Regional Food Safety & Sanitation Manager

About the role

The Regional Food Safety Manager plays a pivotal role in driving strategic food safety initiatives and ensuring the highest standards of sanitary compliance across our operations within the region. He / she will collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop, implement, and sustain robust food safety programs that align with global standards and business goals.

Key responsibilities include

1. Strategic Leadership:
   • Develop and execute a comprehensive regional food safety strategy that aligns with product needs, corporate objectives and regulatory requirements.
   • Provide visionary leadership to continuously improve food safety systems, ensuring alignment with industry best practices and emerging trends.
2. FSMS Program Development and Implementation:
   • Oversee the design, implementation, and maintenance of aligned food safety programs, including HACCP for foreign material, microbiology, and allergen and toxicology compliance; tailored to regional needs.
   • Standardize processes and procedures across facilities to achieve consistent food safety performance.
   • Ensure on-going risk assessments to identify potential & emerging food safety hazards and implement preventive controls.
   • Conduct risk assessment any new project or initiative launched by cross function.
   • Monitor and respond to emerging food safety risks, including regulatory changes and industry developments, to ensure proactive compliance.
3. NNS and other Food Safety Performance Improvement Projects:
   • Act as the regional expert on interpretation on the NNS Standards. Organise regular training sessions to address understanding gaps, support site gap analysis, share best practices and validate action plans.
   • Identify, plan, and execute strategic food safety improvement projects that address critical gaps or inefficiencies in existing systems.
4. Food Safety CAPEX Program Governance:
   • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement Food safety capex projects.
   • Maintain a tracker of all FS CAPEX needs across sites and prioritise those basis risk assessment.
   • Work with Global FS CAPEX team to support allocation of funds to the projects
   • Support in identification and validation of new technologies to enable better food safety compliance
5. EMP Program Management
   • Provide guidance on the EMP program deployment to Site teams including sampling methods, number of samples, dealing with out of specs, etc. and inputs for on-going review.
   • Ensure consistency of EMP program across sites.
   • Oversee the weekly & monthly EMP review, decisions, escalations and reporting.
6. Sanitation Program Management
   • Develop and deploy Master Sanitation Schedule at each site including clear cleaning & sanitation procedures for all equipment, surfaces and facilities.
   • Connect with Regional SHE teams on proper usage and application of sanitation chemicals.
   • Ensure sanitation procedures are validated periodically for effectiveness.
   • Ensure learning and sharing between the site sanitation teams to generate faster solutions and prevention of problems.
7. Pest Management Program
   • Ensure that all plants and warehouses have documented pest control program, including reporting & trending.
   • Ensure learning and sharing between the site teams to generate faster solutions and prevention of problems.
   • Develop resident expertise in site through internal and external trainings.
8. Training and Culture:
   • Lead initiatives to strengthen food safety awareness and accountability at all organizational levels through Quality Culture umbrella or otherwise.
   • Develop and deliver training programs to equip teams with the knowledge and skills required for effective food safety management.
9. Stakeholder Collaboration:
   • Serve as the primary point of contact for regional food safety matters, collaborating with regulatory authorities, customers, and internal stakeholders.
   • Partner with Operations, Engineering and Procurement teams to integrate food safety considerations into product development and supply chain management.
   • Engage with external entities and attend Food Safety forums to represent BC and to learn what is new.
10. Performance Monitoring and Continuous Improvement:
    • Measuring food safety performance and drive continuous improvement.
    • Conduct internal audits and inspections (i.e. HACCP & EMP review) to evaluate compliance and identify opportunities for enhancement.
11. Crisis Management:
    • Develop and maintain crisis management protocols, including recall plans and incident investigation processes.
    • Lead response efforts during food safety incidents, ensuring swift and effective resolution.
    • Evaluate efficiency of corrective and preventive measures to prevent resource issues. 
12.  Talent Development:
    • Mentor and develop food safety professionals within the region to build a pipeline of future leaders.
    • Create and implement development programs to enhance technical expertise, leadership skills, and cross-functional collaboration.
    • Foster a culture of continuous learning culture
    • Identify high-potential employees and provide opportunities for advancement through stretch assignments and project leadership roles.

About you 

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology or a related field (Master’s degree preferred)
• Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in food safety management, with at least 3 years in a regional or multi-site leadership role.
• In-depth knowledge of global food safety standards, regulatory frameworks, and certification schemes (e.g., FSSC 22000, BRC, FSMA).
• Technical Expertise:
  • Comprehensive knowledge of food safety management systems, risk assessment methodologies, and compliance frameworks.
  • Expertise in leveraging technology and data analytics to improve food safety outcomes.
  • Sound knowledge of food microbiology and toxicology
• Innovation and Problem-Solving:
  • Demonstrated ability to identify opportunities for improvement and implement innovative solutions.
  • Proactive mindset in addressing challenges and mitigating risks effectively.
• Communication and Collaboration:
  • Exceptional communication skills to engage with stakeholders at all levels, including regulatory authorities, customers, and internal teams.
  • Collaborative approach to working with cross-functional teams to achieve common goals.
• Adaptability and Resilience:
  • Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with a focus on delivering results.
  • Resilience and composure under pressure, especially during crisis management situations.