Regional Food Safety & Sanitation Manager

About The Role

The Regional Food Safety Manager plays a pivotal role in driving strategic food safety initiatives and ensuring the highest standards of sanitary compliance across our operations within the region. He / she will collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop, implement, and sustain robust food safety programs that align with global standards and business goals.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Strategic Leadership:
• Develop and execute a comprehensive regional food safety strategy that aligns with product needs, corporate objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Provide visionary leadership to continuously improve food safety systems, ensuring alignment with industry best practices and emerging trends.
• FSMS Program Development and Implementation:
• Oversee the design, implementation, and maintenance of aligned food safety programs, including HACCP for foreign material, microbiology, and allergen and toxicology compliance; tailored to regional needs.
• Standardize processes and procedures across facilities to achieve consistent food safety performance.
• Ensure on-going risk assessments to identify potential & emerging food safety hazards and implement preventive controls.
• Conduct risk assessment any new project or initiative launched by cross function.
• Monitor and respond to emerging food safety risks, including regulatory changes and industry developments, to ensure proactive compliance.
• NNS and other Food Safety Performance Improvement Projects:
• Act as the regional expert on interpretation on the NNS Standards. Organise regular training sessions to address understanding gaps, support site gap analysis, share best practices and validate action plans.
• Identify, plan, and execute strategic food safety improvement projects that address critical gaps or inefficiencies in existing systems.
• Food Safety CAPEX Program Governance:
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement Food safety capex projects.
• Maintain a tracker of all FS CAPEX needs across sites and prioritise those basis risk assessment.
• Work with Global FS CAPEX team to support allocation of funds to the projects
• Support in identification and validation of new technologies to enable better food safety compliance
• EMP Program Management
• Provide guidance on the EMP program deployment to Site teams including sampling methods, number of samples, dealing with out of specs, etc. and inputs for on-going review.
• Ensure consistency of EMP program across sites.
• Oversee the weekly & monthly EMP review, decisions, escalations and reporting.
• Sanitation Program Management
• Develop and deploy Master Sanitation Schedule at each site including clear cleaning & sanitation procedures for all equipment, surfaces and facilities.
• Connect with Regional SHE teams on proper usage and application of sanitation chemicals.
• Ensure sanitation procedures are validated periodically for effectiveness.
• Ensure learning and sharing between the site sanitation teams to generate faster solutions and prevention of problems.
• Pest Management Program
• Ensure that all plants and warehouses have documented pest control program, including reporting & trending.
• Ensure learning and sharing between the site teams to generate faster solutions and prevention of problems.
• Develop resident expertise in site through internal and external trainings.
• Training and Culture:
• Lead initiatives to strengthen food safety awareness and accountability at all organizational levels through Quality Culture umbrella or otherwise.
• Develop and deliver training programs to equip teams with the knowledge and skills required for effective food safety management.
• Stakeholder Collaboration:
• Serve as the primary point of contact for regional food safety matters, collaborating with regulatory authorities, customers, and internal stakeholders.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering and Procurement teams to integrate food safety considerations into product development and supply chain management.
• Engage with external entities and attend Food Safety forums to represent BC and to learn what is new.
• Performance Monitoring and Continuous Improvement:
• Measuring food safety performance and drive continuous improvement.
• Conduct internal audits and inspections (i.e. HACCP & EMP review) to evaluate compliance and identify opportunities for enhancement.
• Crisis Management:
• Develop and maintain crisis management protocols, including recall plans and incident investigation processes.
• Lead response efforts during food safety incidents, ensuring swift and effective resolution.
• Evaluate efficiency of corrective and preventive measures to prevent resource issues.
• Talent Development:
• Mentor and develop food safety professionals within the region to build a pipeline of future leaders.
• Create and implement development programs to enhance technical expertise, leadership skills, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning culture
• Identify high-potential employees and provide opportunities for advancement through stretch assignments and project leadership roles.
  
  

About You

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology or a related field (Master’s degree preferred)
• Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in food safety management, with at least 3 years in a regional or multi-site leadership role.
• In-depth knowledge of global food safety standards, regulatory frameworks, and certification schemes (e.g., FSSC 22000, BRC, FSMA).
• Technical Expertise:
• Comprehensive knowledge of food safety management systems, risk assessment methodologies, and compliance frameworks.
• Expertise in leveraging technology and data analytics to improve food safety outcomes.
• Sound knowledge of food microbiology and toxicology
• Innovation and Problem-Solving:
• Demonstrated ability to identify opportunities for improvement and implement innovative solutions.
• Proactive mindset in addressing challenges and mitigating risks effectively.
• Communication and Collaboration:
• Exceptional communication skills to engage with stakeholders at all levels, including regulatory authorities, customers, and internal teams.
• Collaborative approach to working with cross-functional teams to achieve common goals.
• Adaptability and Resilience:
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with a focus on delivering results.
• Resilience and composure under pressure, especially during crisis management situations.
  

At Barry Callebaut, we are committed to Diversity & Inclusion. United by our strong values, we thrive on the diversity of who we are, where we come from, what we’ve experienced and how we think. We are committed to nurturing an inclusive environment where people can truly be themselves, grow to their full potential and feel they belong. #oneBC - Diverse People, Sustainable Growth.