Food Safety Manager

Emirates Flight Catering; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading catering service in UAE is seeking a Food Safety Manager responsible for managing food safety functions and ensuring compliance with regulations. Candidates should have at least 7 years of experience in food safety roles, strong leadership qualities, and a background in microbiology or food science. The role involves leading a team, conducting audits, and implementing food safety management systems across the organization.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of experience in food safety at a managerial level.
• Experience in Microbiology Laboratory Management is preferred.
• Exposure to implementation of FSSC 22000 & BRC.

Responsibilities

• Manage food safety functions including microbiology laboratory.
• Lead food safety and microbiology team in compliance tasks.
• Perform audits of operations to ensure compliance.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Excellent problem-solving skills

Attention to details

Leadership abilities

Education

Bachelor’s degree in microbiology or Food Science

Training in HACCP

Training in FSSC & BRC standards

Job description

Job Title: Food Safety Manager

Job Grade: FC08

Reports to: Senior Manager – Food Safety

Department Business Unit: QHSE Food Safety

Job Purpose:

The job holder is responsible for managing all food safety functions including microbiology laboratory on site by planning, establishing, implementing, monitoring and maintaining the Food Safety Management System (FSMS) in compliance to relevant legislative requirements, industry and customer food safety guidelines and standards (i.e. Dubai Municipality, HACCP, FSSC 22000, HALAL, Yum Brand, BRCGS etc.) to maintain highest level of food safety.

Key Result Areas:

1. Define food safety objectives for EKFC and implement food safety policies and procedures to meet the targets.
2. Lead the food safety and microbiology team in carrying out all assigned tasks to ensure the site and products adhere to the highest level of food safety standards
3. Establish the credibility of EKFC as a partner of choice by demonstrating the business’s food safety capabilities to support attraction of potential customers
4. Perform regular audits of day-to-day operations and advise on food safety requirements to identify potential risks and address non-compliance issues in a timely manner.
5. Provide technical inputs for HACCP study to Operations during product launch and actual production runs, as well as for all new concepts and NPD projects to ensure compliance to FSMS, customer specifications and legislative requirements.
6. Coordinate with stakeholders regarding the implementation, maintenance & updating of FSMS.
7. Collaborate with Department Heads and recommend ways to improve their departmental work procedures in all areas of Food Point that are covered by the scope of the respective FSMS certification.
8. Lead the periodic review of the customer guidelines and legislative requirements and incorporate their requirement to the existing FSSC, BRC, HALAL and ISO 17025 Systems.
9. Responsible for handling and attending to Customer, Third Party and Regulatory audits and queries and maintaining accurate records to keep track of compliance with food safety regulations.
10. Manage the pest control contract with the service provider to ensure full compliance to pest control procedures and Dubai Municipality regulations.

Job Context:

The role will be responsible for the management of a complete food safety management system overhaul with a target of achieving a BRC accreditation across EKFC entities and facilities to ensure audit and regulatory compliance is achieved with the highest standards.

Knowledge, Skills & Minimum Experience:

Education Qualification:

• Bachelor’s degree in microbiology, Food Science or similar discipline
• Specialized Training in HACCP and in any GFSI benchmarked standards (FSSC & BRC)

Work Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of experience in a food safety role on a managerial or supervisory level in catering or manufacturing company
• Experience in Microbiology Laboratory Management system is preferred
• Exposure in implementation of FSSC 22000 & BRC

Skills:

• Strong communication skills
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills to identify and resolve food safety issues
• Attention to details and organizational abilities
• Drive to continually improve food safety processes and seek new challenges
• Able to create new opportunities through innovative thinking, systems, processes, and methods.
• Proven leadership abilities with experience in coaching, guiding, and mentoring team members.
• Strong project management and multi-tasking skills to carry out various audit activities.