Safe to Trade is a voluntary third-party food safety assurance programme for hospitality, foodservice and retail. It exists to make the world a safer place to eat by protecting public health, giving consumers visible assurance, helping operators strengthen their systems and supporting intelligence-led regulation through independent audits, robust governance and data-driven risk profiling.
The Growth Director is accountable for turning the Safe to Trade strategy into sustained adoption in the UK and internationally. The role will build and manage a portfolio of opportunities across consumers, regulators, food business operators, industry bodies, Certification Bodies and strategic partners, progressing them from market insight and stakeholder discovery through proposition development, pilot, adoption and scale. This is a strategic and hands-on leadership role. It combines programme owner growth, senior stakeholder influence, commercial judgement, partnership development and disciplined execution. Growth must never compromise the independence, impartiality, technical integrity or credibility of Safe to Trade.
What success looks like
Safe to Trade is understood and trusted as a distinctive consumer-facing assurance programme.
Priority regulators and public bodies have clear, evidence-based routes to evaluate or engage with the programme.
Food business operators progress from interest to pilots, Approved businesses and scalable group roll-outs.
A capable international network of Certification Bodies and delivery partners supports consistent growth.
Commercial and delivery models are sustainable, measurable and aligned with programme governance.
Evidence, data, case studies and stakeholder advocacy create momentum for wider adoption.
Key working relationships
Internal: CEO; Programme Manager; Programme Marketing Director; Safe To Trade Board; Growth Committee; Technical And Governance Committee; Technical, Certification, Operations, Sales, Data And Marketing Colleagues.
External: National And Local Regulators; Government Departments; Operators And Retailers; Certification Bodies; Trade And Professional Bodies; International Organisations; Development Partners; Ambassadors And Advocates.
Core accountabilities
Growth strategy, market intelligence and portfolio leadership
Own and deliver the global programme growth strategy, translating ambition into priority markets, stakeholder plans, milestones, investment cases and measurable outcomes.
Build a robust market intelligence capability covering regulatory context, operator demand, competing or complementary assurance programmes, delivery capacity, stakeholder influence and commercial feasibility.
Maintain a stage-gated opportunity portfolio from discovery and qualification through pilot, adoption and scale, with clear owners, next actions, risks and decision points.
Apply transparent prioritisation criteria and stop or pause activity that lacks strategic fit, evidence, delivery capacity or a credible route to impact.
Prepare country and sector concept notes, propositions, business cases, partnership proposals and implementation roadmaps.
Provide concise, decision-focused reporting to the CEO and Safe to Trade Board on pipeline health, conversion, forecast impact, resource needs, risks and decisions required.
Proposition, commercial model and adoption pathways
Develop differentiated value propositions for each stakeholder group while maintaining one coherent programme narrative.
Design viable routes to adoption, including operator-funded, partner-led, licensing, membership, development-funded or blended models where appropriate and permitted.
Work with finance and programme colleagues to model value, cost-to-serve, pricing principles, investment requirements and sustainable contribution without weakening impartiality.
Convert stakeholder interest into documented pilots, agreements, delivery plans and accountable implementation programmes.
Ensure commercial claims, partnership terms and market commitments are accurate, approved and compatible with Safe to Trade governance.
Regulator, government and international engagement
Build credible senior relationships with food safety regulators, local authorities, government bodies and international organisations in priority markets.
Position Safe to Trade accurately as a voluntary third-party assurance framework that may support risk profiling, consistency, data-led oversight and reduced duplication where accepted by the relevant authority.
Lead regulatory mapping, engagement plans, evaluation pathways, pilot proposals and evidence packs in collaboration with technical and programme colleagues.
Understand local legal, policy and cultural contexts and adapt implementation plans without diluting programme requirements.
Ensure no claim of acceptance, recognition or regulatory benefit is made without appropriate evidence and approval.
Food business operator growth
Create compelling propositions for hospitality, foodservice and retail operators, linking independent assurance to consumer trust, due diligence, reputation, differentiation, operational confidence and oversight.
Identify, qualify and engage global and national operators, hotel groups, restaurant groups, contract caterers, retailers, franchise systems and suitable early adopters.
Develop
Safe to Trade Growth Director in London employer: Null
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