Food Safety Associate

Role Overview

This position is responsible for safeguarding food safety across a group of operational sites, acting as the technical reference point for everything from daily production checks to major incident investigations. You will spend your time on the floor reviewing processes, verifying that controls like temperature tracking and allergen handling are working as intended, and building the capability of site teams through training and coaching. The work directly reduces consumer risk and keeps the organisation aligned with both internal standards and external regulatory expectations.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the technical oversight of food safety programmes at assigned sites, ensuring that the Food Safety Management System (FSMS) operates effectively and improves over time.
• Carry out routine and risk-targeted inspections of receiving, storage, production, dispatch, and food service areas, then document findings clearly to drive accountability.
• Verify that critical controls, including temperature management, allergen separation, and traceability systems, are consistently applied in real working conditions.
• Coordinate sampling plans for food, water, and the environment, review laboratory outputs, and communicate results to the relevant operational stakeholders.
• Lead traceability exercises and mock recall drills, and assess whether corrective actions from previous issues have been fully implemented and remain effective.
• Investigate non-conformities and food safety incidents using structured root cause analysis, then propose and monitor preventive actions to conclusion.
• Support the delivery of food safety training, mentor junior team members, and regularly engage with kitchen and school staff to embed a shared sense of responsibility.
• Track performance data, identify trends or emerging risks, and prepare concise reports for senior leadership that inform continuous improvement decisions.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or a closely related scientific discipline.
• At least three years of hands-on experience in food safety, quality assurance, or quality control within the FMCG sector.
• Practical knowledge of implementing and maintaining ISO 22000:2018 Food Safety Management Systems and applying HACCP principles in an operational setting.
• Certification or recognised training in ISO 22000:2018, HACCP, or internal auditing is strongly preferred.
• Proven skill in conducting inspections, audits, verification activities, and incident investigations, including the follow-through of Corrective and Preventive Actions.
• Comfort with Microsoft Office applications, particularly for analysing data, generating performance reports, and tracking progress against food safety metrics.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking abilities, with sound decision-making when faced with ambiguous or fast-moving situations.
• Coaching and mentoring experience that has helped build technical competence and confidence in others.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, plus the ability to engage effectively across operational and management levels.
• Ability to remain focused and effective in a high-pressure, constantly changing operational environment.