutrition compliance across the McDonald’s UK & Ireland supply chain and restaurant estate. Reporting into the Head of QFSN, this role focuses on operational excellence, strong governance, and disciplined ways of working, translating strategy into day‑to‑day execution. The role ensures that supplier and restaurant performance is effectively managed, risks are identified and addressed, and that the QAFSN team operates in a clear, consistent and data‑led way. This role acts as the primary people leader for the QAFSN function, supporting the development of team capability, embedding a strong food safety and quality culture, and ensuring the team delivers high‑quality outcomes that protect customers and brand trust.
What Team will I be a part of? A manager within the UK&I Supply Chain Leadership Team, partnering with peers across sourcing, logistics, strategy and sustainability. Leads the Quality Assurance, Food Safety and operational Nutrition function, responsible for supplier and restaurant assurance. Works in close collaboration with Global SC counterparts and teams to ensure alignment and consistency.
Duties
- Lead, manage and develop the QAFSN team, setting clear expectations, priorities and ways of working, and supporting performance, capability and engagement through coaching and feedback.
- Ensure effective delivery of food safety, quality, product legality and product nutrition compliance across supplier categories and the restaurant estate.
- Own and embed QAFSN processes, governance and assurance frameworks, ensuring consistency, discipline and continuous improvement across the function.
- Drive strong supplier accountability, including performance reviews, audits, KPIs, action plans and escalation where required.
- Ensure restaurant food safety and quality programmes, standards and training are implemented effectively and remain aligned to risk and operational needs.
- Oversee the management of complaints, incidents and emerging risks, ensuring issues are assessed, managed and escalated appropriately in line with governance expectations.
- Use data, insights and trend analysis to prioritise team activity, manage risk and drive continuous improvement across supplier and restaurant performance.
- Partner with internal stakeholders (e.g. Supply Chain, Operations, Sourcing, Product Development) to support safe, compliant product delivery and change implementation.
- Provide operational leadership and representation with suppliers and internal forums, ensuring clear communication, challenge and follow‑up on performance.
- Role‑model strong leadership behaviours, accountability and a proactive food safety and quality culture within the team and supplier base.
- Participate in the on‑call rota for the leadership team to ensure continuity of operations during weekends and holidays.
Qualifications
- Proven senior leadership experience in food safety, quality assurance or technical roles within complex, high‑risk food environments.
- Demonstrated ability to set strategy and lead large, multi‑disciplinary teams through ambiguity and change.
- Strong experience of incident leadership, risk management and regulatory engagement.
- Ability to influence at Executive level and across a broad stakeholder landscape.
- Experience embedding governance, data‑led decision‑making and continuous improvement at scale.
- Degree in Food Science or equivalent experience; advanced HACCP and food safety credentials expected.
Benefits
- Hybrid working of 2 days at home and 3 in our London office (unless travelling).
- Holiday allowance of 28 days per year, raising to 30 days per year after 3 years (in addition to bank holidays).
- Free breakfast and lunch when working in the office.
- Company car or allowance.
- Summer working hours.
- Competitive bonus and pension package.
- 8 week paid sabbatical for every 10 years of service.
Lead Quality Assurance, Food Safety and Nutrition Manager employer: McDonald's
McDonald's UK & Ireland is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that prioritises food safety and quality while fostering employee growth and development. With a strong emphasis on operational excellence and a supportive culture, employees benefit from hybrid working arrangements, generous holiday allowances, and unique perks such as free meals in the office and an 8-week paid sabbatical after a decade of service. Join us in London to be part of a team that values leadership, innovation, and a commitment to delivering high-quality outcomes that protect our customers and brand trust.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Quality Assurance, Food Safety and Nutrition Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values around food safety and quality assurance, and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly gets what they’re about.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions, especially those related to leadership and risk management. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and showcase your achievements effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our team at McDonald’s UK & Ireland.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Quality Assurance, Food Safety and Nutrition Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Lead Quality Assurance, Food Safety and Nutrition Manager. Highlight your experience in food safety and quality assurance, and don’t forget to mention any leadership roles you've had. We want to see how you can bring your unique skills to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about food safety and quality. Share specific examples of how you've led teams through challenges and improved processes. We love a good story that shows your impact!
Showcase Your Data Skills:Since this role involves a lot of data-led decision-making, make sure to highlight your experience with data analysis and how you've used insights to drive improvements. We’re keen to see how you’ve managed risks and enhanced performance in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about our culture and values!
How to prepare for a job interview at McDonald's
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your food safety and quality assurance knowledge. Familiarise yourself with the latest regulations, standards, and best practices in the industry. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you're serious about the role.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past, especially in high-risk environments. Think about specific challenges you faced and how you navigated them. This will demonstrate your capability to manage and develop a team effectively.
✨Data-Driven Decision Making
Be ready to discuss how you've used data and insights to drive improvements in previous roles. Highlight any experience you have with KPIs, audits, or performance reviews, as this aligns perfectly with the responsibilities of the position.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you've collaborated with various stakeholders in the past. Prepare to share examples of how you influenced decisions at different levels, particularly with executive leadership. This will show your ability to navigate complex relationships within the organisation.
