Global Head of Food Safety and Defence

The Global Head of Food Safety and Defence is accountable for protecting consumers and pladis global brands by leading the design, governance, and execution of global food safety and food defence programmes across all manufacturing plants, R&D facilities, co‑manufacturers, suppliers, and distribution centres. The role ensures that products are designed, manufactured and distributed safely, consistently, and in full compliance with global regulatory and customer expectations, while providing strategic leadership to prevent, detect and respond to intentional adulteration, tampering, extortion and emerging threats.

Key Deliverables

• Global Strategy & Governance
  • Develop and own the enterprise food safety and defence strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate vision, regulatory requirements and GFSI schemes.
  • Establish global policies, standards and performance indicators for food safety, hygiene, allergen control, traceability and food defence.
  • Lead global governance forums and represent food safety and defence for the business.
  • Ensure integration of food safety and defence into innovation, supply chain, procurement and operations decision‑making.
• Food Safety Systems & Compliance
  • Oversee global implementation of food safety systems including HACCP, environmental monitoring, allergen management, sanitation and GMP compliance.
  • Ensure global alignment to BRCGS, FSSC22000, ISO22000 and customer requirements.
  • Lead global audit programmes and provide oversight to regional QA functions.
  • Develop global risk assessment frameworks for high‑risk ingredients such as cocoa, milk powder, nuts and flavourings.
• Food Defence & Product Security
  • Drive global vulnerability assessments (TACCP/VACCP) and ensure sites implement and maintain mitigation plans.
  • Coordinate with Security, Procurement and Supply Chain to protect facilities, materials, people and processes against intentional harm.
  • Oversee product security across all logistics channels, including co‑manufacturers, warehouses and distribution partners.
• Incident Management & Crisis Response
  • Serve as global technical expert for food safety and defence‑related events such as product contamination, allergen cross‑contact, microbial outbreaks, tampering/extortion threats.
  • Manage root cause analyses, corrective action programmes and preventive measures globally.
  • Partner with Legal, Corporate Communications, Security and Regulatory during crises.
• Scientific Leadership & Innovation
  • Provide technical leadership on food safety science, microbiology, toxicology, allergens and emerging risks.
  • Guide R&D and Operations on hygienic design, thermal processing, novel ingredients and new technologies.
  • Oversee horizon scanning for emerging global risks including fraud, cyber‑physical risks and climate‑driven ingredient challenges.
  • Work with Regulatory Affairs to assess risks and impacts of regulatory changes and develop mitigation strategies.
• Talent, Training & Culture
  • Build and maintain a high‑performing global food safety and defence community.
  • Develop competency frameworks, training pathways and certification programmes for food safety and TACCP/VACCP.
  • Promote a proactive food safety culture across the entire organisation—from shop floor teams to senior executives.
• External Engagement & Advocacy
  • Represent the company at global regulatory forums, food safety institutes and industry alliances (e.g., GFSI, Codex‑related work, regional regulators).
  • Build partnerships with academic institutions and external experts in food safety and defence.
  • Benchmark industry best practices and integrate learnings into company standards.

Essential Education & Training

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Food Science, Food Safety, Microbiology, Chemistry, Public Health, or related field; advanced degree (PhD or MBA) desirable.
• Formal training in HACCP, TACCP/VACCP, FSMA Preventive Controls and Intentional Adulteration.

Experience

• Extensive expertise in food safety, quality and risk management within FMCG or large‑scale food manufacturing; proven leadership of global or multi‑regional teams and management of high‑risk ingredients and complex supply chains.
• Experience in responding to major food safety or product security incidents, particularly within chocolate, confectionery or bakery.

Technical Skills

• Deep knowledge of HACCP/HARPC, GMP, GFSI schemes and global regulatory frameworks.
• Expertise in microbiology, toxicology, allergens, sanitation and hygienic design.
• Proficiency in food defence methodologies (TACCP/VACCP, FSMA IA Rule) and familiarity with digital food safety tools, traceability systems and data analytics.

Key Competencies

• Strategic Leadership – influences global stakeholders and shapes organisational direction.
• Risk‑Based Thinking – translates scientific risk assessments into pragmatic business decisions.
• Crisis Management – calm, decisive, and structured under pressure.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration – partners effectively with Security, Supply Chain, Procurement, R&D, Legal and Communications.
• Scientific Rigor – deep technical expertise with the ability to innovate and challenge conventional thinking.
• Cultural Agility – comfortable working across diverse teams, markets and regulatory environments.
• Communication Excellence – simplifies complex risks for non‑technical audiences.

We Offer

• Health Cash Plan (self‑enrol)
• Stakeholder Pension Scheme
• Life Assurance Cover upon enrolment to the Pension Scheme
• 25 days plus bank holidays
• Holiday Enhancement Scheme
• Volunteering Day per year
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Discount and Cashback Scheme with major high street brands, supermarkets and services
• Employee Assistance Programme and Financial Wellbeing Support
• Training and development opportunities

EEO Statement

pladis is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We hire a diverse workforce and consider all qualified candidates without regard to race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, religion or any other classification protected by law.