QEHS Director - Quality & Food Safety Development - Aarhus

Arla Foods; Denmark; On-site; DKK 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Arla Foods seeks a seasoned QEHS leader to drive the global quality and food safety strategy across our dairy supply chain. You will lead a team of specialists and influence senior stakeholders to advance QEHS programmes that impact consumers worldwide.

The role focuses on governance, audits, certifications, laboratories, and IT-enabled QEHS targets, reporting to the VP of Global SC QEHS. Fluency in English and strong leadership are essential.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading global QEHS initiatives.
• Strong background in food safety governance and quality systems.
• Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of nine QEHS specialists.
• Drive and govern global quality and food safety development programmes.
• Lead global QEHS working groups (Food Safety, Certifications, Laboratories, IT systems, QEHS Targets).
• Serve as senior specialist and key partner to internal functions and external stakeholders.

Skills

Team leadership

Quality systems

Food safety

Stakeholder management

Project management

Communication

Education

MSc in Food Science or related field

Job description

Are you ready to shape Arla’s global Quality & Food Safety agenda and lead a team of specialists working at the heart of our supply chain?

This is your chance to influence across a global organisation and set the strategic direction for food safety and quality development that impacts millions of consumers.

How You Will Make An Impact

In this role, you will lead a team of specialists and act as a key influencer across the organisation. You will take responsibility for driving and governing strategic initiatives within food safety, quality systems and global QEHS processes. You will collaborate closely with colleagues in Global Supply Chain, Milk Quality, Arla’s Research Center, Arla Foods Ingredients (AFI), Engineering & Technology, Digital & IT, Procurement and other partners across the value chain.

Your work will directly shape our global approach to food safety development, certifications, laboratories, analyses, IT systems and our QEHS Target process. You will also manage the QEHS Culture Survey, World Food Safety Day and QEHS Learning Weeks.

You will be responsible for

• Leading and developing a team of nine specialists.
• Driving and governing global quality and food safety development programmes.
• Ensuring your team is leading global QEHS working groups (Food Safety, Certifications, Laboratories, IT systems, QEHS Targets).
• Acting as senior specialist and key partner to internal functions and external stakeholders (laboratories, certification bodies, suppliers).
• Ensuring high standards of governance, compliance and operational excellence in a global context.

The role sits in Global Supply Chain, with Dairies and Logistics as primary stakeholders. You will report to Vice President for Global SC QEHS Karin Bjarlin Udby,

What Will Make You Successful

You are an experienced leader who combines strong people management with deep technical expertise. You thrive in a global, complex organisation and are naturally strong in stakeholder management and influencing at all levels. Your background gives you a solid technical foundation – particularly within food safety – supported by experience in food science, microbiology or a related discipline. You bring substantial experience working with quality systems, compliance and food safety governance, and you feel confident navigating both strategic and hands‑on challenges. You communicate clearly, collaborate effortlessly across functions and enjoy leading specialists while driving continuous improvement and progress in a highly interconnected environment. Naturally, you speak and write English fluently.

What do we offer?

At Arla, you will join a collaborative global community dedicated to creating high impact within food safety and quality. We are committed to professional development, internal mobility and building strong, supportive teams. You will have the opportunity to influence key strategic areas, work with passionate colleagues across the world and contribute to products enjoyed by millions every day. Our culture is built on trust, openness and a strong belief in learning and development.

Shape the Future of Dairy

Arla is a global leader in the dairy industry, committed to enabling good food choices that make life better, providing people with natural, sustainable nourishment, while taking care at every step to ensure Arla is a choice they can feel good about. If you are looking to shape the future with an ambitious global cooperative that truly cares about your growth, where everyone feels valued and empowered, and collaboration is the core of culture, Arla is a choice you can feel good about.