Food Safety & Quality Assurance Senior Specialist - Away From Home

PepsiCo; Leicester; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the food industry is seeking a Food Safety & Quality Assurance Specialist to join their R&D team in Leicester. This role involves executing complex projects, ensuring food safety, and collaborating with various teams to enhance culinary solutions across Europe. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in food science and experience in quick service operations, along with excellent technical and communication skills.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of experience in quick service or culinary roles.
• Understanding of culinary techniques and food safety requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute complex projects ensuring food safety principles.
• Partner with Sales and Marketing for culinary solutions.
• Ensure compliance with allergen regulations.

Skills

Technical Skills

Analytical Skills

Communication

Creative Thinking

Collaboration

Education

Graduate in Food Science

Graduate in Microbiology

Job description

Overview

PepsiCo is looking for a Food Safety & Quality Assurance Specialist – Away From Home, Europe to join our R&D team in Leicester.

The primary focus of this newly created R&D Food Safety role is to partner with the R&D AFH Europe lead, Global AFH Leads, and all Europe business partners to execute our AFH Strategy across Europe. The role will involve a broad range of initiatives (Culinary, New Business Models, Commercial Change, Portfolio Optimization) in collaboration with Europe Foods R&D, Global AFH R&D, and the Global Commercial AFH Team.

This is a highly collaborative role that requires thought leadership and the ability to influence change in an ambiguous environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute complex projects, ensuring Food Safety and quality principles are realized and delivered at all events. Use solid technical project management tools to ensure objectives are met on time, within standards, and budget.
• Partner with Sales and Marketing to understand customer and business needs, as well as operational, supply chain, and ingredient considerations when proposing culinary solutions.
• Ensure Food Safety Playbooks are aligned, established, and followed to ensure all events and operations focus on food safety.
• Apply Technical & Business Governance processes effectively from feasibility through to scale-up and post-launch support.
• Lead projects independently with minimal input, escalating issues as needed.
• Contribute to improving team workflows, sharing knowledge, and developing team members by embedding best practices.
• Represent FSQA in cross-functional forums, collaborating effectively with R&D and other functions.
• Ensure compliance with allergen regulations, local laws, and complete mystery shop assessments at each event.

Qualifications

• Graduate in Food Science, Microbiology, or a related field, aiming for a long-term R&D career.
• At least 5 years of experience in quick service, restaurant operations, or culinary roles at headquarters.
• Understanding of trends, ingredients, culinary techniques, and their integration into product development, with basic knowledge of food & nutrition science.
• Fundamental knowledge of food safety requirements in quick service and restaurant settings.
• Strong technical, analytical, and communication skills; ability to interpret data and turn it into actionable insights.
• High standards, innovative mindset, continuous improvement focus, and attention to detail.
• Effective collaboration and communication skills across R&D and other functions (Marketing, Operations, GP, PD, RA, QD).
• Creative thinking to generate workable ideas within project scopes.
• Results-oriented, perseverant, and able to give timely, direct feedback.
• Ability to work independently, adapt to change, and handle complexity.
• Self-motivated, proactive, with experience in autonomous delivery.
• Maintain integrity and safeguard the company's designs, formulations, processes, and reputation.
• Strong prioritization skills across multiple projects.