QEHS Director - Quality & Food Safety Development - Viby

Arla Foods; Aarhus; On-site; DKK 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Arla Foods is seeking a senior QEHS leader to shape our global quality and food safety agenda within Global Supply Chain. You will lead a team of nine specialists, drive strategic initiatives, and govern QEHS programmes across the organisation, collaborating with labs, cert bodies, suppliers, and IT systems.

You will influence across functions, ensure governance and compliance, and report to the VP of Global SC QEHS.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership of multi-disciplinary teams in a global setting.
• Strong background in food safety, quality governance and compliance.
• Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a nine-person specialist team.
• Drive and govern global quality and food safety development programmes.
• Lead QEHS working groups (Food Safety, Certifications, Laboratories, IT systems, QEHS Targets).
• Partner with internal functions and external stakeholders (laboratories, certification bodies, suppliers).

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Quality systems

People management

English fluency

Education

Food science / Microbiology degree

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.