Food Safety Management Systems Lead

Mars; Franklin (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Mars Petcare leads a global program to safeguard pet nutrition by enforcing world‑class Food Safety Management Systems across more than 65 sites worldwide.

You will govern, implement, and continuously improve FSSC 22000, HACCP and GMP standards, partnering with Quality, Manufacturing, R&D and Corporate teams to elevate safety culture and compliance across Mars Petcare operations.

Qualifications

• Experience leading Food Safety Management Systems in manufacturing.
• Deep knowledge of HACCP, ISO 22000, and ideally FSSC 22000.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects and influencing global stakeholders.
• Auditing experience in HACCP, GMP or ISO/FSSC 22000 environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead global governance, deployment and continuous improvement of FSSC 22000 across Mars Petcare Nutrition Divisions.
• Drive compliance with Food Safety Management standards, HACCP, GMP, Food Fraud and Food Defence programmes.
• Monitor food safety performance, identify risks and drive robust corrective actions.
• Develop food safety standards, processes and documentation aligned with regulations and business needs.
• Coordinate external certification audits and technical safety assessments.
• Build capability through training, coaching and leadership within the food safety community.
• Partner on digital transformation initiatives to enhance compliance and effectiveness.

Skills

Food Safety Management Systems

HACCP ISO 22000 FSSC 22000

Cross-functional leadership

Auditing (HACCP GMP ISO)

Communication & coaching

Risk management & CI

English proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Science/Technology

Job description

Job Description:

Food Safety Management Systems Lead

Location: Any Mars Petcare Site

At Mars Petcare, our purpose is simple: A Better World for Pets. Every day, millions of pet parents trust our brands to provide safe, high-quality nutrition for their pets. As our Food Safety Management Systems Lead, you’ll play a critical role in protecting that trust by driving world‑class food safety standards across all global Pet Nutrition Units, Pet & Innovation Centres, and is the liaison with the Food Safety Hub and Corporate team.

This is a highly visible global role responsible for leading the governance, implementation and continuous improvement of Food Safety Management Systems across Mars Petcare. Working across more than 65 manufacturing sites and partnering with regional, segment and corporate stakeholders, you’ll help ensure compliance with FSSC 22000, HACCP, GMP, Food Fraud and Food Defense requirements while driving a culture of continuous improvement.

What will you do?

As the global subject matter expert for Food Safety Management Systems, you’ll partner with Quality, Manufacturing, R&D and Corporate teams to strengthen food safety capabilities and ensure consistent standards across our Petcare operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the global deployment, governance and continuous improvement of FSSC 22000 across Mars Petcare Nutrition Divisions.
• Drive compliance with Food Safety Management Standard , HACCP, GMP, Food Fraud and Food Defence programmes.
• Monitor food safety performance, identify risks and opportunities, and ensure robust action plans are in place.
• Develop food safety standards, processes and documentation aligned with evolving regulatory and business requirements.
• Support and coordinate external certification audits and technical food safety assessments.
• Build capability across the organisation through training, coaching and food safety community leadership.
• Partner on digital transformation initiatives that enhance food safety compliance and effectiveness.

What are we looking for?

• Strong experience in Food Safety Management Systems within a manufacturing environment.
• Deep knowledge of HACCP, ISO 22000 and ideally FSSC 22000 standards.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects and influencing stakeholders across global organisations.
• Auditing experience within HACCP, GMP or ISO/FSSC 22000 environments.
• Excellent communication, facilitation and coaching skills
• Strong capability in risk management, continuous improvement and programme governance.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Science, Technology or a related discipline.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
• Join a purpose-driven company where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to Mars University.
• An industry-competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

Please note: This is a global role requiring approximately 25% international travel to support manufacturing sites, audits and stakeholder engagement activities across the Mars Petcare network.

Mars is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable adjustments for individuals with disabilities, long-term health conditions, or who are neurodiverse during the application and recruitment process.