Global Head of Food Safety & Defence
Location: Hybrid, West London – 2 days a week in office
Salary: Up to £150,000 + benefits
An ambitious, fast-growing food manufacturing business is seeking a Global Head of Food Safety & Defence.
This organisation is a custodian of well-known international brands and is committed to maintaining the highest standards in product quality, ingredients, and talent.
The successful candidate will thrive in a purpose-driven, fast-paced environment that values agility, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
This is a senior leadership role offering global scope, strategic influence, and the opportunity to make a significant impact.
The Global Head of Food Safety & Defence is accountable for protecting consumers and global brands by leading the design, governance, and execution of food safety and food defence programmes worldwide.
This role ensures that products are developed, manufactured, and distributed safely, consistently, and in full compliance with regulatory and customer expectations. It also provides strategic leadership in preventing, detecting, and responding to intentional threats such as adulteration, tampering, and extortion.
The position serves as the organisation’s leading subject matter expert in food safety science, including microbiology, toxicology, contaminants, allergens, hygiene, and food defence.
Key Responsibilities
Global Strategy & Governance
- Define and lead the global food safety and defence strategy aligned with business objectives and regulatory requirements
- Establish policies, standards, and performance metrics across food safety, hygiene, allergen control, traceability, and defence
- Lead governance forums and represent food safety at executive level
- Embed food safety and defence considerations into innovation, supply chain, procurement, and operations
Food Safety Systems & Compliance
- Oversee implementation of global food safety systems (HACCP, environmental monitoring, sanitation, GMP, allergen management)
- Ensure compliance with global standards (e.g., BRCGS, FSSC 22000, ISO 22000) and customer requirements
- Lead global audit programmes and oversee regional quality teams
- Develop risk frameworks for high-risk ingredients (e.g., cocoa, dairy, nuts, flavourings)
- Food Defence & Product Security
- Lead vulnerability assessments (TACCP/VACCP) and mitigation strategies
- Collaborate with Security, Procurement, and Supply Chain to protect assets and processes
- Ensure product integrity across all logistics and third-party partners
Incident Management & Crisis Response
- Act as global technical lead for food safety and defence incidents, including contamination, allergen breaches, microbiological events, and malicious threats
- Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions
- Partner with Legal, Communications, Security, and Regulatory teams during crises
Scientific Leadership & Innovation
- Provide expertise in microbiology, toxicology, allergens, and emerging food safety risks
- Advise R&D and Operations on hygienic design, processing, and new technologies
- Lead horizon scanning for emerging risks (e.g., fraud, climate impacts, cyber-physical threats)
- Collaborate with Regulatory Affairs on assessing and mitigating regulatory changes
Talent, Training & Culture
- Build and lead a high-performing global food safety and defence function
- Develop training frameworks and certification programmes (including TACCP/VACCP)
- Foster a strong, proactive food safety culture across all levels of the organisation
External Engagement
- Represent the organisation at global forums, regulatory bodies, and industry groups
- Build partnerships with academic institutions and external experts
- Benchmark and implement industry best practices
Candidate Profile
Education
- Degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Public Health, or related field
- Advanced qualifications (e.g., PhD or MBA) desirable
- Formal training in HACCP, TACCP/VACCP, and relevant regulatory frameworks
Experience
- Extensive experience in food safety, quality, and risk management within FMCG or large-scale food manufacturing
- Proven leadership of global or multi-regional teams
- Strong experience managing complex supply chains and high-risk ingredients
- Demonstrated success handling major food safety or product security incidents
- Experience in confectionery, chocolate, or bakery sectors advantageous
Technical Expertise
- Deep knowledge of HACCP/HARPC, GMP, GFSI standards, and global regulations
- Strong grounding in microbiology, toxicology, allergens, and hygienic design
- Expertise in food defence methodologies and risk assessment tools
- Familiarity with digital food safety systems, traceability, and data analytics
Key Competencies
- Strategic leadership and global influence
- Strong risk assessment and decision-making capability
- Effective crisis management under pressure
- Cross-functional collaboration across technical and non-technical teams
- High level of scientific credibility and innovation mindset
- Cultural agility in global environments
- Clear and impactful communication of complex topics
Rewards & Benefits
- Competitive benefits package including pension, life assurance, and health plans
- Generous annual leave and flexible benefits
- Wellbeing and employee assistance programmes
- Access to training and development opportunities
- Additional perks such as volunteering days and lifestyle schemes